Though it sounds exuberant, Regency Revival design distills precedents set by Georgian architecture with a refinement in detailing and the careful practice of compositional restraint. Sometimes referred to as “Modern Georgian,” it found popularity in the Pacific Northwest from the mid-to-late 1930s before trickling down into California by the early 1950s and was used almost exclusively for residential applications. One such example is this Cordell Drive home situated in the Hollywood Hills. The box-shaped massing, shallow roof encapsulated by parapet walls, and simple, small frieze board adornment are several markers indicative of the era during which it was erected. Recently renovated by Los Angeles-based Studio OSKLO, it pulls focus as a modern classic able to outshine neighboring new-builds that are vapid in comparison to their historical counterparts.
“It was the best of Hollywood Regency design without the later 1950s and 1960s embellishments,” say Arya and Michael Martin, co-founders of Studio OSKLO. “Simple and clean lines, minimalist architectural accents in vertical colonnades and decorative adornment.”
Photo: Sam Frost
The team shepherded this project over the course of two years – careful to preserve the structure’s overall integrity – assuming responsibility for schematic design, construction, interior design, and the manufacturing of their own custom light fixtures and furniture. The now complete, nearly 5,000-square-foot, fully furnished home boasts an interior awash in more natural light with better exterior glazing, updated surfaces, and an open floor plan to accommodate entertaining on a scale as grand as the spaces themselves. Programming includes a large primary suite (with an adjoining dressing room-style walk-in closet, indoor/outdoor shower, and enormous terrace), three en suite guest bedrooms, a secondary guest terrace, powder room, entertainment and media rooms with a central bar, a robust kitchen, formal dining area, cafe nook, and den-like niche.
Photo: Sam Frost
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Warm, neutral earth tones – a mélange of taupe, brown, cream, ivory, and beige – abound setting the stage for a cozy environment while providing a backdrop for colors like terracotta, burgundy, deep green, and even black to have their respective moments. Natural stone with animated marbling, light oak wood, and tactile textiles including velvet, mohair, and boucle, play a supporting role in delivering a rich material performance. What’s more, light fixtures fashioned from fabric and plaster help scene build with enhanced warmth in oft colder elements. The furnishings strike a delicate balance between charm derived from antiques with the exclusivity of bespoke pieces from Studio OSKLO. This curatorial approach is an homage to the property’s storied past and a promise of patronage through the next generation of caretakers.
Photo: Douglas Friedman
The residence still exudes the same star-qualities that defined an iconic cultural period. “It emotes Hollywood glamor and quantifies Beverly Hills visually in a truly sexy and timeless sense,” the Martins add. “You can visualize Carole Lombard in a one-piece swimsuit poolside as readily as Sydney Sweeney in short shorts and a tank top without losing a bit of formality or class.”
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Sam Frost
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Sam Frost
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Sam Frost
Photo: Sam Frost
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Photo: Tyler Hogan
Photo: Tyler Hogan
Photo: Tyler Hogan
To learn more about this and other works by the creative practice, visit studioosklo.com.
