Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Happy Trails at a Rustic Canyon Lodge
This warm ranch hideaway, complete with horses, dogs, cowhides and natural materials aplenty, is a delight for the senses
Reclaimed barn wood floors, hand-weathered wainscoting, bent-twig furniture and a multitude of cowhides welcome visitors to Hilarie Roope's Los Angeles home, which she affectionately refers to as Camp Davis, named for her son. Her love of horses and ranch living can be seen in every square inch of this compound.
When Roope, a talent manager, first purchased the modest 1965 ranch home, it was an underwhelming white box. Inspired by local watering hole Saddle Peak Lodge, she embarked on a decade-long remodeling adventure that resulted in a total reimagining of every room.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hilarie Roope and her teenage son, Davis; dogs Honey, Corduroy and Oakley; and horses Abiento and Fiery Moment
Location: Malibu Canyon, California
Size: 2,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That's interesting: Roope's home was temporarily transformed into Santa's workshop for a Target holiday commercial.
When Roope, a talent manager, first purchased the modest 1965 ranch home, it was an underwhelming white box. Inspired by local watering hole Saddle Peak Lodge, she embarked on a decade-long remodeling adventure that resulted in a total reimagining of every room.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hilarie Roope and her teenage son, Davis; dogs Honey, Corduroy and Oakley; and horses Abiento and Fiery Moment
Location: Malibu Canyon, California
Size: 2,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That's interesting: Roope's home was temporarily transformed into Santa's workshop for a Target holiday commercial.
Roope completely gutted both the interior and exterior. "My goal was to create a sanctuary for my family, drawing inspiration from the Adirondack cabins of the East Coast," she says.
The living room is filled with natural sunlight, thanks to the skylight Roope installed. She also draped a cowhide over the sofa for a warm, casual look that's ideal for cuddling with her family's three dogs. The cuddling was once a necessity, Roope recalls. "The first year of remodeling, we lived without central heat and braved what was then a record-setting frigid winter," she says. Roope layered a second cowhide over a sea grass rug.
"Before I purchased the home, I peeked into the front window and saw the main stone fireplace and wood ceilings, and knew I had something to work with," Roope says. "I've remodeled half a dozen homes, and I've been able to make something out of nothing with all of them. My belief is that if a home passes inspection and has good bones, anything is achievable."
She found this pair of fauteuil chairs at a Beverly Hills antiques shop and reupholstered them in nubby linen.
She found this pair of fauteuil chairs at a Beverly Hills antiques shop and reupholstered them in nubby linen.
"My style really depends on the home and the land surrounding it," Roope says. "Ultimately, I feel like I have an eclectic sensibility. I love to mix different elements together to create a sense of warmth, a feeling of peace, a place called home. I take my home very seriously, as I see it as a refuge from the outer world."
The striking photo shown here was taken by a friend while traveling in Patagonia, and the horse figurines on the coffee table were a gift.
The striking photo shown here was taken by a friend while traveling in Patagonia, and the horse figurines on the coffee table were a gift.
Roope kept her childhood piano and had her artisan friend Vinny Rickwood repaint it black from its original ivory. He also hand painted the checkerboard floor using a stencil, then distressed it for an aged look.
The home has an open floor plan. The living room opens to the dining room, which then flows into the rustic-style kitchen. A wall of French doors and windows offers panoramic views of the woodsy backyard. A bespoke twig lounge chair by Willow Lane is draped in Navajo blankets, cowhide pillows and faux fur throws.
Cowhide pillow: Overstock.com; dining table: Sundance
Cowhide pillow: Overstock.com; dining table: Sundance
A reproduction blue and white hutch from a local antiques dealer displays Roope's pottery and dish collection. Roope designed the dining chair box cushions and had them fabricated by an upholsterer in a striped fabric that pulls together all the colors in the room.
The dining area fireplace is inspired by a photograph Roope found of a hand-hewn fireplace. "Artisans actually brought the stones for the fireplace from a riverbed near San Diego and individually built it one stone at a time. I wanted the fireplace to feel like it had been there 100 years. No prefab for me," says Roope. "I think we captured that authenticity."
Roope considers the giant log in the kitchen, one of her favorite features, as the touchstone of her rustic style. "You cannot imagine what it was like to see these guys haul this up in their old Ford pickup," she recalls.
