How one creative couple reimagined their mid-century LA home

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‘It’s funny because I’m a big bird-watcher and now that we’re here in the trees, I feel like we’re in our own birdhouse,” says Clare Crespo in reference to the sun-soaked hillside home she shares with her husband, James Chinlund. Bathed in golden rays that filter gently through the hazy California cloud, the cedar-clad space couldn’t be more welcoming, which makes it hard to believe that until last year it was completely devoid of character.
“Essentially it was a really boring house,” she continues. “I mean, we filled it with love but it was just a box with a nice view. But when we bought it in 2006, we couldn’t believe that we could afford something this size and in this neighbourhood, which we adore.”
That neighbourhood is Silver Lake, an area known for its artsy and bohemian vibe, but less artsy was the fact that the 1950s property had become what Chinlund refers to as “a bit of a Frankenstein house”. “Everyone who lived here had made changes, so it was about tying it together and making it feel like a whole,” he says. It wasn’t until 17 years after buying it, however, that the couple were able to start their renovation project. “As creative people, we felt like we could breathe personality into the space, but what with life, work and parenting, back then we weren’t able to tackle it the way we wanted,” he explains.
Creative could be classed as an understatement, bearing in mind that Crespo, an artist and designer, makes fantastical, sculptural pieces, while Chinlund is a production designer with a clutch of blockbusters under his belt including The Avengers, Requiem for a Dream and The Batman to name just a few. But despite their undeniable credentials, when it came to remodelling the property, they knew they needed help.
Assistance came in the form of Lovers Unite, an LA studio founded by the architect Alan Koch and designer Karen Spector, whom the couple discovered via mutual friends. “I had specific ideas about what I hoped the house could be, but I’m in film and my language is very different from real-world construction,” Chinlund says. “Everyone came with their ideas and it just worked.”
Based loosely on a Japanese cabin, the reconfigured layout features slatted screens made of Douglas fir, while much of the remaining timber is reclaimed or recycled. “It was a deep dive into materials as I love the natural qualities of wood,” Chinlund says. “And the play of light is something I deal with a lot in my work, so we were thinking about the way the sun would interact with the space.” A rarely used exterior balcony with a beam that blocked the vista was incorporated into the living area. “Before, it created a barrier between us and the landscape, but now, there is a banquette and a little nook at the end where you can hang out with a friend, have a coffee, read a book,” Crespo adds. “It’s the best spot in the house.”
Furniture comes in the form of a well-loved Togo sofa by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset and a knotted, burr wood table, made by Chinlund. “We’ve had the sofa since our daughter was little and we’ve fallen into that Togo lifestyle,” he says, laughing. “As far as the table goes, redwood burls are something you often see in California, so it feels like it fits the scheme.”
In the dining area, Jean Prouvé chairs sit around a generous vintage table, creating the perfect setting for convivial gatherings. “It was the big dream for me, to be able to relax here with family and friends. So to see that come together was exciting,” Chinlund says. Turns out that even the most hardwired of creatives can use a helping hand.
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