Past Perfect

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a1000x Better’s Kirsten Blazek gives an architectural gem a new look

A 22 piece DeSede sofa anchors the warmth of the living room’s wood walls. It’s paired with an Ole Bjorn Kruger ceramic coffee table and a daybed by A.R. Cordemeyer. Images by Michael P.H. Clifford.

The homes that architects create for themselves offer a unique opportunity to experience their work in its purest form. Unshackled from a client’s desires, they’re free to play and experiment, sculpting their ideas into a tangible, compelling reality that showcases their design philosophy and aesthetic.

The rug is from Mehraban; the side table is by Metaform. Images by Michael P.H. Clifford.

Witness the home that architect Dick E. Lowry designed for his family in 1961. Nestled in L.A.’s Franklin Hills neighborhood, it celebrates Lowry’s fascination with construction and natural materials, utilizing the exposed wood of the home’s post-and-beam framework—slender wood posts, overhanging rafters, tongue-and-groove decking—and the stone that forms its tapered chimney and floating hearth, to merge the home with its setting. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows, sliding doors and clerestory windows, designed to frame striking views, confirm that objective. For further emphasis, he added terraced gardens, ample decks and a fire pit.

The dining room rug is by Mehraban, the chairs are vintage. Images by Michael P.H. Clifford.

The striking home found its ideal interior designer in a1000x Better’s Kirsten Blazek, who was given the task of renovating the home. Fortunately, the home in good condition and, in contrast to many homes of that period, the flow of its open plan layout—three bedrooms topped by a sprawling living room, kitchen and dining room—was surprisingly modern. “The thoughtfulness and intentionality behind the architecture made it a very alluring place to be,” Blazek confides. She was pleased to discover that its original features—wood cladding, built-in millwork and custom lights—had been well-maintained. Even the window above the fireplace, designed to encourage cross-breezes that cool the home in a time before air conditioning was ubiquitous, was in smooth working condition. While the kitchen and baths had been remodeled by previous owners, much of the home’s original character remained intact. “It was impeccable,” she remembers of her first impression.

In the kitchen, Charlotte Perriand-style stools snuggle up to the counter while Thonet chairs cluster around an Eames-style conference table repurposed as a dining table. Images by Michael P.H. Clifford.

“The idea was to refresh the interiors to reflect the way we live now, without detracting from its stunning architectural lines,” she shares. With that goal in mind, she turned to Amsterdam Modern, trusting her keen eye for space planning and her sophisticated understanding of color, pattern and shape, to choose pieces that would highlight the inherent charm. “Our aim was to use vintage, era-appropriate pieces to highlight its best features.” To bring a sense of gravitas to the interiors, she focused on iconic mid-century designers such as De Sede and Pierre Chapo. “Our approach was intentionally restrained—”less is more”—allowing the architecture to take center stage while the furnishings served as quiet complements,” she explains. “Rugs played a key role in grounding our design. We partnered with Mehraban to select pieces that featured muted palettes and graphic patterns, adding texture and depth without overwhelming the space, and harmonizing beautifully with the home’s overall color story.”

The bedroom’s rug was discovered at Mehraban. Images by Michael P.H. Clifford.
A flatweave rug from Mehraban elevates the primary bath. Images by Michael P.H. Clifford.

While subtle washes of color reinforce the home’s partnership with nature, Blazek relied on texture to reinforce the soft, dappled light of the sun peeking through the home’s dense landscaping: there’s the rumpled leather of the De Sede sofa in the living room, whose half moon curve is the manifestation of hug, the plush chenille of the Ligne Roset sofa in the studio, a space Blazek carved out of the large, open unused landing zone at the bottom of the stairs; or the worn hide of the Thonet chairs that gather around the smooth, rich wood of the kitchen’s Eames table. 

Ligne Roset’s Marsala loveseat, a striking Belgo Chrom desk, and a Roche Bobois natural stone cat’s eye coffee table elevate the work from home space into something inspiring. Images by Michael P.H. Clifford.

“I was so happy with the finished result,” says Blazek. “I felt like we had achieved our goal of maintaining the architectural integrity and historical significance of the home, while bringing in contemporary elements the would allow the home’s wonderful, original qualities to shine.”