Palisades house aims to make modern feel warm
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Designer Jill Wolff narrates a pictorial tour of Vision House Los Angeles, a luxury demonstration home in Pacific Palisades, in this latest installment of Pro Portfolio. The occasional feature looks at a recently built, remodeled or redecorated home with commentary from the designer.
Project: Green demonstration home dubbed Vision House Los Angeles.
Interior designer: Jill Wolff, Jill Wolff Interior Design, Calabasas. Architects: KAA Design, Culver City, and P2 Design, Newport Beach. Builder: Structure Home in collaboration with Green Builder Media.
Designer’s description: Normally, I work collaboratively with clients, but because this is a spec house, I had to imagine a family with a son about to leave for college and a younger daughter. I want people who view this house to come away with a feeling of surprise about its comfort, coziness and warmth. I want them to see that sustainable design really can be comfortable, and that if they’re clever, they can use their creativity to make their own home more sustainable.
The entry to the house says “Welcome” with a striking walnut door on a pivot hinge, outdoor lighting by Kichler and an unforgettable bench by Kyle Heffernan, a recent graduate of Otis College of Art and Design.
Here I’m sitting in this niche under the stairs, the first thing you see upon entering the home. I accentuated the space by painting it this lovely gray called Washed Clay by Mythic Paint (zero-VOC and nontoxic). The settee is by Cisco Brothers.
In selecting the dining room furniture, I wanted something that would work for casual family get-togethers as well as more formal functions. The chairs are fairly neutral, leaving the starring role to the blown-glass light fixture by Cisco and the marvelous piece of art by local artist Bryan Ricci. The console table was made from a recycled conveyor belt.
These magical pendants, called Jug Lamps by Cisco, are a favorite of mine. They are hand-blown in Los Angeles from recycled glass. I used them in smoke, turquoise and violet, which appear in the pillows and artwork in adjacent rooms, and I think the combination is just dazzling and quite versatile.
The powder room exudes glamour with a sink and faucet by Kohler. People are convinced that the wall behind the sink is covered in wallpaper, but it’s actually Venezia porcelain tile by Porcelanosa.
The jug table lamp in amber is a focal point of the great room. I like to use neutral furnishings and then add pops of color with lamps and accessories such as these beautiful green pillows.
While designing the great room, I considered the contrasting materials -- the cool, smooth floor (created with Porcelanosa’s Microcemento Gris tiles) and the warm texture of the wood ceiling, which really set the stage for the comfy and sustainable furniture by Cisco.
When designing a kitchen, I strive to create the unexpected. This view showcases the integration of a range of materials and styles. We have the undulating waves of the backsplash tiles by Textural Designs contrasted with the smooth, clean lines of the quartz countertops. You can see the complementary cabinetry finishes: the very sleek and modern zebra wood on the island versus the more homey dark-stained maple on the perimeter.
The pantry cabinets by Kitchen Craft have amazing storage features and capabilities. I can picture myself sitting at the desk and creating quite a shopping list!
The laundry room takes the cake: French doors bring the outside in, and a rolling island can be pushed aside when extra space is needed. The countertops are Zodiaq by DuPont, and the backsplash tile that looks like wallpaper on the left actually is Decor Silk Blanco by Porcelanosa.
In designing the girl’s suite upstairs, I used Mythic Paint’s Green Gold. We made the custom headboard using Textural Designs’ Whim decorative tile. The carpeting is from Bentley Prince Street and is Green Label Plus-certified.
In the master bath, the gorgeous Kitchen Craft cabinetry (called “Pamli door style with Palermo Finish”) is set off by medicine chests by Robern whose doors slide up to reveal tons of well-organized storage for makeup, shaving devices, toothbrushes and more. The countertop and rear wall are clad in DuPont Zodiaq in Snow White.
The Kohler Askew bathtub has an unusually smooth, honed finish and is comfortable because of lumbar support on both ends. I love the mirror made of recycled wood propped up behind the tub. The contrast between sleek and rugged gives the bathroom its warmth.
In the master suite, the treetops, the marvelous outdoor deck and more art by local painter Bryan Ricci build a sense of serenity. I chose accent colors of orange, taupe and brown to give an earthy quality to the decor.
The door by Western Window Systems folds back to integrate the great room with the backyard.
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-- Compiled by Lisa Boone
Photo credits: LathamArchitectural.com
