Like any great Hollywood movie, the homes of Los Angeles often come with their own dramatic backstory. Take this 1921 Tudor-style residence in Los Feliz. It was originally built as a carriage house to provide housing for the caretakers of a grand estate located just below the iconic Griffith Observatory. Just a few years ago, however, the home was deemed uninhabitable. Luckily, it fell into the right hands and has been lovingly restored to its former glory—and then some.
Over the years, the house changed hands several times, passing between developers who stripped away nearly all of its original character. The most recent owners eventually moved out, leaving the property vacant—except for the squatters who took up residence. After sitting on the market for years, Stacey Bronson of Maple Design L.A. recognized its hidden potential and teamed up with Aerin Lokitz of AV Studio. Together, they set out to revive its historic charm while introducing the comforts of modern luxury.
“The saddest part to us was that they also stripped out the soul of the home,” Aerin says. “So we knew we needed to add it back but in a way that would also appeal to a homeowner that is looking for charm, soul but in a beautiful modern way.”
The team took the home down to the studs, raising the roofline to create a new primary suite and bathroom, and connecting the original structure to the garage to build a guest wing and laundry room. “We completely reimagined the floor plan, vaulted the ceilings and created an outdoor space that was once an overgrown pile of dirt and an outdated pool. No surface was left untouched,” Aerin says. “We created a private sanctuary.”
After ten months of intensive work, the transformation is nothing short of captivating. Explore the full story and see more details in the slideshow.
