Before & After: A Los Angeles Home Gets a Dazzling Makeover—and Hits the Market for $1.7M
A sculptural timber staircase, airy spaces, and a state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen define this Eagle Rock residence.
A sculptural timber staircase, airy spaces, and a state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen define this Eagle Rock residence.
It’s not always easy to spot untapped potential in real estate. When a couple with two children bought a haphazardly renovated home in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, there were few existing elements that were particularly inspiring—but they did like the location at the end of a cul de sac, the existing kidney-shaped pool, and the views toward the foothills.
It would take a strong vision to adapt the property into a bright and open family home—and an eye-opening renovation by Part Office helped realize that potential.
The original home was built in 1963, however it has none of the qualities, details, or materiality associated with the midcentury period. "It was a quintessential, nondistinctive suburban Los Angeles home, and we were careful not to associate it with any particular style or period," say the architects. "This project was focused on the spatial potential within the existing house, and its construction was the precedent."
Photography by Sam Wadieh
One of the homeowners is an art dealer who sought an airy space for displaying art. The other is a keen cook who prioritized a state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen that would also serve as the communal heart of the home.
The couple approached Part Office to undertake a full renovation that entailed opening up the ground-level family room, expanding the kitchen, and introducing better light and connection to the outdoor area. "The existing house was very challenging," recalls architect Kristin Korven, co-founder of Part Office. "It was compact, dark, and had been renovated over the years resulting in a series of disconnected spaces fitted with a bricolage of materials void of any intention."
Before: Living Room
The original living room felt small and cut off from the rest of the home due to the central stair, which obstructed views through the space.
Photo courtesy Part Office
The ground floor—which contains a bedroom with an en-suite bath and the kitchen, dining, and living areas—received the most dramatic update. The existing stair blocked views to the backyard, so the design team focused on reorganizing the layout. "It was our desire to transform the staircase from the most obtrusive element to the most sculptural, celebrating its illogical form and important function connecting all levels of the home," says Kaplon.
The brick fireplace had been painted a dark red, making it an overbearing feature in the small room. The dark timber floor also made the space feel smaller.
Photo courtesy Part Office
See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: A Los Angeles Home Gets a Dazzling Makeover—and Hits the Market for $1.7M
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