A Visit With The Architect

Rarely do you get to meet someone who not only lived in your home but designed it. What a gift.

On a crisp, sunny August morning, we had the privilege of welcoming the original architect of our home—who, at just 19 years old, designed and built it in 1971. Can you even imagine? Over charcuterie and lemonade, he shared story after story about the layered history within these walls.

What started as a family home for his parents later fell into heartbreaking disrepair. It became a drug house—pipes ripped out, bullet holes, graffiti, even repossessed by the government. Abandoned. Forgotten. A truly sad chapter in its story.

But redemption came. An artist from San Francisco discovered this three-story home on a government site. After a life-altering accident, he invested his settlement into restoring it—adding an elevator, repairing what was broken, and making it wheelchair accessible. He told us about flying through the halls in his chair, laughter echoing where brokenness once lived. I wish that elevator still worked today!

What struck me most was that so many of its past owners were artists—each recognizing the beauty and soul of this space.

I told him how much we love the timeless concrete design—still relevant, still stylish more than 50 years later. He grew teary. Then I shared how much the windows inspire me, filling our days with light. I’ve lived in dark homes, bright homes, big and small—but nothing compares to a home bathed in natural light. Again, tears.

Reid loved talking shop with him as a fellow architect, and we even learned our home has been photographed by renowned photographers, with some of the work housed in the Getty Museum. How incredible is that?

As he left, he gifted us a vintage LA Times Home Magazine—a treasure that signifies how prominent artists, both big and small, have left their mark on this architectural wonder.

Walking away from that morning, I felt an even deeper sense of responsibility—not just to live here, but to honor the history, to preserve its story, and to continue curating this home with love as it steps into its next century.

✨ What do you think? Have you ever seen something broken—maybe even in your own life—restored? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments.

Read more about some of my favorite home posts HERE