Classic Spanish Style Gets a Modern Edge | Cross River Homes
Like many house hunters in Los Angeles, actor, writer, director and producer Andy Berman (Psych; Mirror Mirror) was looking for a midcentury modern home in the Hollywood Hills. He was fascinated by the famous Case Study houses and wanted a glass box of his own. But he couldn’t find anything.
Frustrated by coming up short, he checked into the Biltmore Four Seasons hotel, a 1930s Spanish-colonial-revival-style building in Montecito, California, with plenty of plaster and arches. Looking around, he wondered what it’d be like to add modern design to such a classic setting. “Could I incorporate all those things I love into a Spanish style, and would that even be cool?” he says.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Los Feliz, California
Who lives here: Andy Berman and his Great Dane, Herschel
Size: 2,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Frustrated by coming up short, he checked into the Biltmore Four Seasons hotel, a 1930s Spanish-colonial-revival-style building in Montecito, California, with plenty of plaster and arches. Looking around, he wondered what it’d be like to add modern design to such a classic setting. “Could I incorporate all those things I love into a Spanish style, and would that even be cool?” he says.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Los Feliz, California
Who lives here: Andy Berman and his Great Dane, Herschel
Size: 2,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Berman bought a test subject, a 1930s Spanish home in Los Feliz, with the idea of mixing its rounded curves and classic details with modern furnishings. He imagined a downtown loft set inside the large-scale rooms. “An eclectic-industrial interpretation of 1930s design,” Berman says.
To achieve this, though, he needed a lot more furniture. All he was bringing to his new home was a 1940s architectural file coffee table, his favorite piece. One day while shopping for furnishings, he found the builder of that very same coffee table sitting in his showroom surrounded by similar designs. Berman couldn’t believe it. He invited the designer, J.C. Hyrb of Style de Vie and Twenty Gauge, to check out his home and consider his vision. The two hit it off, and Hyrb agreed to consult on the interior design and build almost every piece of furniture.
They kept the classic arches but replaced the coffee-with-cream-colored walls typical of that era with white. They installed about 80 recessed lights throughout the house.
To achieve this, though, he needed a lot more furniture. All he was bringing to his new home was a 1940s architectural file coffee table, his favorite piece. One day while shopping for furnishings, he found the builder of that very same coffee table sitting in his showroom surrounded by similar designs. Berman couldn’t believe it. He invited the designer, J.C. Hyrb of Style de Vie and Twenty Gauge, to check out his home and consider his vision. The two hit it off, and Hyrb agreed to consult on the interior design and build almost every piece of furniture.
They kept the classic arches but replaced the coffee-with-cream-colored walls typical of that era with white. They installed about 80 recessed lights throughout the house.
The architectural file coffee table, shown here, set the stage for the furnishings, most of which Hyrb designed and built himself.
Hyrb took inspiration for the sofa from big sectionals found in downtown lofts, and the fact that Berman has a Great Dane and needed something large and durable. The fabric is from an old cotton army tent. He added traditional tufting to play on the 1930s-meets-modern-loft theme.
Hyrb took inspiration for the sofa from big sectionals found in downtown lofts, and the fact that Berman has a Great Dane and needed something large and durable. The fabric is from an old cotton army tent. He added traditional tufting to play on the 1930s-meets-modern-loft theme.
Comments