It's vibrant, artistic and full of personality.
A young couple was ready to completely redesign their three- and two-bedroom home in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. “They sought a complete transformation and wanted a space that would not only accommodate their growing family, but also capture the artistic essence of their eccentric Silver Lake neighborhood,” explains Shawn Taylor, co-founder of Dacotah Studio with his wife Tina . “We began our collaboration with them by formulating a shared mission – to combine comfort, style and their own personal fun.”
Marcus Meisler
A major renovation was required because the home was outdated and lacked a functional floor plan that suited the couple's passion for entertaining and cooking. The kitchen was small and hidden in a corner; the laundry room was outside; and the master bedroom and bathroom were at the front of the house, where there wasn't much natural light.
Marcus Meisler
But there was also a budget to contend with. “This project required a delicate balance between our client’s design wishes and financial limitations,” explains Tina. “To address this issue, we took a close look at material selection and looked for cost-effective alternatives without compromising on quality. This process reinforced the principle that value engineering is not just about cost reduction; It is a creative optimization that ensures design integrity while respecting financial parameters.”
Marcus Meisler
With that balance in mind, they rearranged the floor plan and made some room swaps: the family room became the kitchen; the old kitchen became the new master bathroom; and the old master bathroom became the laundry room. The new kitchen is larger and has doors to the backyard, while the master bedroom and bathroom are at the back of the house and also open to the backyard.
Marcus Meisler
“There was a lot of structural work,” Shawn explains. “It is a house on a hillside with height differences inside. Ensuring a seamless transition between different floors required precise space planning and creative use of design elements. The challenge was to integrate these subtle changes cohesively, optimizing the available space and emphasizing a sense of continuity throughout the home. Through thoughtful design solutions, we turned these small height differences into opportunities to improve the overall flow and visual appeal of the living spaces.”
Marcus Meisler
As you enter the home you enter either the living and dining room or the new kitchen. New windows were installed to provide the rooms with natural light. Postmodern furniture and art complement the muted palette of hard materials.
Marcus Meisler
“The kitchen features maple wood cabinets and Taj Mahal counters with a large island and curved details that open up to the backyard with the large bi-fold doors,” adds Tina.
The bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry room are on the other side of the house. The master bedroom has a large ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet.
Marcus Meisler
“The shared bathroom is in the middle of the rooms and has Tadelakt walls and Bejmat herringbone floors,” says Shawn. Next to it is the new laundry room with custom cabinetry and a side-by-side washer and dryer. The result is a serene and tailored environment that perfectly embodies the vibrant and artistic essence of the Los Angeles neighborhood and its residents.”
Marcus Meisler
The revised floor plan now offers more functionality thanks to the chef's kitchen, master suite and spacious laundry room. And the new windows and doors modernize the house and provide plenty of natural light.