The former home and studio of mid-century modern architect A. Quincy Jones, known as “the Barn” was originally designed as a photographer’s studio in 1950. Located at 10300 Santa Monica Blvd, the traditional wood building was remodeled by Jones in 1965 after his home burned down in a hillside fire. The 3,729 square foot space features 35-feet high ceilings with a sky-lit multipurpose atrium surrounded by numerous living and studio spaces.

In 2008, Elaine Kollins Sewell Jones, Hon. AIA/LA, the famed architect’s widow, put the residence on the market, where it sat until November 2009 when it sold for $2M to the Annenberg Foundation, ensuring the Barn’s preservation and restoration.

The barn’s renovation was spearheaded by AIA award-winning architect Frederick Fisher. In an interview with Dwell in July 2010, Fisher explained why it was important to rehabilitate the Barn, even though Jones did not build the original structure. “Quincy Jones was one of the premiere California modernists out of the Case Study era, part of the second generation after Schindler and Neutra,” Fisher says. “The Barn was remodeled by him and so it has a very distinctly A.Q. Jones feel to the interior. It was his place of residence, his workplace and a place where many of the activities revolved around his being dean of the School of Architecture at USC.

“When you’re in that building, you really feel you’re in the environment of two very sensitive, design-oriented people,” he continues. “Elaine Jones, his wife, worked with Herman Miller. She and Quincy were friends of Charles and Ray Eames. So it’s not only a design environment. When you’re in it, you’re very much immersed in the ’60s and ’70s design ethos and in a piece of cultural history as well.”

See more photos of the Barn, including photos from the original MLS listing, after the break.

According to the Frederick Fisher and Partners‘ site: “A light touch was used in the renovation with the effort to preserve the integrity of the building for its renewed use as a live-work and social environment. Much of Jones’ furniture, art, books, and artifacts remain, adding to the feeling of being immersed in the ’60s and ’70s design ethos within a piece of cultural history.”

A photo of the dining room, atrium above, and floating bookshelf below, as they appeared at the time of the listing in 2008.

And here are a few photos of the Barn’s renovations…

The barn is now headquarters of the Chora Council, part of the Metabolic Studio, an Annenberg Foundation project led by artist and philanthropist Lauren Bon.

(Photos courtesy of Elaine Jones via Dwell, Frederick Fisher and Partners, Design Faith and MLS)

14329 Millbrook Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
2 BR, 2 BA
$950,000

Designed by Harwell Hamilton Harris, a contemporary of Richard Neutra and Rudolf Schindler, this modernist home built in 1941 is located south of the Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.

Nestled in a private setting below street level, the residence features panoramic mountain and city views and an open floor plan. The 2,000 square foot interior offers a unique floor plan with large expanses of glass and French doors that run along the full length of two sides of the house and open up to the terrace and patio.

The spacious living room also has beautiful hardwood floors and an original fireplace.

The gourmet kitchen includes granite countertops, Viking Range, and refurbished original wood cabinets.

The master suite has a large living area and a private bath.

This Harwell Hamilton Harris residence is move-in ready and located in an ideal spot with easy access to the Westside. If you’d like to see it in person, email me or call me at 323-775-6305!

More info and photos of 14329 Millbrook Dr.

If you’d like to see more of Harwell Hamilton Harris’ work, check out my posts on the Alexander House and the Hansen House, which were stops on the 2009 MAK Tour.

Listing courtesy of Derek London and Victor London, Rodeo Realty.

2014 Balmer Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90039
4 BR, 2 BA
$1,499,000 Sold for $1,428,500

Built in 1929, this Spanish style home was designed by William P. Kesling, one of R.M. Schindler’s draftsmen turned builder/architect. The charming 2,709 square foot home in Silver Lake features Art Deco influences and is located on a large lot with fantastic views of the Reservoir.

The home has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and an office/library, lounge room with a banquette, and a newly redone kitchen by John M. Sofio of Built Inc.

There is good natural light upstairs, as well as tremendous detailing, including a hand-painted Art Deco ceiling and period light fixtures.

The residence also features a two-car garage, a large laundry room, and a courtyard with a fountain, multi-level terraces, and a grassy flat yard.

Most of the rooms face the Reservoir and Mountain views.

This charming Silver Lake home has only been on the market two times in the last 60 years. It’s in a perfect Silver Lake location and because of this it’s a must-see for a high end Silver Lake buyer. Plus, it’s located in the Ivanhoe Elementary School district. If you’d like to see it in person, email me call me at 323-775-6305!

