Annette Wiley: 1950s tract house made modern in Corona del Mar
Architect Annette Wiley turned her 1950s tract home in Corona del Mar into a contemporary residence remodeled with environmentally friendly materials and practices. The siding is ipe wood and cement board with recycled content. The steps leading to the entry are decomposed granite. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
Sculptural succulents are poised out front, a low-water alternative to lawn. The entry path guides visitors past the round planter to the ipe wood gate. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
The succulent bowl. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
Agave and senecio create a calm, cool gray-blue-green xeriscape accented by the bright aloe blooms. The design was conceived by Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture of Culver City. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
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It took 14 months to do the renovation, Wiley says, because all the lumber, stone and cabinets were reused and recycled. The 2,600-square-foot house has Energy Star appliances, a tankless water heater, rooftop solar panels and other green features. But Wiley’s goal was for visitors to step through the front door and see a house that looked modern but still warm and comfortable. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
Abundant natural light from windows imbue the living room with warmth. Throughout the house, operable clerestory windows are strategically placed for cross ventilation, making air conditioning unnecessary, Wiley says. Her desk is to the right, in front of a partial wall; behind the wall is a small area where she can shelve her books. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
Ash cabinetry warms up the living room. Furnishings are spare and sleek. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
Most windows in the house frame some sort of garden view. Here in the kitchen, glass brings the outside in. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
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In Wiley’s bedroom, a high window creates a light well that bathes the interior in diffuse natural light. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
The partially covered back patio is designed to accommodate entertaining. The Asian Ceramics plant containers are sold in stores, including Marina del Rey Garden Center, Pot-ted in Atwater Village, Rogers Gardens in Corona del Mar and Anawalt Lumber stores. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
A fountain spilling into a spa is the focal point of the backyard. Wiley says she admits to a certain amount of “green guilt.” Purists may argue that the water feature isn’t green, but it does serve a purpose: masking traffic noise. Wiley adds that the equipment is energy efficient and only operates for about an hour a day. Overall energy consumption of the house is low, she says, and the net effect is privacy and peace on a lot thats less than 7,200 square feet.
Click to see more of Annette Wiley’s work. For a look at more Southern California design, check out our ever-growing Homes of The Times archive. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
