The founders of design studio Ome Dezin, Jesse Rudolph and Joelle Kutner, naturally always use the building they’re working on and its location as their ‘North Star’ when creating the interiors – but something unexpected usually finds its way into their design narrative.
In the case of an unloved 1950s house in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighbourhood, it was a visit to a bauhaus exhibition on a trip to Aspen that supplied the creative spark. The movement’s emphasis on simplicity and a lack of ornamentation, as well as its use of primary colours, helped bring a charming freshness to their sensitive restoration.
Of all LA’s diverse architectural styles – 1980s Spanish, 1920s Tudor – that they have worked with, we suspect mid-century modern is Jesse and Joelle’s favourite. The clean, rectangular forms and walls of gleaming glass make the perfect vehicle for their unique brand of laid-back, cosy California cool. With their focus on indoor-outdoor living, these 1950s gems are highly prized, even if they aren’t always in the best shape.
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The treasure the duo uncovered in Brentwood ‘had a lot of character that we wanted to hold on to, but it hadn’t been restored in any significant way’, Joelle says. They had previously worked on an A Quincy Jones house not too far away. ‘It was a popular place for mid-century builds at that time, so they’re mixed throughout the neighbourhood,’ Jesse adds.
With its post-and-beam construction, huge windows and tongue-and-groove ceilings, this home, which was built in 1956, was a classic example of the period. It had to be taken apart and put back together, with everything from the roof to the plumbing upgraded to meet modern building standards.
It was a costly and time-consuming process – ironic, Jesse reflects, given that the mid-century movement was seen as an inexpensive way to build. ‘It was not well maintained yet, 70 years later, it was in pretty decent condition,’ he says.
While they weren’t able to keep all the features, he and Joelle did everything they could to honour the spirit of the design by, for example, incorporating stained-glass elements that echoed the original dyed-glass half-walls. Because the house is next to a primary school, they imagined a family living here and reconfigured the internal layout accordingly, with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, including a generous main suite.
‘We’re not preservationists. You aren’t going into a museum,’ asserts Joelle of their ‘creative interpretation’. While there is plenty of mid-century furniture – from local firm Den – throughout the home, it is mixed with contemporary pieces and colourful rugs and textiles.
Joelle’s favourite room is an en suite with wood-panelled walls, poppy-red fixtures and a skylight over the shower. ‘The way the light hits the tiles and the wood, you’re taken aback. It sounds silly, being wowed by your own design!’ she says, laughing.
They both feel that the entryway – originally home to a potted tree – has a special quality. In that spirit, they retained the planter and added a circular skylight, repeating the motif with large circles in the front door. Joelle says: ‘When you walk in or leave, it’s this perfect bright, beautifully lit moment.’ omedezin.com
