Illuminating a Modern Marvel

This unique home draws on a variety of styles: the blurring of boundaries between the indoors and outdoors is reminiscent of West Coast design, while natural stone and a darker color palette infuse characteristics of a mountain build. Bridging all of this together are the sleek silhouettes of mid-century elements. When John set about to refresh the home, he began building off the foundation already laid.

“The architecture is very transparent,” he points out, “You’re constantly reminded of the structural integrity of the building. For example, these ceiling beams are the skeleton that hold this place together, and everything in the house emanates from the central stone fireplace.”

Since this stone fireplace is the anchor point for the sunken living room, John decided to spruce it up a bit. He created the backdrop out of wooden slats stained the color of the pine paneling to integrate the ceiling into the lower half of the room. The sunburst fixture was found by the pool, which John salvaged and reguilded to use as a centerpiece. This, in combination with the sectional and layered geometric rugs, creates the effect of a lounge-worthy conversation pit.

Curated artwork and memorabilia from John’s travels fill the walls along the perimeter of the living room. Sculptures, woodblock prints, abstract paintings, and one large lava lamp create a gallery alongside the stunning adjustable Danish shelving unit from the late ‘50s. Many of the furnishings in the home were thrifted or upcycled over the years, proving John’s love for discovering hidden treasures, as well as his longstanding love for modernism: “Most everything you see here is something I acquired or something that found its way to me.”

Part of the challenge in refreshing the home was opening up the spaces to accommodate better flow between the main living areas. “My goal wasn’t to completely modernize the home to how people live today, but to reinterpret ‘70s modern design for contemporary living,” John says. This included expanding the kitchen and incorporating an expansive island, all while keeping with the feel of a mid-century space. He opted for brass fixtures, slab-style walnut cabinetry, and glossy Moroccan zellige tile.

The home showcases the stunning simplicity of natural materials, from wood, leather, ceramic, and textured accents. Blonde hardwood floors (a contemporary concession) and white stucco walls provide a neutral backdrop for brightly colored and patterned textiles to play. Supplementary accent lighting fills funky shades and lamp bases, giving the interior of the home a warm radiance. “At night, with the wood ceilings illuminated, this house is a different story completely,” John says. “Everything exudes a fiery glow.”

Another reimagined space is now functioning as a bedroom, but was once “the hot tub room.” This room takes advantage of the indoor-outdoor design with wall-to-wall windows overlooking greenery and foliage beyond. Guests would never guess that this serene space, as well as the pool deck below, has seen its fair share of entertaining in its day. The home had a vibrant past under previous ownership in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and it was even home to a pet cougar, named Sheba, for about 20 years.

Photo Courtesy of John Crews

Looking back at this intriguing history, John is now bringing a new season of living and entertaining to the home. The design is always in flux, but that’s the exciting part, John says, as it continually offers an engaging canvas for him to flex his creative muscles.