The home design trend cluttering up Instagram these days calls for neutral colors, natural materials, and a casual spirit—all of which describes this singular project in the foothills of historic Lincoln Heights in Los Angeles. But that’s where the similarities end, because this house, by Patrick Bernatz Ward, is the antithesis of trendy, fast, disposable design.
His clients, an artist and an actor, wanted a place that would “evoke a sense of Old California while incorporating a palette and aesthetic for contemporary living,” he says. “The house was built in 1907 for one of the original pioneer families of the neighborhood. Over the last century, the home was stripped of most of the original features and consisted of several eras of cobbled-together aesthetics based on the previous tenants.”
Patrick’s mission: “to thoughtfully honor the historical architecture while incorporating contemporary California materials, craftsmanship, and locally made furniture.” Below, he walks us through the timeless and trend-proof results.
Photography by John Daniel Powers, courtesy of Patrick Bernatz Ward.
N.B. This post is an update; the original version ran on Oct 9, 2020.
For more Los Angeles homes we admire, see:
- Kitchen of the Week: ‘SMILF’ Creator Frankie Shaw’s Newfangled Old-Fashioned Remodel by Reath Design
- LA Palette Cleanser: A Flash-Free Holmby Hills Makeover by DISC Interiors, Before and After
- Kitchen of the Week: French Mid-Century Style in Santa Monica
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