Inside a Century-Old LA Home Where the Sun Never Seems to Set

Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
·7 min read

If there’s one thing Alex Anderson and Aaron Kravitz swear by, it’s the power of instinct. Ask the couple how they came to be Angelenos and they explain that it was thanks to a stroke of serendipity. “We never meant to move,” says Alex, who works in the creative field. “We started our home search here for fun after feeling priced out in San Francisco.” All virtually, mind you.

When the couple chanced upon their current home—a single-story Spanish Revival—in the LA neighborhood of Eagle Rock, online, they knew in their bones that it was the one. So much so that they purchased it sight unseen after reaching out to a local agent in LA whom they’d never met. Improbable? Probably. “But it’s a hundred percent true,” laughs Aaron, a tech executive.

“We love the big windows in the living room. The space feels bright, airy, and open while warm and cozy at the same time,” says Aaron. The designers balanced the original architecture with contemporary overlays, including an Offset coffee table and stool by Resident, a Crest sofa and Mushroom stool by Vintage on Point, and a hand-tufted Taylor rug by Revival. The Grain Drum 33 pendant by Ravenhill Studio remains invisible during the day, but steps in for the sun come dusk. Smith and Noble drapes, together with a Vintage Stripe lumbar and a Ramona Throw by Morrow Goods, lend softness to the setting.
A Bernard lounge chair by Hay sits in the company of Place’s hand-carved Congo table. The pillow is the Lorenzo by Morrow Goods.

The home had lots of upsides—it flowed from indoors to outdoors, had its own personality and history (it turned 100 last year), and the light was great—but it also had just as many downsides, including rotted flooring, inoperable windows, termite-infested frames and siding, an awkward kitchen, and a general lack of personality. Fixing all the flaws meant calling in the professionals, which the couple swiftly acted upon by enlisting the help of husband-and-wife duo Shawn and Tina Taylor of LA-based interior design practice Dacotah Studio. Their brief? To lean into the “good bones” and light of the home, and emphasize the indoor-outdoor flow. “Our dream was to feel like we are on a laid-back vacation in Italy,” muses Alex.

One corner of the living room is reserved for quiet contemplation. The chair is the Lars design by Room & Board. Ravenhill Studio’s ADA oak sconce, plus a small watercolor by Claire Oswalt and an artwork by Georgia O’Keeffe (partially seen above bookshelf), punctuate the wall above.

For Shawn and Tina, one thing was clear: If they were going to do vacation, they were going to do it right. “We were inspired by the home’s original Spanish details, and we wanted to honor the charm of the original structure while bringing it into the 21st century,” shares Tina. She and Shawn pared down the palette, opting for a combination of light oak, island whites, and calming, subdued tiles that would help keep the spotlight on the art and furnishings. As Shawn explains, some things took more time than others. “The reconfiguration of the kitchen went through several design iterations,” he notes, clarifying that the end result—a galley setup with a large island and an arched entrance—was well worth the effort.

Conveniently connected to the backyard, the kitchen is an indoor-outdoor sanctuary characterized by marble and oak. “It’s our favorite room of all,” says Alex. “It’s a central gathering place, and we love how inviting, open, and functional it is for cooking and entertaining.” Simonini’s The Wing stools line the island.
Why go to the dining room when you have a breakfast nook close by? It’s a question Alex and Aaron never fail to ask—and answer—on Sundays, when time is aplenty. The MR Side Chairs by Knoll from Design Within Reach and vintage Brancusi table look like they could have been there all along.

The original walls had a palm tree design stamped into the stucco that the couple and their five-year-old son, Julian, say they thought they were going to love forever. “We were wisely convinced otherwise, but we still like to imagine them underneath the smooth walls,” Alex says. It’s not just the walls that have changed since the family occupied the home. It’s also, as Alex reveals, “the overall spirit.” Aaron puts a finer point on the subject: “We all referred to the home as ‘the white house’ for a year. Once we moved in, we renamed it the Persimmon House, after the beautiful Persimmon tree outside the window.”

In the primary bedroom, a Vitra Akari 24N lamp by Isamu Noguchi, a dove painting by Pablo Picasso, gauzy Smith and Noble drapes, and cloud-colored walls channel a meditative haven. A Linen in Cocoa duvet by In Bed and a Schoolhouse throw enliven the bed by Dacotah Studio. A tiny drawing of a stamp by an unknown artist, inherited from Aaron’s dad (who was a stamp collector) takes pride of place between the windows. The rug is the Oda Runner by Morrow Goods.
The designers updated the primary bathroom with a double vanity and sleek fixtures and finishes. Sconces by Matt Alford Studio elevate the walls. The mirrors, stool, and rug are from West Elm, Etsy, and Leif respectively. Towels are Coyuchi.
“The homeowners wanted plenty of closet space in their primary suite. We redesigned the small cramped walk-in closet and installed a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe that was perfect for their needs,” says Tina.
“The homeowners wanted plenty of closet space in their primary suite. We redesigned the small cramped walk-in closet and installed a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe that was perfect for their needs,” says Tina.

Evidently, the move to Los Angeles was written in the couple’s stars long before they knew it. “It’s been great,” concedes Aaron. “We love that you can see green from every room, and when you stand at the front of the house, you can see through to the backyard. The interior design provides a quiet serenity that celebrates and complements the outdoors.” A perfect day for the family usually includes a lazy morning in the yard, an adventure in nature, or a laid-back dinner with friends. “We’re inspired by film and food and are lucky to have so many great options nearby,” says Alex. Ask them if the home comes close to their vision, and there’s a unanimous response: yes. “Thank goodness we made that blind offer!” The power of instinct, indeed.

The previously unused garage was reincarnated into a luminous guest suite that is part lounge, part bedroom. A custom Murphy bed by Dacotah Studio appears and disappears on demand. When it does appear, Alex confirms it’s most often dressed in Flax Sheets and Hawkins New York’s Bronze Duvet. Chris Frazer Smith’s “Bowling Alley” hangs above the bed.
Designed like a sunroom, the lounge in the garage is an idyll that lets in the light. The chairs and coffee table are both bespoke builds by Dacotah Studio, while the sofa is Crate & Barrel’s Cambria design. The Walker Noble Kuba rug by West Elm holds a mirror to the sunshine. Outer was the brand of choice for the outdoor teak set.
“Before the redesign, you couldn’t even sit straight on the toilet without hitting the sink,” says Alex of the tiny 15-square-foot guest bathroom. Tina and Shawn put on their thinking caps to carve out a thoughtful design and layout that included a wall-mounted sink and a tankless toilet.
“Before the redesign, you couldn’t even sit straight on the toilet without hitting the sink,” says Alex of the tiny 15-square-foot guest bathroom. Tina and Shawn put on their thinking caps to carve out a thoughtful design and layout that included a wall-mounted sink and a tankless toilet.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

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