A Present From The Past

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AAHA Studio works with Nickey Kehoe to deftly maneuver a 1920s Spanish-style home into the present with timeless style 

The wetbar carved into the stairs features wallpaper by Zak + Fox and a vintage table by Nickey Kehoe.
Photo by Dan Arnold.

Founded by husband and wife team Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz, AAHA Studio’s approach is driven by problem-solving and curiosity. While still students at the University of Southern California, they developed a love for design and architecture that extended beyond just aesthetics. “We approach every project by thoroughly analyzing the client’s information and lifestyle needs and distilling them down into a custom solution that’s unique to that client and that space,” Halprin notes. 

In the living room a navy curved sofa from Nickey Kehoe. The chairs are vintage and the mushroom lamp is from Nickey Keho. Photo by Dan Arnold.

“We’d met the homeowners through previous clients,” Leshtz remembers. “They didn’t want to add any square footage to the 5,200-square-foot, 1920’s Spanish-style home located in Brentwood. Instead, the focus was on bringing it back to its original architectural style.” The renovation proved to be highly technical, almost surgical in its precision and attention to detail. “It was a two year process focused on a full spatial reconfiguration opening up the primary living area, refining the circulation and rethinking how each space connects and functions,” says Leshtz, ticking off the firm’s many objectives. “We perfected the doors, the windows and the openings. We reconfigured the millwork and optimized the overall flow of the house.” 

The kitchen cabinets are by Plain English. The pendants are vintage. The stools and the runner were found at Nickey Kehoe. Photo by Dan Arnold.
A breakfast nook features a Nickey Kehoe swing arm sconce. The art was also sourced from Nickey Kehoe as were the NK Collection Spindle dining chairs. Photo by Dan Arnold.

Orchestrating a smooth workflow between all the people that are involved in renovating a project is always a challenge. “There’s the structural engineer, the general contractor, the kitchen designer and the interiors team,” Halprin shares. “Coordinating the kitchen in particular was a masterclass in logistics.” Frequent communication ensured that the technical structural requirements and the aesthetic design stayed perfectly in sync. “In any renovation, you inevitably find unexpected conditions once you open up the walls but we had a fantastic team that were able to iron out all the complexities together,” Leshtz affirms.

The powder room wallpaper is by Lim & Handtryck. The sconces are vintage. Photo by Dan Arnold.

“One of the client’s biggest priorities was creating a kitchen island that could truly serve as the heart of the home, a place where the family could gather comfortably and host large celebrations together,” says Nickey Kehoe’s Amy Kehoe who, along with her business partner Todd Nickey handled the interior design. “She was really excited about having both a mudroom and a butler’s pantry,” adds Nickey. “The existing footprint of the house didn’t quite allow for both so we designed what we call “the mudler,” a hybrid space that combines the functionality of a mudroom with the utility of a butler’s pantry.”

The primary bedroom features a vintage chandelier, bed and rug. Photo by Dan Arnold.

Not surprisingly, the kitchen is the heart and star of the home. “The entire project actually started there,” Halprin clarifies. “By opening up the walls we allowed the space to flow seamlessly into the rest of the home. It’s no longer just a place to cook but a highly interactive pivot point around which the family comes together.” 

A vintage light dangles over the tub in the primary bathroom. Photo by Dan Arnold.
The shower is lined in marble with exuberant veining. Photo by Dan Arnold.

“They absolutely love it!,” says Leshtz of the final result. “They specifically mentioned how much they appreciate the improved flow and having significantly more usable space for entertaining, especially in the kitchen.” Amy Kehoe agrees. “She especially loves using it when her children visit,” Kehoe laughs. “They love the craftsmanship and that so many of the objects have stories. The house feels entirely renewed while still retaining the comfort and familiarity of the home they’ve loved for more than a decade.”