I’m in love with this Burl Wood & Lucite Desk from Pieces. Crafted from burled mappa wood with lucite side panels, and stainless steel hardware, it’s perfect for a desk or a vanity. (By the way, does ‘burl’ make anyone else think of that Intervention episode? Just me? Ok then!) This lovely number was spotted in Lonny, of course. Doesn’t it look great paired with a striped wall? It’s on my someday wish list. Price: $2,750.

Or you could always buy an original, like a Sling Chair designed by Charles Hollis Jones in 1968. Jones was a pioneer in acrylic design,  and his work was commissioned by John Lautner, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Johnny Carson. Presented in a gorgeous floating design, the lucite of the Sling Chair is stretched using a special process that makes it exceptionally strong without bulkiness. Contact L.A. Moderne for pricing and availability.

Jones also designed the Wisteria Chair for Tennessee Williams who wanted a comfortable, yet modern, writing chair. Contact MaterialEnvironment for pricing and availability.

And if the above items are going on your wish list for now, CB2 has something a little more immediately attainable, yet still chic. Peekaboo Clear Nesting Tables. Price: $199

Kristin Kilmer of Kristin Kilmer Design, Inc. has been the interior designer of some of the most architecturally significant homes in Los Angeles, including John Lautner’s Wolff House and Stevens House, R.M. Schindler’s How House, and Ray Kappe’s Canna Road House. Kilmer combines the theories and practices of the mid-century masters with the current materials of today to create her “Eco Modern Luxury” approach to design. Her company uses the fundamental green values, demonstrating that design can be both sustainable and luxurious. Kilmer took a few moments out of her busy schedule to talk to Take Sunset about how she started working with mid-century masterpieces, how she gets into the mind of Schindler and Lautner, and what she’s doing in Grey’s Anatomy’s Sara Ramirez’s bathroom in Echo Park…

Take Sunset: How did you start working with architecturally significant homes in Los Angeles?

Kristin Kilmer: It was a bit of a fluke actually. I’d just returned from studying interior architecture at the Instituto Europea di Design in Madrid and was working at Design Within Reach, where I generated private clients while still being one of the top sales people. Michael LaFetra walked in on a Sunday afternoon and we immediately hit it off. He asked me to help him with his Ray Kappe house for the upcoming architectural tour. We had such a synergy that within a week, he asked me to design the Schindler How House as well. My last day of work, in walked Richard Baker, who owned a mid-century in Los Feliz, and he hired me as well. Talk about beginner’s luck!

Take Sunset: What are the biggest challenges when working on these homes?

Kilmer: Each one is really like a “Master Thesis” in the sense that it is important to really get inside the heads of the architects–to study and know their methodologies, history, ideology, and what made them innovative during their time period. Each one broke boundaries in architecture during their time and executed what their peers deemed impossible. Schindler built on concrete and invented a new way of framing, Launter defied gravity in ways never before thought possible… Moreover, it’s fundamental to respect the architectural integrity of the home and not just stick a Barcelona chair in the space and call it a day.

For the Schindler house, I kept everything on his 16” module while keeping his table low–just like he insisted upon during those days. I recreated a lot of his lines and architectural features as well. For example, he used a specific drip strip molding in between the windowpanes, which inspired the edge of the dining room tabletop. For the lighting downstairs, I maintained his lines as well, but asked myself, “what would he do if he were alive today?” From there, I created a more contemporary look with the lighting pieces.

For the Lautner Wolff House, I incorporated vintage, natural pieces that juxtaposed with the exterior, but also with all of the interior stone. I followed the curves and angles by adding mid-century curvilinear furniture, but I also updated the home with some contemporary sustainable pieces that integrated perfectly, such as swivel chairs incorporated with cork fabric. The sofa followed the exact same lines and the spiral staircase and a cantilevered bookshelf emphasized the steps that jetted out from the stone in the same fashion–a genius way of engineering. I really put a lot of thought into my designs. The planning and conceptual phase is fundamental. I always say, Good design takes time!

Take Sunset: What is the most memorable project that you’ve worked on?

Kilmer: I would have to say the Lautner Wolff house. I was given a lot of creative freedom on that project because I knew Michael LaFetra’s taste and style by that time. And let’s face it. It’s a Lautner!

Take Sunset: What projects are you working on right now?

