1928 Spanish colonial revival home gets a beautiful refresh in the hills of Los Feliz

Spanish Colonial Revival exterior with palm tree and arched dark green garage doors

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This Spanish colonial revival home was beautifully reimagined by Tim Barber Architects together with Lucas Studio, Inc., perched high on a hillside in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac, this gem was a fortunate find for the homeowners when it was listed for sale. Built in 1928, this property offered 6,100 square feet of living space with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and two half-baths.

The views are nothing short of spectacular, showcasing vistas from Pasadena all the way to Santa Monica, and the entertaining backyard capitalizes on this. Inside, a lot of work was required to turn this homeowner’s dream into a reality. Project goals focused on protecting historic integrity, while providing convenience, safety, and comfort for owners who have two small children and three dogs.

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECT Tim Barber Architects
INTERIOR DESIGN Lucas Studio, Inc.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects

Courtyard Entry and Foyer with Terracotta Tile

Courtyard entry with terracotta floor, clay urns, and white stucco walls

This renovation rearranged several spaces, including the kitchen, baths, and closets. The architects created a home office and a new bunk room, revising and extending several view terraces and balconies. Throughout, new plank flooring, vaulted ceilings, new doors and windows, and new mechanical systems complete this makeover.

Arched covered walkway with terracotta tile floor and dark wood beam ceiling

Above: The owners wanted to preserve as many of the Spanish Revival elements as possible without going too modern. Retaining some of these trademark details in the home meant the project team would actually have to recreate them. A weathered door and the entry tile flooring were both replaced with almost exactly the same aesthetic.

Entry foyer with stone table, curved staircase, and wrought iron railing

Above: In the entry, a beautiful table was sourced from Obsolete, while the light fixture suspended above the staircase is from Apparatus.

Vintage brass room call panel with labeled buttons

Above: Labeled for the living room, dining room, owners room, and guest room, this brass call panel is a nod to the home’s 1928 past.

Living Room with Beamed Ceiling

Living room with beamed ceiling, arched window, and skyline view

The designer infused artful, lighthearted, contemporary finishes that balance the solid plaster shelter and wrought iron. It’s a perfect place to raise a modern family with a love of history.

Living room with curved gray sofa, live edge coffee tables, and white fireplace

Above: In the living room, the distressed vintage cabinets on either side of the fireplace and the custom rounded sofa are from the designer’s own shop, Harbinger. The exquisite live-edge wood cocktail tabletops were found on a shopping trip in France, and their faux bois metal bases were custom crafted to complement them. The ceiling light fixture was found in Lisbon, Portugal.

White plaster fireplace with eclectic mantel decor and distressed wood chests

What We Love About This Home

This 1928 Los Feliz home has preserved its Spanish Revival character, from the terracotta entry tile to the plaster walls and wrought iron details. Lighthearted contemporary furnishings, vintage finds, and bold color in the olive green office and navy bunk room give each space its own personality. Sweeping views from Pasadena to Santa Monica, along with a patio dining area overlooking downtown Los Angeles, make the hillside setting unforgettable.

Tell Us: What features in this Spanish colonial revival home renovation project do you find most intriguing? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in the state of California: This Colonial Revival home gets a stunning makeover in the hills of Los Feliz and A beautiful Santa Barbara Spanish revival house on the Newport Coast.

Sitting area with large abstract artwork, floral sofa, and striped armchair

Living room with round oak table, leather chairs, and beamed ceiling

Arched hallway with terracotta tile floor leading to a cozy sitting room

Cozy Snug with Corner Fireplace

Family room with curved sofa, travertine coffee table, and plaid roman shades

Above: Called the “Snug” (an English term to describe a cozy sitting area), this is the owner’s favorite room in the home. Interestingly enough, the previous owner of 40 years also loved spending time in this room. It is one of the smaller rooms in the home and was designed to feel intimate. The sofa is a custom piece, upholstered in an outdoor velvet fabric from Perennials. Grounding this space is an area rug by Marc Phillips.

