Tuesday, June 18, 2013

la dwell home tours 2013: treehouse-modern-green-outdoors-in. words fail me.

It's that time of year again! Dwell is back in town with their June 21-23 Dwell on Design show which also includes home tours. Sunday, June 15 kicked off with their L.A. West Side Tour.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

The first house on the tour was, well, incredible. Dwell Home Venice.

I wandered about this property absolutely mesmerized. In order for you to understand the pictures, you have to be oriented to the uniqueness of the space. What I am about to say absolutely under sells what you are about to see. This home is a series of inter-connected boxes, with courtyards and gardens and stairways, leading in, out, up and down. There aren't halls, so much as paths. And one room, doesn't necessarily connect to the next room. In fact, the home is so unconnected that the design team ran into building code issues in the approval stage. The city insisted they were trying to build multiple homes on a lot zoned for only one home. Here we go.

The street view is a bit mysterious.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Pretty unassuming, huh? Regular plank exterior. Nothing fancy. Except there is that orange again. This shade of pumpkin orange is everywhere and is growing on me. It is a flashback retro color, and perhaps a trend. But I think it will be my new front door color. Why not?

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


This cave like entrance is wonderful. It has no real purpose but to welcome you into this unique dwelling. The entryway is strictly aesthetic, and sculptural which is kind of fantastic.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


The interior courtyard is a custom built area around a pine tree preserved as a focal point of the project. All the pine needles under the tree were saved also, to be re-used as a pine tree carpet. It is very soft. I have thoughts about the rain and would like to visit this home on a rainy day. For oh so many reasons.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Interesting-er and interesting-er.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


You step right into a living room kitchen area. These are giant mahogany folding glass doors.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


There are natural paths built with plantings and gravel. Positive and negative space, as it were (the landscaper told me that). Really clever.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

The interior gardens are all drought tolerant and really beautiful. You can tell they are young plantings. It will be exciting to watch it grow into the landscaper's vision.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


This is an outdoor dining room that serves to connect the front house with the back house and make the house zoned for R1 (single residential) as opposed to R2 (two residential units on a lot).

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


This is the master bedroom. However, any of the bedrooms are exquisite. Simple and spacious.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Indoor outdoor shower. Too fun.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


I loved this patio option. Seems like poured concrete with sand grouting. But I am guessing.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


All the outdoor vignettes are lovely.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Outdoor stairs to what?
Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


You are looking down at the living room kitchen. To the right is the outdoor eating area, which leads to the master bedroom, in the back of the house.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Up on this private deck is an upstairs garden. Can you see the meandering path built into the garden?

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


And a private little office, TV room and/or guest room. I believe there is another bathroom tucked behind that glass door.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


View from the sofa above.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Back down the stairs I go.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


This is an outdoor fireplace. It is gas. You pull the lid off and light 'er up.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Close up view of the outdoor garden from one of the two guest bedrooms. And another view of the path.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


This is an incredibly modest home by modern standards. It is only 2,400 square feet and three bedrooms. I think I counted two bathrooms, maybe three bathrooms at most (and I can't be sure about the third). Art is used sparingly which I appreciated.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Tidy, simple bathroom. No over abundance of glass tile (the latest trend).

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Jack and Jill bathroom. I like.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


View up to the little upstairs office. The porthole below is into the master bedroom. Are you getting a feel for the place?

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Here is a sneaky shot. The architect, Sebastian Mariscal, is on the right. And the landscape architect, Jack Kiesel is on the left. An admirer is in the middle. The resident, Michael Sylvester, was wandering around as well. All three were incredibly nice. Doing a little internet sleuthing, Michael Sylvester either was with or still is with Dwell on Design. Ah hah. This explains the extensive blog regarding the building of the Venice house. And maybe why it is called "Dwell Home Venice."

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Main office essentially completely separate from the main house.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Actually I think you can sneak through from the kitchen.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Another cute little porthole window.

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal


Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal




Dwell Home Venice, Architect Sebastian Mariscal

Um wow. This is a cool house that doesn't just scream COOL at you. They didn't over use metal or the industrial look. The unconnected spaces are unconventional, but flow beautifully. Well thought out, but not over designed. And, super comfortable.

The fun is just beginning. I saw four other houses last Saturday. Then there is the Dwell on Design Conference June 21-23 at the L.A. Convention Center. AND, I am going to do another home tour this  Saturday, June 22 -- East Side & Downtown.  I am skipping Canyons & Valley due to anticipated house fatigue. But should I?

Related Posts:

5 comments:

  1. That place is amazing!!! And I love the decor as much as I do the architecture. The planters and succulents are fabulous too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good point Dana. The decor was perfect. It wasn't overly "designed." The big names are present but they are subtle and worked in tastefully. The accessories are minimal and the art is also used sparingly but well. It would be easy to over do this house, but you can tell restraint was present in every decision.

      Delete
  2. What an interesting house!! I love all the pathways and courtyards etc. I like the area where the living room meets the kitchen/meets outdoors. Love the gardens. Stunning home. : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it? The pathways that lead you from one vignette to the next were my favorite part. It was the first home on the tour and I had to remind myself not to linger as I had a lot of territory to cover. More about that later!

      Delete
  3. I like how simple it is...and the landscaping is lovely.

    ReplyDelete

Comments keep things interesting and I respond to most.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.