This modern Los Angeles home was originally built in 1965, remodeled after the 1985 earthquake, and recently reimagined by Brooke Spreckman of Design Hutch. “The clients spent decades in a cozy California Ranch, ideal for raising their family,” Brooke tells us. “As empty nesters, they were in search of a new living experience. They were attracted to the home’s dramatic organic architecture, soaring ceilings, and expansive views. The space makes them feel the beautiful possibilities of their next chapter.”

The architecture is unique among its many mid-century neighbors and was designed to take advantage of the sweeping views of the Encino Hills and Los Angeles beyond. It’s contemporary and modern, with a minimalist perspective. Brooke’s top priority was that nothing feel “overdone” and that the space would have an organic flow.  

The Design Hutch team leaned into the angled architecture, creating a sense of comfort mixed with a sleek design. From new flooring throughout—including a tiled entryway and hardwood throughout—to a full kitchen renovation and custom furniture, new life was breathed into nearly every corner.

Brooke says the biggest challenge was the lack of square-shaped rooms, specifically in the dining, lounge, and breakfast areas. “We had a lot of angles and open spaces to play around with,” she recalls. “And a lot of varying ceiling heights to clean up. During the planning phase, we had to peel back the layers of the various existing ceiling heights to see how much space we were actually working with.” 

“For the space being so wide and large, I’d say the kitchen location and size was not ideal,” she continues. “I always try and make the kitchen feel proportionate to the rest of the space, in terms of all things: size, materials, and general function. If you have a huge house with a small kitchen, it doesn’t make sense. For example, the way I look at designing kitchens for a home is similar to how a marketing agency might look at the company logo. To me, the kitchen is the brand image of the company. And if the kitchen is not on brand with the rest of the home, it feels out of place and almost nonfunctional.”

Obviously, the kitchen became the “brand” of this home. “All materials are enveloped in this space and every other space speaks to the kitchen in one way or another,” Brooke explains. Additionally, all bathrooms were gutted, rethought, and remodeled. “Where there was once a Jack and Jill bathroom, we reconfigured to create a new powder bathroom, as well as a separate full-sized bathroom,” she says. “This became the ‘new’ Jack and Jill, just in a different orientation.”

The project took around two years in total. “The clients originally brought me in to help with backyard furniture, but one thing led to another, and a 1-hour meeting turned into a 4-hour walkthrough of the house, talking about everything else they wanted to do, and we just kept going from there,” she recalls. “I think the clients were mostly just thankful the project was completed.”