Dramatic Renovation Transforms 1920’s Home in L.A.

ByJon Dykstra Houses

This photograph shows an exterior view of the Angelus house, emphasizing its front facade and exterior design, also highlighting the palm trees situated in front of the property.

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Architect: Martin Fenlon Architecture
Location: Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA
Area: 1,830 s.f.
Project Year: 2017 – 2019
Contractor: 509 Construction
Photography: John Linden
Before Photo: Martin Fenlon

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Photos

The depicted photograph presents an exterior view of the Angelus house, showcasing its smooth white plaster finish and the recently added overhangs to the large glass areas.
The depicted photograph presents an exterior view of the Angelus house, showcasing its smooth white plaster finish and the recently added overhangs to the large glass areas.
The captured image features a house that includes a wooden deck adorned with a metal railing.
The captured image features a house that includes a wooden deck adorned with a metal railing.
This photograph captured at nighttime showcases an exterior view of the house, emphasizing its outdoor area and showcasing the surrounding landscape and vegetation.
This photograph captured at nighttime showcases an exterior view of the house, emphasizing its outdoor area and showcasing the surrounding landscape and vegetation.
This photograph captures a spacious open room with a wooden floor, as viewed from the deck.
This photograph captures a spacious open room with a wooden floor, as viewed from the deck.
The depicted image shows a well-furnished living room that benefits from an abundance of natural light, which is diffused throughout the space by a cluster of skylights.
The depicted image shows a well-furnished living room that benefits from an abundance of natural light, which is diffused throughout the space by a cluster of skylights.
This image portrays a capacious kitchen equipped with a generously sized island and a stovetop oven. The kitchen space is seamlessly connected to the outdoor deck.
This image portrays a capacious kitchen equipped with a generously sized island and a stovetop oven. The kitchen space is seamlessly connected to the outdoor deck.
The captured image depicts a bedroom that is divided into two separate areas by an expansive set of sliding glass doors.
The captured image depicts a bedroom that is divided into two separate areas by an expansive set of sliding glass doors.
This is a site plan of the Angelus House property.
This is a site plan of the Angelus House property.

This is a transverse section plan of the house.
This is a transverse section plan of the house.
This is a longitudinal section plan of the house.
This is a longitudinal section plan of the house.
The first floor plan of the house.
The first floor plan of the house.
The second floor plan of the house.
The second floor plan of the house.

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An aging spec bungalow, nestled on a street in Silver Lake lined with 1920s-era homes, has undergone a major remodel. Working with a limited budget, the original structure has been reused and dramatically renovated, resulting in a contemporary light and breeze filled home. The original footprint and building envelope were maintained, keeping it consistent in scale with the surrounding homes on the street.

Partitions were removed in the living, dining and kitchen areas, creating a large open space that merges with the outdoors. This space is extended into the backyard with a large deck perched in mature trees. Original Batchelder tile around the fireplace has been preserved and newly framed.

Natural light is distributed throughout the space by a cluster of skylights which are arranged in the pattern of the constellation Cancer. A basement has been converted into a master bedroom suite. Large sliding doors open to a new shaded deck. Internal and external stairways have been added connect the upper and lower levels to each other and to the backyard.

The exterior has been finished with smooth white plaster and new overhangs have been added to the large glass areas. This both reduces heat gain and nods to the nearby work of Rudolph Schindler.

New wood flooring, decking and siding contrast the white plaster, giving form to new life passing through an old shell. The house has ended up with a dual-identity of old and new, resulting from a balance between careful preservation and radical alteration.

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Jon Dykstra
Jon Dykstra

Jon practiced law before launching his online publishing career, bringing analytical rigor to everything he builds. Home Stratosphere combines that precision with a lifelong obsession with residential design — architecture, interiors, landscape, and furniture.

His current focus is AI-driven design analysis, using artificial intelligence to study patterns in color, layout, and material choice across thousands of homes. His Personality Type Home Design Guide applies personality frameworks to interior aesthetics, helping readers design spaces that reflect how they actually think and live.

His favorite piece on the site is the 25 Most Popular Designs, is a daily-updated ranking of the top designs over the last 30 days, driven entirely by visitor activity. The feedback is invaluable for understanding what resonates most with readers. LinkedIn

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