More info and photos of 2014 Balmer Dr.

Listing courtesy of Rosemary Low, Sotheby’s International Realty-Los Feliz.

1901 Myra Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
2 BR, 2 BA
$950,000

Designed by R.M. Schindler, the Philip & Phyllis Schlessinger House is located in Los Feliz, just steps from the Shakespeare Bridge. This mid-century modern was commissioned in 1952 and built in 1956. It was Schindler’s last commissioned home.

The original owners are selling the residence and offering the original furnishings, some designed by Schindler. The home’s interior features mid-century design touches, including wood beamed ceilings, vertical blinds, wood sconces, room dividers, pocket doors, and built-ins. There are 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, plus an office, with city lights views from the living room and office. There is also a nice-size backyard.

This home has maintained its original mid-century charm, but has also been updated with new copper plumbing, new waste lines, central heat, updated electrical, and a new roof. I’m guessing the house still needs some work but a Schindler enthusiast will surely snatch this one up.

If you’d like to see this Schindler in person, email me or call me at 323-775-6305!

More info and photos of 1901 Myra Ave.

Listing courtesy of David Kinder, Keller Williams-Studio City.

Interior shot courtesy of TriangleModernistHouses.com.

Wow! The itinerary for the MAK Architecture tour this year has me very very excited (I actually scheduled our Honeymoon for September so I’d be around for this). This year’s tour is themed around renowned architectural photographer Julius Shulman as it will feature modern residences he shot over the course of his career. Homes to be featured on the October 10th tour: Lovell Health House (R. J. Neutra, 1929), the Gold House (R.M. Schindler, 1945), the Kun House (R. J. Neutra, 1936, seen above), the Hillside House (Carl Lewis Maston, 1948), Shulman House (Raphael Soriano, 1950), and the Gantert House (Pierre Koenig, 1981). Oh yes, this is going to be amazing.

Tickets are on sale now. For more info and to order tickets visit the MAK Center web site.

Coverage of last year’s MAK Architecture Tour.

6853 Pacific View Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068
Unit 1 – 2BR, 1BA
Unit 2 – 1BR, 1BA
$799,000

This new listing has enough history to satisfy the most seasoned architecture buff. In 1912 a hunting cabin was built for the Dodge family in the Hollywood Hills. The hillside property (which has been owned by the same family for the last 80 years) has views of the Hollywood sign, Observatory and city lights. In 1950 the family hired R.M. Schindler to remodel one side of the duplex. According to the owner, shortly thereafter Gregory Ain moved into the other side and remodeled that half. Two mid-century modern masters for the price of one!

Now this home is on the market and presents an opportunity for a new owner to enjoy the work of two of the most important mid-century modern architects of the last decade in one building.

The duplex is 1,951 square feet on a 10,023 square foot lot. If you would like to see this piece of Los Angeles architectural history please email me or call me at 323-775-6305!

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.

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.

Congrats to the Bubeshko Apartments for receiving a 2010 Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award. The apartments (located at  2036-2046 Griffith Park Blvd in Silver Lake) were designed by R.M. Schindler in the 1930s for Anastasia Bubeshko and her daughter. The two lived there and rented out the units for 60 years to local artists and musicians (including sculptor Gordon Newell and architect Gregory Ain). When the current owners bought the building in 2005 they worked with architecture firm DSH to restore the apartment complex. Their work caught the eye of the LA Conservancy who will honor them with an award at this year’s award luncheon on May 13th.

Learn more about the Bubeshko Apartments and other award winners.

(photo courtesy of you-are-here.com)

4217 Scandia Way
Los Angeles, CA 90065
3 BR, 2.5 BA
$899,000 $859,000

Perched on the top of a hill near the end of a dead end street overlooking Eagle Rock and Highland Park, this new listing certainly takes advantage of the dramatic location. Nearly every square inch of the house seems to have a view – a good plan since the view is simply incredible. The exterior reminds me of this mid-century Schindler, but the inside is where the Schindler comparisons end.

The upstairs has a big kitchen/dining room and a nice sized living room as well (with a big deck). Downstairs are the bedrooms, laundry room and bathrooms. Some of the design was a little too modern for my taste, but overall I found this house to be surprisingly comfortable.

This is an expensive house for Eagle Rock, but with more people looking in the area I’m sure it will get some offers. If you’re looking for a Hollywood Hills style house in Northeast L.A., then this definitely check this out!

To see the rest of the photos click here.