Sitting room corner fireplace with travertine coffee table and plaid roman shade

Above: This unique fireplace in the corner of the room was raised way up high and had the appearance of a pizza oven. The designer gave it a rounded shape to help it feel more cohesive with the room.

Open hallway with oak cabinetry leading to the kitchen

Open Kitchen with Custom Oak Island

Kitchen with oak island, marble countertop, and white plaster range hood

Above: The owners love to entertain, so their kitchen needed to be open and functional. The custom island features bar stools by Thomas Hayes. Suspended over the island, the pendant lights are by Hector Finch for Harbinger.

Kitchen island with woven leather counter stools and brass faucet

Dining Room with City Views

Dining room with rustic trestle table, cane chairs, and ceramic vases

Above: The dining room was one of the largest structural changes made in this home. Part of this space was once an enclosed sunroom, along with a smaller dining room that did not capitalize on the views. A wall was removed to open this space up. A rustic dining table sourced from Obsolete is paired with Hoffmann armchairs from Design Within Reach. Reupholstered antique chairs are set at either end of the table. The ceiling fixture is from the Urban Electric Co.

Dining room with rustic wood table, cane chairs, and large abstract artwork

Powder Room with Antique Stone Sink

Powder room with antique stone sink, oval brass mirror, and patterned wallpaper

Above: The powder room is situated on the main level, featuring wallpaper from Zak+Fox. The sink top is from Compas Stone, while the wall sconces are from the Urban Electric Co.

Olive Green Home Office

Home office with olive green walls, built-in shelves, and oak desk

Above: In the home office, the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball – Bancha No. 298, a deep, muted olive green.

Owner’s Bedroom and Bathroom

Primary bedroom with leather bench, framed artwork, and hillside city views

Above: In the owner’s bedroom, bed linens were sourced from Parachute. The artwork is from the designer’s shop, Harbinger. A settee from CB2 sits at the foot of the bed. Best of all, this is where the owner’s three dogs get to sleep!

Primary bathroom with freestanding concrete tub and arched window

Above: The owner’s bathroom got a full-scale renovation. To enjoy the spectacular view, a concrete freestanding tub was sourced from Native Trails, complemented by hardware from Waterworks. The pendant light over the tub is from Allied Maker.

Bathroom with oak vanity, arched mirror, and marble shower with glass door

Bunk Room and Nursery

Bunk room with navy built-in bunk beds and brass sconces

Above: The bunk room was custom designed to accommodate overnight guests, which include the couple’s nieces and nephews (and future sleepovers for their own kids). The bunks are painted in Farrow & Ball – Scotch Blue No. W24. The rug is from Marc Phillips.

Nursery with animal wallpaper, spindle cribs, and yellow roman shades

Above: In the nursery, the whimsical wallpaper is by Schumacher. A pair of Jenny Lind Heirloom Maple Wood Convertible Cribs are from Crate & Barrel Kids.

Guest Bedroom with Leather Headboard

Guest bedroom with leather headboard, striped curtains, and leather sling chairs

Above: This guest bedroom connects to the nursery and eventually will become one of the children’s bedrooms.

Laid-Back California Outdoor Living

Courtyard pool reflecting white stucco facade with tile roofs and arched loggia

Backyard patio with two chairs and a balcony on the stucco facade

Curved bay window with turned wood spindles beneath a clay tile roof

Wrought iron grille over a round window on a white stucco wall

Hillside garden with potted cypress trees, palm tree, and city views

Outdoor dining patio with marble table, string lights, and potted cypress trees

Above: Indoor-outdoor living is quintessential Southern California. This alfresco dining area features a Restoration Hardware table and vintage black Sculptura chairs by Russell Woodard, all set against sensational views over downtown Los Angeles.

PHOTOGRAPHER Karyn Millet