Restore and reset. That’s the best way to describe the face-lift Karl and Ellen Schmidt gave to a West Hollywood house that’s as glamorous as a movie star.
The Spanish Mediterranean house, whose white-tinted stucco is accented with a robust terracotta tile roof, dates to 1926, when everyone in Hollywood was talking about the talkies.
“We wanted to retain the classic architecture of the exterior,” Ellen explains, “but we wanted to open up the inside to create more contemporary spaces.”
Working with LA architect Paul Brant Williger and interior designer Andrew Flesher, who has offices in New York City and Minneapolis, they engaged in a delicate balancing act that resulted in an exquisite pairing of past and present.
The aged residence, which Ellen notes “was in rough shape but had good bones,” underwent modifications so slight that they would, undoubtedly, go virtually unnoticed even by the original architect.
The crawl space was excavated and transformed into a gym, guest suite and wine cellar; the balcony was expanded to run the length of the back façade to create an outdoor living room that’s accessible via a new grand staircase; and three rooms in the interior were consolidated to create an open-plan kitchen, family room and dining area.
The alterations, Ellen describes, “make the house feel connected to the outside. It’s very light and airy – every room has a nice view of the landscape, whether it’s a fountain or an olive tree.”
One of her favorite additions is the bar, complete with two dishwashers, a wine storage space, a sink, an ice maker and two refrigerator drawers, that is accessible from the back terrace.
“We love to entertain and have small dinner parties, and this has become a gathering spot for guests,” she adds.
The residence’s color palette – strikingly neutral – allows the showcasing of individual objects, particularly the couple’s collection of contemporary artworks, some of which depict celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy and Jimi Hendrix.
Flesher notes his furniture selections “take direction from the architecture, which feels like old Hollywood glamour to me; I can see an old movie star moving through it.”
One of his more unorthodox innovations was the addition of a fireplace to the dining room that’s set high enough to be seen by and even warm guests during meals.
The residence gets its joyful freshness from the marrying of vintage and contemporary objects. Thus, the new wrought-iron staircase, a curvaceous set piece, serves as a contemporary yet classic introduction to the house; the pair of uber-comfy Groovy Chairs, circa 1973, that are cozying up to the bar look like soft shawls thrown over a sofa; the new shapely, black leather dining chairs, which double as sculpture, add interest to the menu at parties; and the Deco-inspired ceiling fixture in the primary bedroom suite, from Jean De Merry, imbues the space with a rosy-gold glow that complements the night’s stars.
The home, Williger declares, “is like an urban villa. Although there are houses on each side and across from it, it feels private because we supplemented the existing landscape. It’s a block from the excitement and frenetic energy of Sunset Boulevard, but it’s a tranquil oasis.”
The Schmidts couldn’t be more in love with their new-old house. “My two special spots are the terrace – with its black-and-white-striped awning, it’s like an outdoor living room – and the living room, which we call the music room because it’s where we all gather to listen to the stereo.”
Photography by Laura Hull.
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