After a House Fire, a Family Rebuilds Their Cozy Dream Home in Altadena

Linne Halpern
·6 min read

Joao Canziani

Three days after Danielle Katvan and Raimy Rosenduft closed on their first house, they found themselves facing every homeowner’s worst nightmare. A live line was clipped during a routine termite tenting, resulting in an electrical fire breaking out in the attic. With the entire house covered in tarp, all the smoke got trapped and mostly everything burned to the ground. “I was on set, shooting a big commercial campaign, when I got the call from Raimy saying that the house was on fire,” Danielle recalls. “She was in tears, I was in total disbelief.”

“We were really confident that Barrett was going to build us a house that worked for our family,” Raimy says. Barrett found ways to maximize storage while creating clean lines that allow the space to feel breezy and open.
“We were really confident that Barrett was going to build us a house that worked for our family,” Raimy says. Barrett found ways to maximize storage while creating clean lines that allow the space to feel breezy and open.
Joao Canziani
Danielle and Raimy fell for this particular property because of the promise of the yard. Tackling the landscaping is next on their list of projects, once budget allows. They imagine transforming the green space into a “natural, wild meadow.”
Danielle and Raimy fell for this particular property because of the promise of the yard. Tackling the landscaping is next on their list of projects, once budget allows. They imagine transforming the green space into a “natural, wild meadow.”
Joao Canziani

After processing the shock, the couple searched for silver linings. “We had just gotten the keys, so no one was inside, none of our personal belongings were there, our dog wasn’t there,” Raimy says. “We were very lucky in that.” It took a minute to regroup, but eventually they came to recognize the opportunity on their hands. With the bulk of their savings already spent on the down payment, they knew they’d have to wait on renovations. Now, through a harrowing turn of events, they were given a blank slate. “We like to joke that it was an extremely painful shortcut to our dream home,” Raimy adds.

Danielle and Raimy connected with Barrett Cooke, cofounder of Arterberry Cooke Architecture, to spearhead the remodel. The architect instantly understood the vision for a cozy, Big Sur–inspired retreat. The 1,400-square-foot house is situated on a 9,000-square-foot lot in the Altadena neighborhood, boasting several oak trees and a surprisingly remote, woodsy feel, which is what initially drew them to the property.

After the fire damage, some floor plan rearrangement was called for. “Originally, you entered through a side door that wasn’t facing the street,” Barrett explains. “We changed the placement of the entrance, giving more space to the bedroom wing and allowing for the creation of a second bathroom. Plus we combined two smaller living rooms into one and opened up the kitchen.”
“The kitchen works with the scale of the home,” Barrett says. “It’s not a large house, so we made sure there were private spaces, but we really wanted to prioritize the center of the home for hanging out as a family.”
“The kitchen works with the scale of the home,” Barrett says. “It’s not a large house, so we made sure there were private spaces, but we really wanted to prioritize the center of the home for hanging out as a family.”
Joao Canziani

The structural damage was enough to necessitate major reframing and while the footprint didn’t change, every window came out and drywall was removed down to the studs. Originally built in the 1950s as a traditional ranch-style home, the ceilings were low and the layout was closed off. In tandem with Barrett’s guidance, the main goals became to vault the ceilings, open the interior, and connect more to the outdoors. Plus Danielle and Raimy decided to convert the attached garage into an ADU, expanding their livable space from two bedrooms to three, with their growing family’s future in mind. Shortly after moving in, they welcomed a new baby home.

The open kitchen and living space is where the family spends most of their time. Pendant lights by In Common With and bar stools by Blu Dot add to the comfortable ambiance.
Danielle and Raimy credit doing their research and being willing to drive a little farther out of the way as simple money-saving hacks. Along the way, they found many small businesses off the beaten path. Sconces above the nook are by Human Home, fellow Los Angeles locals.

Since the project’s budget was entirely pulled from the homeowner’s insurance payouts, complex conversations around how to allocate the unexpected yet modest funds were required. “We wanted to invest in the structure and engineering first, making sure this was a home that could last,” Danielle says. From there, they imagined how they were going to use the space, deciding to prioritize the most high-traffic, high-touch elements. They splurged on items like plumbing fixtures, doorknobs, and kitchen counters while implementing cost-saving measures elsewhere. Kitchen cabinet boxes from IKEA are supplemented with walnut doors from Modern Twig, mixing prefab units with custom components. “We were finding a balance between what needed longevity and functionality versus what felt more aesthetic,” Danielle explains.

More of the couple’s earthy color palette can be spotted in the bedroom, along with a small glimpse out towards their beloved backyard.
More of the couple’s earthy color palette can be spotted in the bedroom, along with a small glimpse out towards their beloved backyard.
Joao Canziani
“The day they were going to demolish the house after the fire, Danielle and I went and spray painted a big heart on the inside of a wall,” Raimy shares. More personal touches and treasures that tell the story of their family can be found in the bedroom.
“The day they were going to demolish the house after the fire, Danielle and I went and spray painted a big heart on the inside of a wall,” Raimy shares. More personal touches and treasures that tell the story of their family can be found in the bedroom.
Joao Canziani

The result is a warm and inviting atmosphere that pulls from both coastal cabin and Japandi influences. While Danielle and Raimy chose to keep the overall design quite clean, they allowed more heightened personality to shine through in their furnishings and textiles. An Eames Lounge Chair, now featured prominently in the living room, was a gift to each other that marked the duo’s engagement. Most of the furniture was already part of their collection, and they have the mindset that they’ll continue to upgrade and refine as savings allow and experiences accrue. “For now, we’re just getting to know the space,” Raimy says.

Next on their list, the couple hopes to tackle the back and front yards with lush, abundant landscaping and add in a barrel sauna to complete the oasis. “This wasn’t a project that we were wanting or expecting right now,” Danielle says. “But now that we’re on the other side of it and we have this home that we’re so happy with and so comfortable to raise our kid in, it feels like such a gift.”

The couple’s beloved Block Shop Textiles robes bring color to the white bathroom, featuring tile purchased from Bedrosians Tile & Stone and a prefab vanity unit from West Elm.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

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