Kilmer: I’m working with Sara Ramirez from Grey’s Anatomy. We are doing a really innovative spa bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub designed on a platform in such a way that it almost looks like an infinity pool overlooking the hills in Echo Park. She is really into sustainability, so we are also incorporating a grey water system and focusing a lot on creating the space as a very healthy sanctuary. It is my most challenging project to date because the interior architecture that I designed is so complex that every square inch has to be micro-managed. Sara is an absolute dream to work with, as is the contractor Larry Byrnes, so I’m excited for the outcome! Sara has lived in extremely modest conditions up to this point in her life, and this is her first present to herself!

I’m also just finishing up the first prefab, modular LivingHome to be ever be installed in Orange County in Newport Beach. I custom designed practically all of the furniture for that home to integrate more storage and functionality. I believe part of being sustainable is creating modular pieces, so their twin teenager’s beds have drawers that can be dismantled and flat packed for easy transport.

I’m also the designer of the Go Green Home in Playa del Rey. As of right now, it has one of the highest Leed Platinum ratings to date and features the first solar powered eco elevator that runs on less electricity that a hair dryer.

Take Sunset: Wow, that’s amazing! In general, what are you goals when you start a new project?

Kilmer: First and foremost, my principal goal is to bring out my client’s vision and creativity, and to make it a co-creative process. I really don’t like it when a designer comes in and bullies someone into their own vision without considering the client’s needs. I will, however, veto something if I know if won’t work proportionally or it’s too trendy and they will tire of it. Longevity is really important. When I was a younger designer, I wasn’t confident enough to stand up for my hesitancy. But whenever I didn’t, the client was unhappy with their decision in the long run, and they would ended up wasting money because we would have to re-do it to what I originally advised!

I’m a sustainable designer, so a major goal is to keep renewable resources and energy efficiency in mind. Most importantly, non-toxicity in the home is key. We can’t save the planet if we are sick from poisons and mold in the home. And I always try to maintain the architectural integrity of the home both in the interior and how it juxtaposes with the exterior environment.

Other goals are to keep the process as stress-free as possible for the client, keep production running smoothly, maintain clear communication, solve problems quickly, stay within budget, and show clients their numbers with detailed spreadsheets and invoices. It’s frustrating to me that in the design world the schools don’t teach students any business skills. Luckily, I was in a few other professions before design because without that background, I would be dead already! On a day-to-day basis, very little of what we actually do is design. The bottom line is that you are running a business and wearing many hats. That’s the first thing my interns and assistants learn, and they are shocked. But ultimately, they are really grateful for the experience because they learn to run a business, and not how to be just designers.

Take Sunset: What is your favorite neighborhood in LA and why?

Kilmer: My favorite neighborhood is Venice, over by the pier where it’s more private and away from the boardwalk. I live right on Ocean Front walk, so I can walk and ride my bike anywhere on the weekends. Venice has a great sense of community, and the west side is at the forefront of the sustainable community. I really admire the work of David Hertz, and a lot of his houses are right by my place.

Thank you so much for this fascinating interview, Kristin! We look forward to keeping an eye on all your upcoming projects. Check out more about Kristin Kilmer on her website: kristinkilmerdesign.com.

“Visual Acoustics celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the world’s greatest architectural photographer, whose images brought modern architecture to the American mainstream. Shulman, who passed away this year, captured the work of nearly every modern and progressive architect since the 1930s including Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and Frank Gehry. His images epitomized the singular beauty of Southern California’s modernist movement and brought its iconic structures to the attention of the general public. This unique film is both a testament to the evolution of modern architecture and a joyful portrait of the magnetic, whip-smart gentleman who chronicled it with his unforgettable images.”

Check out this trailer for the film…

Film synopsis from juliusshulmanfilm.com.

12412 Deerbrook Lane
Los Angeles, CA 90049
3 BR, 1.75 BA
$1,899,000

This spectacular A. Quincy Jones home was built in 1950 and has been designated a cultural monument. Beautifully clean lines and walls of glass accentuate the original design of this secluded refuge in Brentwood. The home has undergone updates and renovation that stay true to its original architectural integrity.

The home is owned by film producer and serial renovator/restorer Michael LaFetra, who has bought, renovated, and sold a number of significant Modernist houses, including a Rudolph Schindler house in Sherman Oaks; Schindler’s How House in Silver Lake; Lautner’s Stevens House in Malibu and Wolff House in West Hollywood; Kappe’s Gould/LaFetra House in Brentwood; Thornton Abell’s Rich House in Brentwood; and Case Study House #21 on Wonderland Park Avenue in the Hollywood Hills that was designed by Pierre Koenig. LaFetra also commissioned the very last residential design by Koenig, an ocean front home in Malibu.

