California Chalet
The renovation of this 1906 country house takes its cues from the romance and idiosyncrasy of architect Myron Hunt’s vision for a Swiss chalet improbably planted in Southern California. While preserving the integrity and charm of the original architecture, we added new layers of color, texture, and furnishings that reflect the evolution of the home over time.
Conversations with our clients about the mood they wanted to create brought up names like Yves Saint Laurent, Wes Anderson, David Bowie, and Rihanna. We all imagined a house filled with music and beauty.
The rooms are designed for communal interaction— preparing food around the slender island we inserted in the kitchen; jamming in the music room; or having coffee in a breakfast nook adorned with pastoral scenes that echo the glorious mountain views.
We used splashes of peach, pink, yellow, robin’s egg blue, and pale green as a counterpoint to the dark woodwork. The colors animate the traditional architecture with a bright, contemporary spirit.
We combed through archival images of historic Swiss chalets in our early research. We wanted to have a firm grasp on the original vernacular in order to update the language in ways that feel sympathetic and respectful.
