Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Old-World Style in Southern California
Architectural salvage and modern comforts create a relaxing home for a busy TV director
This homeowner is passionate about antiques and architectural salvage. So incorporating them into her Mediterranean-style house was of the utmost importance to her during an extensive renovation. Along with the antiques and salvaged pieces, faux painting techniques give the home a relaxed, old-world feel and infuse it with the owner’s eclectic style. The remodel also allows her to make the most of the Southern California indoor-outdoor lifestyle and take in the views of the Pacific Ocean from a few blocks away.
The renovations included adding a second floor to the home. From the street you can see how the new front porch and second-floor balcony extend the outdoor living space along the entire front of the house.
The turquoise on the gate is a clue that this homeowner isn’t afraid of color. The foyer is salmon, and opens onto the living room, which is a lush green.
The walls are faux painted to resemble old plaster. The artist who painted them also worked for Disneyland.
The custom alcoves around the limestone fireplace add Mediterranean flair. They’re also a good spot for the owner to display her Emmys. The two sets of doors lead out to the front porch and the courtyard out back, making indoor-outdoor living a breeze.
This space is the center for casual entertaining in the home. It includes the great room, dining room and kitchen. The cabinetry is a mix of architectural salvage, new framing and new contemporary Italian cabinetry. The island counters are a mix of granite and reclaimed wood.
The great room, living room and gym all have doors that lead to the backyard courtyard. This area includes an outdoor fireplace and table for dining alfresco. The low walls next to the fireplace serve as extra seating.
A fountain provides soothing noise in the backyard.
Beyond the courtyard is a casual seating area. The plants chosen for the yard are drought-tolerant.
Vertically planted succulents lead you down an alley to the front of the house. The doors at the end are antique.
Adding the second floor was a major part of the project. Upstairs, the new master suite has soothing blue walls, also painted to look like plaster. The floors are distressed oak. The doors lead out to the long balcony that extends across the front of the home.
Vintage sconces flank the innards of a piano that sit atop the mantel.
The vanity is a mix of old and new. The cabinets and the scrollwork are architectural salvage, while the legs, countertop and base are new. “This was really tricky to put together as there was no room for error with the plumbing,” Ricciotti says.
The arched windows over the soaking tub provide ocean views. A distressed edge on the tile along the tub’s edge adds age.
The homeowner takes in the best ocean views from the long balcony off the master suite. The traditional wrought iron railings are new, and the tile is a natural stone in a harlequin pattern.
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Houzz at a Glance
Location: Playa del Rey, California
Size: 2,500 square feet (232.3 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designers: Homeowner and Custom Design & Construction
Right out of the gate, you can tell that entering the home will be a unique experience. The gate itself is a repurposed antique wood and iron door. An arbor and lantern reinforce its presence along the sidewalk. “Throughout the house, we were looking to create age while incorporating modern design functions,” project manager Randy Ricciotti says.