The property includes a gorgeous heated pool and beautiful patio area. There are also city lights and tree top views.

This notable mid-century modern is a rarity in today’s market. If you’d like to schedule a showing, call me at 323-775-6305 or email me!

More info and photos of 12412 Deerbrook Lane.

8530 Hedges Pl – John Lautner’s Wolff House 1961 (Top)
Los Angeles, CA 90069
4 BR, 3.5 BA
$5,895,000

2400 Carmen Crest Dr – Thornton Ladd’s Wolff House, 1958 (Bottom)
Los Angeles, CA 90068
2 BR, 1.75 BA
$1,995,000

There are currently not one but two architecturally significant Wolff Houses on the market. First we have John Lautner’s Wolff House. Built in 1961 this carries a much heftier price tag – which is probably why it’s been on the market for almost a year. This home is one of the most unique homes in all of Los Angeles and fully demonstrates Lautner’s genius and creativity.

Next we have Thornton Ladd’s Wolff House in the Hollywood Hills. While a few years older, this is the lesser-known of the two homes but is just as impressive. This one-0f-a-kind “floating glass pavilion” just hit the market and features panoramic ocean and city views.

More photos of the Wolff Houses after the break.

Lautner’s Wolff House:

Ladd’s Wolff House:

So which Wolff House would you buy if money was no object? Personally I think I’d go with Lautner’s. He’s always been one of my favorite archiects and how often do you get a chance to buy a designated Historical Monument?

If you’d like to set up a showing for either house please email me!

More photos and info of  8530 Hedges Pl (Lautner) and 2400 Carmen Crest Dr (Ladd).

Few architects made a bigger impact on the California landscape than John Lautner. One of the most significant Modernist architects, Lautner’s six decades of work produced more than 150 built works. To celebrate this amazing career, The Palm Springs Art Museum will be exhibiting Between Heaven and Earth: The Architecture of John Lautner from Febraury 20th until May 23rd.

Lautner’s work is well-known in the Palm Springs area as he designed a mountain cabin in the trees, a motel as desert retreat and a showcase home for designer Arthur Elrod, so this exhibit should be a perfect fit with the Museum.

On display will be 115 original drawings and sketches, ten original models, six large-scale architectural models, and the documentary film Infinite Space: The Architecture Of John Lautner (a movie I’ve been dying to see). I will definitely be checking this exhibit out when I go to Palm Springs in March.

For more information about the exhibit click here.

Palm Springs Art Museum
101 Museum Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262

John Lautner has contributed some of the most unusual and interesting houses to L.A.’s rich architectural history (see The Chemosphere for example), and the Segel House on Carbon beach in Malibu certainly is among his finest creations.

Built in 1979, the house has had a number of famous owners such as Courtney Cox and David Arquette who sold the house for over $33 million to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. The above photo shows how well the house fits in with the mountain landscape in the background. Imagine the views from those huge windows that look out onto the Pacific Ocean – to say this is a dream beach house is an understatement!

Thanks to Curbed I was able to find an aerial and some interior shots in the slideshow below.

Photo courtesy of you-are-here.com.

[cincopa 10505991]

The Chemosphere is a very fitting start to the “Best Of L.A.” series since for many people any conversation about the most interesting houses in L.A. must begin with the iconic Chemosphere house. Built in 1960 and designed by architect John Lautner, this eight-sided house in the Hollywood Hills was once named “the most modern home built in the world” by the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

While it’s hard to say if it still holds that title, The Chemosphere stands alone. Literally. The house is perched atop a 30 foot concrete pole. If that makes you a little nervous, know this: the house has survived earthquakes and heavy rainfall.

Structurally it may be sound, but the interior has had a tougher time. Years of being rented out for parties left the carpet in disarray, the walls in poor condition and overall the house gave off a sad worn-down vibe. Even The Simpsons made fun of it. Eventually it was bought in 2000 by Benedickt Taschen (publisher of some of the most stylish art books ever made) who restored it to its present-day glory.

The house is located at 7776 Torreyson Drive, but for a good look at The Chemosphere House go to 7777 Torreyson Drive.