Pendant light: Avalanche Ranch Lighting
Pendant light: Avalanche Ranch Lighting
A utilitarian farmhouse sink paired with a vintage-style gooseneck faucet fits nicely into the rustic butcher block island.
Designers Lane McClelland and Tom Robey of Willow Lane designed the Chinking Room, named for its log and plaster wall treatment. Formerly the garage and now connected to the rest of the house by a two-sided fireplace, it serves as a family room and an occasional home office.
A faux deer trophy head guards the rafters, and massive wooden beams line the ceiling. The slipcovered sofas in this space also sport cowhide throws and pillows, reflecting Roope's signature casual style.
A faux deer trophy head guards the rafters, and massive wooden beams line the ceiling. The slipcovered sofas in this space also sport cowhide throws and pillows, reflecting Roope's signature casual style.
The porch chairs and Adirondack railing, designed by Willow Lane, are made by hand of bent willow wood. "Although we are only eight minutes from the Malibu coast and just 45 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, it feels like we live in an entirely different world," says Roope.
This waterfall is a recent addition to the landscape, one that Roope, working with a gardener, designed herself. The waterfall appears to be completely organic, as if the house grew up around it. "I focus on light, textures and all the elements which affect our senses," she says. "I love the sound of water."
A vintage church pew serving as an outdoor bench is lined with plump grain sack pillows that bring the indoors outside.
A vintage church pew serving as an outdoor bench is lined with plump grain sack pillows that bring the indoors outside.
The master bedroom is also surrounded by the sounds of nature. Roope says, "I love having my horses just outside my bedroom. I usually sleep year-round with the door open, as I find their snorting and neighing sounds very soothing."
A skylight washes the master bedroom in warmth and light. Roope stuck with a neutral color palette of sea glass blues, tan and taupe here. Future plans for this bedroom include a lofted closet with a sliding barn door and library ladder, and a meditation/observation platform accessed by a spiral ladder to take advantage of the view.
Roope expanded her master bathroom to twice its original size. The claw-foot tub was restored and repainted a matte black. All the storage pieces in the bathroom are antiques.
Vintage-style honeycomb tiles pick up the black accents in the room.
Teenage son Davis' room is outfitted in striped denim and russet bedding from PBTeen, throw pillows and surfing posters. His horseback riding awards, clothing and backpacks are displayed on wall hooks.
The guest room's hanging bed embodies camp-style chic and often makes guests nostalgic for summers at the lake. The overhead loft with a ladder injects a playful character.
"I had a local carpenter make the bed based on a photo I showed him. It was my design. We already had the support of the loft above, which was critical, and my son's childhood monkey bed, which I reused," says Roope. "Adding lots of layers of feather bedding makes it the coziest place to retreat!"
Hanging Furniture for Swinging Rooms
"I had a local carpenter make the bed based on a photo I showed him. It was my design. We already had the support of the loft above, which was critical, and my son's childhood monkey bed, which I reused," says Roope. "Adding lots of layers of feather bedding makes it the coziest place to retreat!"
Hanging Furniture for Swinging Rooms
The entry wall showcases the hand-aged wainscoting. Keepsakes from Roope's childhood hobbies adorn a nature-inspired shelf.
Artist Vinny Rickwood also helped Roope keep her signature look going outdoors. "He is an amazing painter who can do anything from creating faux wood and detailed murals to painting old chairs, on which we collaborate," Roope says. "Vinny has been coming to Camp Davis for 10 years." He painted the chair on this back porch.
Roope and Davis with one of their horses, Fiery Moment.
Roope explains that the Chumash Indians settled in the area long ago. "You can feel their energy among the creek beds and streams nestled in the mountains," she says. "The coyote calls at night make me think of the Native Americans, and when I ride my horses on the trails, I am often reminded of what it must have been like for them to live in our area."
Roope explains that the Chumash Indians settled in the area long ago. "You can feel their energy among the creek beds and streams nestled in the mountains," she says. "The coyote calls at night make me think of the Native Americans, and when I ride my horses on the trails, I am often reminded of what it must have been like for them to live in our area."
A Camp Davis sign hangs at the front entrance of the main pedestrian gate, welcoming visitors to the rustic retreat. According to Roope, "My late husband, Paul, knew how important it was for me to have this creative outlet. He always supported my wacky vision and trusted me enough to play along with situations when I am sure others would not have."