Construction Diary: A Midcentury Ranch in L.A. Becomes a Young Family’s Japandi Dream Home

Working Holiday Studio’s Carlos Naude and Whitney Brown strike out to transform a lackluster house during the pandemic.

May 28, 2021 - 08:34

Construction Diary: A Midcentury Ranch in L.A. Becomes a Young Family’s Japandi Dream Home

Working Holiday Studio’s Carlos Naude and Whitney Brown strike out to transform a lackluster house during the pandemic.

Backdrop’s After Hours, a soft charcoal hue, gives Carlos Naude and Whitney Brown’s home in Woodland Hills, California, sleek curb appeal. Lund Sconces by Kuzco Lighting punctuate the exterior, and the streamlined garage doors are by Amarr.

Carlos Naude and Whitney Brown, the couple behind Working Holiday Studio, are no strangers to turning humdrum spaces into Instagram-ready getaways and dream homes. After their recent successes, the creative duo geared up for their next project—this time, the renovation of their own residence in Woodland Hills, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.

An inviting entry nook—now featuring an Album surfboard and Cultiver towels—welcomes guests to the house.
Photo by Carlos Naude

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, Carlos and Whitney were on the hunt for a bit of calm and outdoor space. Below, Carlos narrates the journey in his own words.

1. Should We Stay or Should We Go?

2020 was a weird year with high highs and low lows. As soon as the pandemic hit, we realized we were going to be stuck at home for a while, and we needed to make some adjustments to the way we were living—fast. We considered leaving California for a smaller city, but our community, the weather, and the ocean were far too important to us to simply pack up and leave.