LA LA LAND
Underscored by the ease of Californian minimalism, this home’s unique alchemy of architectural styles works in harmony with its past and future.
Landscape designer Stephen Block of Inner Gardens brought in the mature olive and oak trees, planted amid drifts of lavender, to give the garden an established look in keeping with the Spanish ambience of the house.
Jewellery designer Nancy Newberg wanted a fresh start when it came to the design of her new Los Angeles home. Nancy and her husband had lived in the same neighbourhood for many years but it was time for a change and a challenge, so when a site just down the street from their family home went up for sale, she decided to pursue her dream of building a house with a distinctive, contemporary take on Spanish Revival style. “I was eager to do the project because I love architecture and design,” says Nancy, who studied fashion before founding her eponymous brand. “We built our first home where we raised our children, and since all the boys were grown up and out of school the time seemed right to create a new setting for the next chapter of our lives.”
Nancy has long admired early 20th century Californian Spanish colonial houses by architects such as George Washington Smith, Roland Coate and Wallace Neff, and equally appreciates the pareddown textural aesthetic pioneered by Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt and his contemporaries. So, she opted to create her own version with a dream team that included Marmol Radziner architects, Californiabased interior designer Kathryn Ireland and landscape designer Stephen Block. “We wanted to create a home that was beautiful and timeless,” Nancy says. “We wanted the interiors to be full of light, uncluttered, clean and minimal, but it was also important that the rooms felt relaxed, warm and comfortable, so we went for a neutral palette using lots of linens with a few antiques mixed in.”
The property came with a Tudor-style house, generous grounds with mature trees, views over the canyons and, in the distance, the ocean. For architect Ron Radziner, who Nancy had known for years, the project represented an opportunity to step away from the crisp, 21st-century modernist style that his practice is known for and do something different, expressive and characterful. “We tried to be proportionately authentic to the Spanish Revival style,” Ron says. “The layout is in keeping with what those old homes were all about and quite intimately scaled. Even within the more contemporary work that we do, it’s all about proportion, materiality, light and indoor/outdoor living, so the style itself is one piece of the jigsaw.”
The size of the property offered plenty of space to work with and the opportunity to create a sweeping entry sequence that takes you »
The modest window and antique timber bench bring a contemplative, unfussy sense to the simple interiors the owners desired. The welcoming arched entry door allows in maximum light through its steel frame. The vintage French haberdashery table in the front hallway was bought at Obsolete in Culver City, LA. Sculpture on plinth by Alicja Kwade and wall of images by Olafur Eliasson.
The timber floors and rendered walls bring a gallery-style purity to the entry and hallway. In living room off to the right, one of a pair of antique French mirrors hangs on the wall above a fired clay sculpture of a Hindu goddess.
In the living room, sofas and coffee table by Kathryn Ireland for The Perfect Room sit on a custom rug. Vintage 50s armchairs from Obsolete. C.1940s Swedish standing lamp from Galerie Half. Ceramic artwork over fireplace by Italian artisan Bruno Gambone. Curtains in linen from Otis Textiles. In the guest house living room, the round table is by Kathryn Ireland for The Perfect Room. FontanaArte pendant light from Galerie Half. Minotti chairs upholstered in a Rogers & Goffigon fabric. Linen curtains designed by Kathryn Ireland. « towards an inviting archway framing the front door. Around the back of the house there was enough space to create a U-shaped enfilade of verandas and covered walkways that cradle the swimming pool and lead to an adjoining guest house. It’s redolent of a hacienda, helped by a sense of openness as the garden connects with the canyon views.
“The backyard faces west, so it’s very much a sunny afternoon spot,” he says. “Many of the internal rooms and spaces are able to take advantage of those private, west-facing courtyard areas. The house flows together really well, from the front door through to the internal spaces and it feels very whole and cohesive. Yes, it’s a Spanish-style home but it’s clean and not overly fussy and that goes for the architecture, the detail, the furniture – all of it.”
As for the interiors and furniture, Nancy collaborated closely with Kathryn. They also knew each other, having worked together on previous projects. Kathryn designed pieces especially for the house including many of the lighting fixtures and she also sourced antique and mid-century finds. On buying trips to Parma and Paris, Nancy and Kathryn found inspiration and collected pieces to add to the mix. “The choice of furniture was really guided by the spaces and the integration of new and old,” Kathryn says. “A few pieces came from Nancy’s old house, including a pair of mirrors in the living room that I bought from Blanchard in London 20 years ago, but apart from that it was a clean slate. It was definitely time for a pared-down vibe and so the interiors are very controlled and thoughtful.”
The entrance hallway and circulation spaces have a gallery-style purity to them with wooden floors and plastered walls. Natural textures sing in spaces such as the living room, with sofas and a coffee table designed by Kathryn arranged around a simply but beautifully detailed fireplace while the exposed wooden ceiling beams and arched windows and openings reinforce the home’s unique character.
The living space flows into an open-sided room with a fireplace and then through to the formal dining room, where the table by Kathryn is paired with vintage Lief dining chairs, glass pendants by Alison Berger and a super-sized photographic print by Florian Maier-Aichen. The panelled library is one of the house’s more intimate retreats, a favourite of Nancy’s, and where she likes to stage candlelit dinners. The house provides escapist moments such as this, as well as grand highlights and rooms that forge a connection with the gardens. “The library was actually designed as a backgammon room for my husband, so I never expected that I’d be using it as a small dining room,” she says. “It’s like a jewel box with a pretty view. Our home really is a peaceful oasis – it’s everything I had hoped it would be and more.”
nancynewberg.com; kathrynireland.com; innergardens.com; marmolradziner.com