San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Reimagined classic
Classic Spanish architecture meets modern living in this stately Spanish Revival gem that has been extensively renovated this year. The hilltop home in Point Loma’s coveted La Playa neighborhood has been transformed into a timeless masterpiece with a nod to the past and an eye to the future. With 1,600 square feet of decks, balconies and verandas, the home embraces the spectacular views of the city and San Diego Bay as well as the Pacific Ocean. Originally built in 1932, the five-bedroom, 4,381-square-foot home retains the charm of the past and features an open-concept design built for today. Custom finishes have been chosen to seamlessly blend the old and the new. The newly designed alder-wood front door, inspired by doors at the County Administration Center designed by renowned San Diego architect
Richard Requa, complements the Spanish-style arches and grillwork — signature elements of Requa, who may have contributed to the home’s design. Inside, woodwork, from the original inlaid flooring in the living room to the library’s wainscoting, has been kept and restored. A historical prohibition bar has been integrated into a walk-through wine storage and serving area, connecting the living room and great room.
The new great room is the heart of the home. Thoroughly modern, yet linked to the Spanish style with wood-beam ceilings, the contemporary space incorporates the kitchen, dining area and family room. A foldaway wall of doors frames the sweeping view and connects the room to the main deck. The property, with more than a quarter acre, includes a new one-bedroom casita, perfect for guests or as an office. The structure incorporates some of the home’s original features, such as the 1932 front door, as part of the thoughtful reimagining of a classic home.