Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Redo Stays True to a California Home’s Ranch Roots
Vaulted ceilings, windows galore and a simple white palette make for casual indoor-outdoor living
It might be hard to imagine something from the late 1930s being relevant today, but when it comes to California Ranch-style homes, there’s plenty. Airy indoor-outdoor living, vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, terra-cotta floors and brick fireplaces are just some of the period details that homeowners today still covet.
And that was the case for Andrea and Steve Lurie when they set out to restore their 1939 one-story Los Angeles Ranch home (not to be confused with the suburban ’70s-style Ranch homes). They tapped designer Mark J. Williams to help preserve the rustic character and U-shape floor plan that surrounds a spacious backyard and courtyard, as well as to highlight the vaulted ceilings and other details found in the modernist architecture.
And that was the case for Andrea and Steve Lurie when they set out to restore their 1939 one-story Los Angeles Ranch home (not to be confused with the suburban ’70s-style Ranch homes). They tapped designer Mark J. Williams to help preserve the rustic character and U-shape floor plan that surrounds a spacious backyard and courtyard, as well as to highlight the vaulted ceilings and other details found in the modernist architecture.
A natural-patterned sisal rug anchors the living area, which flows into the dining room. Simple and rustic furnishings, including an antique coffee table and Alton House wicker sofa, are a nod to preserving the California lifestyle.
Floor lamp: Circa lighting
Floor lamp: Circa lighting
Original terra-cotta floors provide vintage flavor to an otherwise modern farmhouse-style kitchen. All-white cabinetry, Carrara marble counters and ceramic subway tiles add a crisp, clean feel. A sliding pocket window over the sink opens to the family room (formerly a covered patio) so whoever’s in the kitchen never misses any of the action while cooking. “The window gives the space an open feel,” Williams says. Another clever touch: reproduction icebox latches on the upper cabinets.
Copper light fixture: Hudson Valley Lighting
Copper light fixture: Hudson Valley Lighting
“A foyer sets the stage for what’s to come, so it should make a statement about the house,” Williams says. In the Luries’ case, they were aiming for a casual vibe. An antique Turkish runner is a precursor to the understated elegance that awaits. Mirrored Urban Electric sconces resembling hubcaps inject a sense of fun.
Cherry spiral leg console: Alton House by Mark J. Williams
Cherry spiral leg console: Alton House by Mark J. Williams
Repainting the dining room’s existing dark post-and-beam ceiling in Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White was a no-brainer for the Luries. In fact, every room in the house (except Steve’s den) was painted the same creamy hue. “It instantly freshened and updated the home,” Williams says.
With Williams’ help, Andrea, an antiques aficionado, carefully curated a selection of original pieces for the home, then mixed in reproduction pieces. The dining room table is an Alton House reproduction from the 19th-century Aesthetic movement, while the quaint English trolley cart is vintage. The bell jar light fixture is one of the many original touches the Luries kept.
Chairs and tufted bench: Alton House; fabric on bench: Le Gracieux
With Williams’ help, Andrea, an antiques aficionado, carefully curated a selection of original pieces for the home, then mixed in reproduction pieces. The dining room table is an Alton House reproduction from the 19th-century Aesthetic movement, while the quaint English trolley cart is vintage. The bell jar light fixture is one of the many original touches the Luries kept.
Chairs and tufted bench: Alton House; fabric on bench: Le Gracieux
The Luries widened this space, originally a narrow, enclosed patio, and transformed it into an airy, inviting family room. While the doors on the left are new, the doors leading to the foyer on the right are original.
Williams straightened the patio’s existing tapered ceiling and added beams. The antique seashell wall art adds a dash of SoCal beach chic.
Custom sectional sofa: Alton House by Mark J. Williams; rug: Rug Source
Williams straightened the patio’s existing tapered ceiling and added beams. The antique seashell wall art adds a dash of SoCal beach chic.
Custom sectional sofa: Alton House by Mark J. Williams; rug: Rug Source
Here you can see the new doors leading to the courtyard. White oak stained to match the original floors elsewhere in the home covers the concrete floor of the former patio.
The Luries chose a vintage floral print for the master bedroom curtains to visually connect the room with a courtyard alcove.
The sitting area features a bobbin chair and an English club chair, as well as an antique table. The designer went for a purposely unmatched look to break up the space and give the impression the pieces had been handed down to the Luries over the years.
Drapery fabric: Ralph Lauren; bed frame, upholstered headboard and chairs: Alton House
The sitting area features a bobbin chair and an English club chair, as well as an antique table. The designer went for a purposely unmatched look to break up the space and give the impression the pieces had been handed down to the Luries over the years.
Drapery fabric: Ralph Lauren; bed frame, upholstered headboard and chairs: Alton House
The master bath, which overlooks the courtyard, features a luxurious set-in tub crafted of Carrara marble.
The flooring consists of coordinating large-scale Carrara marble hexagon tiles. Thanks to a shower skylight, the room, like most of the home, is drenched in natural light throughout the day.
The flooring consists of coordinating large-scale Carrara marble hexagon tiles. Thanks to a shower skylight, the room, like most of the home, is drenched in natural light throughout the day.
The cozy breakfast nook features an antique table. Old-fashioned linen roll-up window treatments transform the window seat into a sunny spot for a cup of joe. The original uneven, cobblestone-like terra-cotta tiles add instant charm.
Tolex chairs: Design Within Reach, covered in Rose Tarlow fabric; Modern Schoolhouse pendant light fixture: Circa Lighting
Tolex chairs: Design Within Reach, covered in Rose Tarlow fabric; Modern Schoolhouse pendant light fixture: Circa Lighting
The den is the one room where the designer went rogue when it came to paint color. Williams painted the room’s original dark knotty pine in soothing Farrow & Ball Lamp Room Gray. Because Steve uses this space as his study, the furnishings were chosen to reflect his modern taste, as evidenced in the coffee table, silhouette of the chair, sofa and midcentury floor lamp. The fireplace is original.
Sisal rug: Decorative Carpets; chair, coffee table and sofa: Alton House
Sisal rug: Decorative Carpets; chair, coffee table and sofa: Alton House
Every room in the home boasts windows that look onto the inviting courtyard, with its pops of green and aqua courtesy of swaying sycamores and a sparkling swimming pool. Located off the family room, this seating area acts almost like a bonus room.
Firepit: Potted Store; furniture: Restoration Hardware; garden jar: Hollyhock
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Firepit: Potted Store; furniture: Restoration Hardware; garden jar: Hollyhock
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
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Andrea and Steve Lurie and their two college-aged kids
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 4,000 square feet; four bedrooms, five bathrooms, plus a pool house
Designer: Mark J. Williams
Homeowners Andrea and Steve Lurie aimed to keep the living room, which is used for entertaining, simple and old-world but with a new, modern twist. The room is intentionally well-edited. Marlborough chairs by Alton House feature rolled arms and back and are the perfect spot to perch near a roaring fire.
The gorgeous oversized stone hearth is original — down to the andiron hardware on the door of the firewood cubby on the left. Four antique botanical prints adorn the mantel. “We wanted to keep the fireplace in its original state yet apply it to today’s living,” designer Mark J. Williams says.