Marmol Radziner designs a quintessential California home with a strong indoor-outdoor connection for an East Coast family of six.
Contrasting white plaster and western red cedar structures form the main volume of this modern home, situated in an otherwise traditional Santa Monica neighborhood. Lush greenery softens the sleek, minimalist facade. Photographed by ALEX ZAROUR
‘[The clients] wanted a California modernist home characterized by a seamless indoor-outdoor connection without compromising the comfort and practicality necessary for their family.’ –Ron Radziner
THE PROJECT
The kitchen counters are quartzite with rift cut and white oak cabinetry. The counter stools are by Thomas Hayes. Opposite page: The living room features floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that invite the landscaping, designed by Marmol Radziner, inside. Photographed by ALEX ZAROUR
When an East Coast family of six decided to move to Santa Monica, they knew exactly who to contact to build their dream home. “They had seen some of our Southern California homes in magazines, and when they bought this property in Santa Monica and moved their family to the West Coast, they reached out,” says Ron Radziner, design partner at acclaimed L.A.-based multidisciplinary firm Marmol Radziner. Known for emphasizing the connection between indoor and outdoor living spaces, the firm was a perfect fit for the clients, who hired them to build a brand-new home from the ground up in the area north of Montana Ave.
Western red cedar planks crafted in Marmol Radziner’s wood shop span the length of the space and serve as an unconventional ceiling in the living room. Photographed by ALEX ZAROUR
THE PRIORITIES
“They wanted the quintessential California home, a light-filled sanctuary that celebrates the merging of indoor and outdoor spaces,” says Radziner, who worked with associates Lawren Patterson, Ashley Nath and Amy Smith on the project. “They did not want anything over-the-top, and their taste was more laid back. They gravitated toward natural materials, warm woods and cast-in-place concrete.”
The primary bathroom features a minimalist freestanding tub, a glass-enclosed shower, and silver travertine that seamlessly extends from within the shower to envelop the entire space. Photographed by ALEX ZAROUR
THE PROCESS
“Throughout the project, the clients had a strong view of how they wanted their home to function, and that stayed consistent throughout the process,” Radziner shares. “They wanted a California modernist home characterized by a seamless indoor-outdoor connection without compromising the comfort and practicality necessary for their family.” When considering the layout, the team kept the couple’s eventual transition into empty nesters in mind. “The clients’ children are older and approaching high school and college age,” says Radziner. “So we situated the clients’ primary bedroom on the ground floor, while the children’s and guest rooms are located upstairs.” The team designed the home in a long L-shape to maximize space on a corner lot, positioning the backyard where a side yard would typically be. “This layout creates a more open backyard that allows for increased natural light to enter the living spaces.”
THE GREAT ROOM
The living room, kitchen and dining room blend into one connected space that opens to the outdoors. The Develius sofa by &Tradition × Edward van Vlietn from A+R, upholstered in Opuzen’s Nevada mohair, grounds the living room, where Thomas Hayes’ Boston winged ottoman, a coffee table by Studio TwentySeven in walnut, Adam Otlewski’s Untitled Table 1.0 in bronze and additional side tables from Kolkhoze sit atop a hand-knotted silk and aloe floor covering from Amara Rugs. “It took us a few tries to nail down the sofa and its configuration, but the result really works well,” Radziner explains. “Several factors shaped the decision-making process. We didn’t want a huge sofa to visually break up the room or block the exterior.” The team selected Van Rossum’s oval oak Opium dining table sourced from Avenue Road—paired with custom chairs upholstered in Tiger Leather’s Yukon leather—to soften the passage between the spaces.
The home’s duotone theme appears in the primary bedroom, with polished greys covering the floors, bed and wall, and warm wood wrapping the ceiling. Photographed by ALEX ZAROUR
THE PRIMARY BEDROOM
The team installed a built-in sofa and bed—dressed in linens from L.A.-based Matteo—to maximize space in the petite primary bedroom. “Both pieces are custom designs, made and crafted in Marmol Radziner’s wood and metal shops,” says Radziner. “A moodier material palette deepened this space, fostering a sense of intimacy within.” A Chesterfield Classic rug from Grand Splendid and lighting from Apparatus and Astro Lighting complete the look.
THE EXTERIORS
The home’s structured style is balanced by the thoughtful landscaping. “The landscape architecture softens the visual impact of the home while providing privacy and tranquility throughout the grounds,” Radziner shares. Out front, a path through the garden—full of native and Mediterranean plant species—welcomes clients and guests home, while upstairs, green roofs display drought-resistant, lowmaintenance grasses. Much-needed shade comes in the form of strategically placed evergreen and deciduous trees, which also break up the architectural massing of the residence.
A custom pool courtyard on the ground level is the centerpiece of the striking landscaping. Photographed by ALEX ZAROUR
THE CHALLENGES
“Maximizing the buildable area on the lot in order to fit five bedrooms was a challenge,” says Radziner. “Spaces had to be very efficient. We also broke ground on this project only a few months before the 2020 pandemic. We had to adapt our process to that period of time, but we still managed to keep the project running and were able to finish on time.”
THE OUTCOME
The team completed the project in 33 months, and the homeowners are in love. “Having moved from the East Coast, they were amazed by the ample outdoor living areas and the clever use of the available space,” Radziner shares. “It perfectly embodied their vision of California living.”
‘[THE CLIENTS] GRAVITATED TOWARD NATURAL MATERIALS, WARM WOODS AND CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE.’ –RON RADZINER
Design Details
Type
Single-family home
Location
Santa Monica
Architecture, Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction and Custom Furnishings
Marmol Radziner
RESOURCES
A + R
Living roof sofa by &Tradition × Edward van Vliet
Apparatus
Primary bedroom
bedside pendant light
Avenue Road
Dining room table
by Van Rossum
Blu Bathtub
Primary bathroom tub
Dornbracht
Kitchen faucet
Kolkhoze
Living room accent tables
Matteo
Primary bedroom bedding
Studio Twenty Seven
Living room coffee table by Louise Liljencrantz
Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove
Kitchen appliances
Thomas Hayes Studio
Various furnishings
