In the heart of Los Angeles, a 1920s Mediterranean-style home has been reimagined for modern living. Mandy Cheng founder of Mandy Cheng Design took on the challenge of merging the homeowners’ contemporary taste with the home’s historic architectural details. The result is a 3,500-square-foot residence that beautifully bridges the past and present.
The project began with a comprehensive gut renovation, transforming the original four-bedroom, three-bathroom layout into a more spacious five-bedroom, five-bathroom retreat. Cheng’s approach was to preserve the home’s historic spirit while introducing modern functionality and design elements.
Custom Built-Ins: The Bridge Between Eras
One of the key solutions to harmonizing the styles was the incorporation of custom built-ins. In the family room, a full-wall entertainment center features arches and integrated windows, adding warmth to the sunny space. This design element complements contemporary pieces like a white boucle armchair and globe sconce, creating a cohesive look.
Cheng explains, “Figuring out the arches and integrating the windows into the full-wall entertainment center was a process that had such a great payoff. I love that light comes through that wall, which is uncommon for full-wall built-ins.”
Reconfiguring Spaces for Modern Living
Upstairs, the original layout was reimagined to better suit the family’s needs. Cheng explains, “The original layout had one oversized bedroom, one smaller room, and a narrow, shared bathroom that was due for an update. The clients requested separate bathrooms for each child—they have a boy and a girl—and a refreshed primary suite. By reconfiguring some walls, we were able to add a bathroom, giving each child an en-suite.”
On the main floor, the kitchen was reoriented to create an open layout, allowing the homeowners to keep an eye on their kids while preparing meals. The most striking addition to the kitchen is the hand-painted tiles sourced from Tabarka Studio a coastal town in Tunisia. Cheng notes, “This was a tile-focused project, which was very challenging because they were ordered during the height of the pandemic when everything was stuck at the port.”
The Kitchen: A Blend of Functionality and Style
The kitchen’s design is a testament to Cheng’s ability to blend functionality with style. By backing the bench up against the island, navigability was improved. Cheng says, “By backing the bench up against the island, we saved a little space in navigability. And I love the flexibility and ease that this table offers.”
The kitchen also features a mix of painted and stain-grade cabinets, an arched shroud for the exhaust vent, and a unique corner shelf. Cheng adds, “The arched shroud for the exhaust vent, the tiles with the terracotta-colored grout, the mix of painted and stain-grade cabinets, and the unique corner shelf—it all comes together so nicely.”
The Dining Room: A Gathering Space
The dining room is one of the first rooms you see when entering the house through the front door. It features a custom 10-foot table that is perfect for gatherings. Cheng says, “This is one of the first rooms you see when you enter the house through the front door, and the custom 10-foot table is stunning. Made for gatherings, I can’t imagine a better space to hang out with friends and family.”
The Pool House: A Backyard Retreat
The transformation extended to the backyard, where a dilapidated garage was converted into a beautiful ADU/pool house. Cheng notes, “We completely reimagined the backyard and converted a dusty and somewhat dilapidated garage into a beautiful ADU/pool house. The transformation involved rotating the pitch of the roof, adding a pergola, and opening it up to the newly installed pool.”
The pool house features an efficient kitchen for family and friends who stay over, as well as a comfortable living space for sunny days. The design details echo the main interior, creating a seamless transition between the main house and the pool house.
The resulting home is a perfect blend of historic charm and modern living. Cheng says, “The home is ‘livable, easy, and fit for play dates and dinner parties alike.’ While well-suited for modern-day living, its original spirit lives on.”
