Houzz Tour: A Contemporary Home With One-of-a-Kind Features
Salvaged doors, accent walls and dashes of bright color make for unexpected touches inside
Becky Harris
June 29, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
“My architect and contractor tend to shake their heads and laugh at me a lot during the design and construction process,” says Shelby Wood. The interior and architectural designer loves to get an overall feeling for a site, lay out the plan for the house and landscape in one cohesive approach, then tweak and add quirky touches as the home comes together. While this home appears contemporary and minimalist at first glance, a closer look reveals eclectic moves that bring character to the home.
Photos by Steven Dewall except where noted
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their baby
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 3,800 square feet (353 square meters); four bedrooms, six bathrooms, plus pool house
Designer: Shelby Wood
Designer Shelby Wood created the house with a family in mind. The eventual buyers loved the special touches and bright feel and snapped it up before it officially hit the market.
The facade provides privacy from the street but also connects to the outdoors via the balcony and large windows and doors. The fence to the left creates a private courtyard; a frosted-glass garage door is on the right. The landscape is drought-tolerant to conserve water in parched Southern California.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their baby
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 3,800 square feet (353 square meters); four bedrooms, six bathrooms, plus pool house
Designer: Shelby Wood
Designer Shelby Wood created the house with a family in mind. The eventual buyers loved the special touches and bright feel and snapped it up before it officially hit the market.
The facade provides privacy from the street but also connects to the outdoors via the balcony and large windows and doors. The fence to the left creates a private courtyard; a frosted-glass garage door is on the right. The landscape is drought-tolerant to conserve water in parched Southern California.
The front walk leads past the fenced private courtyard and through a glass door. From the entry you can see through to the backyard. The space through the large window on the left is the home office.
An atrium-like stairwell space was a big part of the concept. It lets in the light and maintains an airy feel. Oak floors and a walnut accent wall warm the space. To the left of the dining area, outside the photo, is the living room space. This shot was taken from the kitchen.
Dining table: Bassman Blaine
Dining table: Bassman Blaine
A favorite home of Woods’ that was built in the 1950s inspired the design of this custom walnut wall by craftsman Scott Pezzini. The wall includes 2-inch-by-2-inch, 3-inch-by-7-inch and 1-inch-by-6-inch pieces of wood.
A large Moroccan rug cozies up and defines the living room space. The mix of textiles and textures includes the woven stools and handmade wood coffee table base. The armchairs are vintage; Wood had them re-covered in a gray and cream fabric.
To the right is the kitchen, and the outdoor space visible here is the private front courtyard, which creates an atrium. Past the courtyard is the home office. The house opens on three sides to the courtyard, which offers a delightful outdoor spot for coffee in the morning.
Coffee table: John Cortese, 7th & Seventh Design; stools: Bassman Blaine
To the right is the kitchen, and the outdoor space visible here is the private front courtyard, which creates an atrium. Past the courtyard is the home office. The house opens on three sides to the courtyard, which offers a delightful outdoor spot for coffee in the morning.
Coffee table: John Cortese, 7th & Seventh Design; stools: Bassman Blaine
On the opposite side, sliding doors open the living room to the backyard and pool.
Doors: Fleetwood
Doors: Fleetwood
A covered porch with comfortable furniture for lounging creates an easy transitional space between indoors and out.
Because the kitchen is open to the living room, the designer kept it simple. The stools have a vintage industrial look that adds age and character to the modern space.
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero
The pendant lights were inspired by a 1960s design and introduce an unexpected honeycomb-textured glass element to the kitchen. Solid walnut shelves float over push-out windows and create a warm contrast to the dramatic marble backsplash.
Range: Viking; countertop: Silestone; prismatic globe pendants: Restoration Hardware
Range: Viking; countertop: Silestone; prismatic globe pendants: Restoration Hardware
The home office is a quiet space on the first floor over which singer Deborah Harry watches from the wall. Pezzini built the custom door, which is walnut outfitted with a chicken wire glass panel that lets in the light. This is another element that offers subtle industrial style. The office is open to the atrium on one side.
