The owners of the design firm Working Holiday Studio renovated their mid-century private residences by opening up the kitchen, adding skylights, and filling the interior with contemporary décor.
The house, called Zen Den, is located in Woodland Hills, a suburban community in Los Angeles located about a 20-minute drive from the beach.
Carlos Nodd and Whitney Brown – the couple behind Work Holiday Studio and his interior design companion, Working Holiday Spaces – bought a ranch-style home in the 1960s during the coronavirus pandemic.
The duo, who has a young son, previously lived in a compact urban dwelling and wanted more space. The house checked several boxes, but needed an overhaul.
“We wanted to bring the residence back to its original glory while reimagining modern living,” the couple said, noting that they also worked as a general contractor for the project, with input from their friend Zach Lee of Goodboy Develops.
On the outside, the stucco cladding has been repaired and repainted. The duo also installed a new roof, along with new windows and patio doors.
Inside, the one-story, four-bedroom home was destroyed. Upgrades were made to the floors, insulation systems, plumbing, electrical, and much of the drywall.
The team added skylights and reshaped certain areas of the house. In particular, a wall between the kitchen and the dining room was removed.
“We’ve opened up the kitchen so you can enjoy the views, added skylights throughout the house to let in more light, and completely reconfigured and renovated the two bathrooms,” the designers said.
For finishes and décor, the duo drew inspiration from Japanese, Scandinavian, and Mexican design styles. The house is meant to serve as a showroom.
“We have worked with designers and brands to showcase their products in our home,” the designers said. “We are creating an online store where people can buy products.”
The living room is fitted with a rust-colored velvet sofa from Normann Copenhagen and a round coffee table with tube-shaped legs from Hedge House. White chair from Noom, a young studio in Ukraine.
The adjoining dining room has a black marble table by Mexican brand Casa Quieta, which also fitted the chairs. Overhead is a Mori necklace by RBW in Brooklyn.
In the kitchen, designers sought luxurious materials that are easy to maintain. The prefab cabinets are from Danish company Reform, and the quartz worktops are from Caesarstone.
The breakfast nook features a custom terrazzo table from California-based Concrete Collaborative. In fact, the terrazzo was a relic from a guest bathroom renovation.
The table has a base in white oak – the same wood used to make the surrounding bench. Oak was also used for flooring throughout the house.
The sleeping areas feature neutral colors and cozy décor. In the children’s bedroom, the designers installed a wooden bunk bed from Auf that can be arranged in different configurations.
Bathrooms feature Concretti sinks, co-op worktops, and Fireclay ceramic tiles. Kuzco lighting and Kohler fixtures conclude the choice.
Given the pleasant climate of Southern California, the designers wanted to incorporate an opportunity for indoor and outdoor living. The backyard is decked out with a neighbor’s sectional sofa and chunky table by Zachary A, along with a custom 12-person dining group.
Other projects by Working Holiday Studio include Casa Mami, an all-white vacation home that stands in stark contrast to its California desert setting, near Joshua Tree National Park. Like Zen Den, the house is meant to be shoppable, as guests can purchase décor via a dedicated website.
Filmed by Candida Woolgemouth and Carlos Naud.