A Retro-Styled Conversation Pit Adds Volume in This Los Angeles Renovation “If we can’t go up, let’s go down” By Morgan Goldberg Photography by Naho Kubota November 3, 2020 “EVERYTHING I OWN IS COLORFUL, SO I NEEDED THAT NEUTRAL BACKGROUND TO SUPPORT IT,” GERALDINE CHUNG ELUCIDATES. NOV | ISSUE TWO ISSUE | ARCHITECTUAL DIGEST ARCHITECTUAL As the founder of LCD, a fashion boutique that promotes her 1953 house in L.A.’s Mar Vista neighborhood. Though the The inviting conversation pit is a true showstopper. young, emerging designers, Geraldine Chung has a daily life previous owner had already flipped the interior with standard filled with color. To balance out her vibrant clothing and art, white tiles and wall paint, it lacked the depth and detail of a she looked to employ serene, neutral hues in the remodel of true home. Geraldine entrusted Kristin Korven and Jeff Kaplon A seat in the of architecture and design studio Part Office with the challenge of transforming and personalizing the cozy crater provides blank slate — all while keeping it predominantly a unique, lower-than- white. By playing with a mix of tones and materials, usual perspective. nuance and intrigue were achieved. “The quick antidote to a renovation is just painting everything white, and the more unanimous your palette is, Through original the more generic it feels. Using different shades glass sliding doors, throughout subliminally reminds you that you’re in a lush garden view a very custom space,” Kristin explains, comparing the existing and updated decor. lies ahead. The cabinet bases With soothing Benjamin Moore Dove Wing on the are also eye-level, walls and a glossy version on the wood floors, the contrast is minimal yet impactful. Lacquered millwork so Kristin and Jeff and powder-coated hardware match Benjamin Moore celebrated this Classic Gray for a slightly richer note, as a silvery Concrete Collaborative Venice Terrazzo backsplash often-ignored spot and a milky Caesarstone countertop supply layers of with graphic optical stimulation. avalanche marble. The same material While the variety of whites offers subtle originality, composes a sculptural, a plush sunken pit makes an idiosyncratic splash. built-in coffee table An effort to maximize volume, the retro feature was proposed jokingly when the team realized that that’s flush raising the ceiling would be impossible. “If we can’t with the floor. go up, let’s go down,” Geraldine had suggested. Though the trio initially laughed off the idea, it eventually became a defining element of the project. Outfitted with oatmeal wool carpeting and washable linen upholstery, it’s a striking nod to the home’s midcentury roots. Original glass sliding doors fuse the leafy patio with the concave living room. Similarly strategic sight lines were devised throughout the airy open plan that resolved a previously cramped, dysfunctional layout. A nonstructural pole and a pony wall define the entry sequence and intentionally impede a glimpse beneath the ash table. In the dining area, a giant mirror sheet reflects the verdant backyard. “It was a trick to create a feeling of a much bigger room,” Kristin describes, adding that the surface precisely aligns with the curved maple banquette and cased door frame. Skylights are utilized to enforce a sense of vastness, as well. One of them, above the kitchen island, is host to a bold, cylindrical hood that mysteriously descends from the cavity. The two items were combined so that the range could settle in a functional location without sacrificing natural sunshine, but the futuristic construction is more than just a practical solution. “It’s such a visual focal point,” Jeff opines. “It elevates the whole room.” Even with her commitment to a calming scheme, Geraldine could not resist incorporating a few bright, funky moments. Kelly green, peach, and pale pink cushions were sourced from a coveted Kvadrat/Raf Simons fabric collection, while she tapped her friend Eny Lee Parker for a psychedelic Oo Lamp and a Stranger Things–reminiscent Stitch Stool. In Geraldine’s tranquil, pearly oasis, her radiant personality shines through. THE RACING GREEN TEAM RACING GREEN: 310.951.4080 [email protected] NOV 7 | | DOUGAL MURRAY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Dougal is founder of the Racing Green Group and ISSUE TWO ISSUE | specializes in Luxury Real Estate Development and Investment strategy. Dougal is both a licensed contractor and realtor, and has a proven track record in real estate development in both London & Los Angeles markets and has over half a billion in M&A transactions under his belt. ARCHITECTUAL DIGEST ARCHITECTUAL JONATHAN WAUD CHIEF OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Jonathan joined Racing Green Group in 2015 as Operations Director. He is a licensed Realtor and contractor and has worked as Design Consultant to some of Hollywood’s biggest names. With over a decade of experience in the Californian A seat in the cozy crater provides a unique, lower-than-usual perspective. Through original glass sliding doors, a lush interior design market Jonathan has received garden view lies ahead. The cabinet bases are also eye-level, so Kristin and Jeff celebrated this often-ignored spot with international recognition for a number of his high graphic avalanche marble. The same material composes a sculptural, built-in coffee table that’s flush with the floor. profile interior design projects. Pops of color and a lamp from Eny Lee Parker brighten up the space without disturbing the neutral color palatte..