FIRE AND RAIN

As it approaches its centennial year, this cottage recently weathered devastating conditions and now stands as a beacon of hope for its historic community.

This cottage, nearing its 100th birthday, recently weathered tragedy and devastating conditions after last year’s California wildfires, standing now as a light of hope for its beleaguered historic community.

The charm, character and construction of old cottages are all qualities cherished by their owners.

But there’s another quality that makes them even more special: They each have a story to tell, and though it was built nearly a century ago, this cottage’s story continues to unfold with the addition of a new, dramatic chapter.

The house is situated on Malibou Lake in a close-knit community established in 1922 as an enclave inhabited by Old Hollywood film stars. Rustic cottages dot the landscape surrounding the tranquil water, and it’s not unusual to see neighbors paddle by in their kayaks on a lazy afternoon The cottage has been owned and loved for the past decade by Shannon Ggem, a veteran interior designer, and her husband, Andy, a contractor in the luxury real-estate sector, who share the home with their cat and two dogs.

The house may be small in size (882 square feet, with one bedroom, one bathroom and 1,000 square feet of decks and a waterfront dock), but it is big on style, thanks to the creative couple’s design visions and execution.

“The house was built sometime between 1922 and 1924. It appears in early photos, but there were no records back then,” Shannon explains. “It has been updated through the years through remodeling, painting, adjusting and maintaining constantly.”

PAST AND PRESENT COEXIST

The home’s current incarnation artfully combines many respectful nods to its history with some modern-lifestyle sensibilities. “I call it our ‘sophisti-cottage’ because the look is [based on] the fact that we love each thing, and the color palette is immense—as a designer, I love all colors!” Shannon says. A bright-red Dutch door welcomes guests as a portal to the old-cottage charm that awaits them inside. “Red is finally on the way back, but it was missing from the trends for years. I love my red rug and door so much; I had to have red in our home.”

Vintage treasures are strategically placed throughout the rooms. “We scaled way back to fit [our belongings] into a one-bedroom house, so we kept only our absolute treasures,” Shannon says. “The fold-out bar is a favorite; it honors the fact that there was a huge built-in bar in that spot when we moved in. It made sense for a vacation cottage, but for full-time living it took up too much precious square footage. I also love my vintage military globe, which I found at a yard sale.”

The home’s current incarnation artfully combines many respectful nods to its history with some modern-lifestyle sensibilities.

SPOT ON. Teak lounges were outfitted with fun polka-dot patterned cushions that complement the blackand-white striped chairs nearby. The brass Platner dining chair with mohair seat in the corner is one of Shannon’s favorite pieces.

SURF’S UP. A life-long surfer, Andy propped a 1980s board next to the front door to greet guests. The Lake House sign found floating in the lake was gifted to the homeowners by the neighborhood historian.

ADDING WARMTH. A fireplace made with local stones graces the living room and can easily heat the entire home. The wood-block prints are by local artist Nan Kane. A walnut game table adds another level of height and dimension to the space. The embossed-leather fireplace screen is early 19th century. The fabulous cement head is architectural salvage from an Art Nouveau theater in India.

ITOPI LIGHT HOUSE. The western exposure sunlight in the living room is intense, so the floor-to-ceiling windows are outfitted with J. Geiger automatic solar shades. Built as a weekend cabin prior to 1924, the home maximizes lake and Santa Monica Mountain views. Among the perks of living in Los Angeles are the estate sales in the grand mansions of Hollywood, where Shannon shops for vintage items and antiques. Over the years, she has built her own collection of portraits.