Wood designed the house and yard together to create an easy flow between them. The yard is terraced, with the pool and pool house sited on the lower level. The porch steps down to the patio, and several steps lead down to the pool.
On the second story, the balcony shaded by the overhang on the left is off the master bedroom; the one on the right belongs to another bedroom.
On the second story, the balcony shaded by the overhang on the left is off the master bedroom; the one on the right belongs to another bedroom.
An organic kitchen garden off the patio includes berries, herbs, salad greens and a lemon tree.
The wood slat bench was contractor Santiago Gonzalez’s idea. He built it into the concrete retaining wall for poolside seating near the fire pit.
The pool house has an industrial glass door that rolls up to open the eclectic space to the yard. A patch of drought-tolerant grass provides a place for kids to play.
Photo by Cristopher Nolasco
Inside the pool house, Wood had the freedom to go a little more eclectic. The look has whimsical Palm Springs flair. The wallpaper, designed by artist Abigail Edwards, is called Owls of the British Isles.
The “happy orange” on the bathroom door plays off the colorful glass collection beautifully.
Inside the pool house, Wood had the freedom to go a little more eclectic. The look has whimsical Palm Springs flair. The wallpaper, designed by artist Abigail Edwards, is called Owls of the British Isles.
The “happy orange” on the bathroom door plays off the colorful glass collection beautifully.
The salvaged sink brings in another bit of industrial style. The owls we spied in the living room continue atop the backsplash.
Back inside the house, the hallway area at the top of the staircase serves double duty as a library-reading area. A print of David Hockney’s “Pearblossom Highway” introduces an iconic California touch.
In this guest bathroom, Wood decided to go dark and sexy. “I love to mix my tiles — it’s an art, like painting,” she says. The combo includes hexagonal, herringbone and small dimensional square tiles. A marbleized wallpaper and brass accents create a curvaceous contrast to all of the straight lines.
Hicks pendant light: Visual Comfort; Malachite wallpaper: York
Hicks pendant light: Visual Comfort; Malachite wallpaper: York
Photo by Cristopher Nolasco
Wood introduced another of her quirky signature touches with this circa 1920 salvaged door, painted bright green, for another bathroom. The Moroccan floor tile was made by hand locally. A coat rack with mirror brings in another vintage touch.
Door: Olde Good Things; coat rack: Restoration Hardware
Wood introduced another of her quirky signature touches with this circa 1920 salvaged door, painted bright green, for another bathroom. The Moroccan floor tile was made by hand locally. A coat rack with mirror brings in another vintage touch.
Door: Olde Good Things; coat rack: Restoration Hardware
Photo by Cristopher Nolasco
A striated wallcovering behind the mirror adds more texture to the room.
Wallpaper by Stacy Garcia: York; Hanley chandelier: Arteriors
A striated wallcovering behind the mirror adds more texture to the room.
Wallpaper by Stacy Garcia: York; Hanley chandelier: Arteriors
Photo by Cristopher Nolasco
In the master bedroom, a global mix — including a Moroccan rug, a Scottish blanket and an Acapulco chair — makes the room inviting and comfortable. Gonzalez, Wood’s good-natured, head-shaking contractor, made the bench, which has copper pipes for legs.
Chair: CB2; lamps: Bassman Blaine; vintage Gucci bag: Etsy seller Stated Style
Additional team members: Architectal drawings: Carlos Monlin; developer: Riviera Property Group
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In the master bedroom, a global mix — including a Moroccan rug, a Scottish blanket and an Acapulco chair — makes the room inviting and comfortable. Gonzalez, Wood’s good-natured, head-shaking contractor, made the bench, which has copper pipes for legs.
Chair: CB2; lamps: Bassman Blaine; vintage Gucci bag: Etsy seller Stated Style
Additional team members: Architectal drawings: Carlos Monlin; developer: Riviera Property Group
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Anyone know anything about the roll top desk in the poolhouse?
I would move in in a heartbeat! Really jives with me.
Icishida13 I have the same roll top desk. It is vintage.