A Mid-Century Redo
Beverly Hills, CA
2024
Crest House is a renovation of a flat-roofed mid-century residence situated in the Beverly Crest neighborhood of Los Angeles. Originally designed by architect Robert Skinner in 1957 and photographed by Julius Shulman in 1959, the house had undergone multiple alterations over time, masking many of its defining features. Our office was commissioned by the current owner to restore the home’s original architectural clarity while introducing new interventions that respond to contemporary modes of living.
With little available documentation of the original construction, Shulman’s photographs served as a key reference throughout the process, informing decisions around materiality, spatial flow, and the house’s relationship to its hillside site. The renovation focused on reestablishing the continuity between interior and exterior spaces by restoring concealed elements such as the Douglas fir ceiling and brick walls, and by replacing windows, doors, and skylights with higher-performance assemblies that maintain visual openness.
Structural stabilization around the concealed bedrock made it possible to reconfigure the pool area and introduce a new landscape of drought-tolerant, pollinator-supporting plants. These exterior interventions were conceived as extensions of the interior spaces, reinforcing the house’s sectional relationship to the slope and the horizontal datum established by the flat roof.
The interior design sought to playfully pair the owner’s vibrant collection of furnishings and contemporary art with the mid-century qualities of the house. Existing pieces were refreshed and expanded upon, while art, books, and objects were curated to give each room its own distinct character. Two bathrooms were treated as materially specific environments—one clad in matte peach mosaic tile, the other featuring graphic wallpaper by artist Geoff McFetridge and a custom emerald green mirror. In the kitchen and dining areas, mint green cabinetry introduces a soft, desaturated tone that complements the restored Douglas fir ceiling and new oak flooring. Throughout, contrasts between natural materials and bold color moments reflect the collaborative nature of the project and offer a contemporary reframing of the mid-century aesthetic.
Designer: Jackilin Hah Bloom
Project Team: Andrea Sanchez
Photography: Ye-Rin Mok
Structural Engineer: Fabio Zangoli / Labib Funk + Associates
General Contractor: Tim Haynie Construction
