An Original, With Improvements

A Buff & Hensman-designed house built in 1960 in Los Feliz has undergone a major remodeling by the original architectural firm.

“It’s amazing to have Donald Hensman still available 40 years later,” said interior designer George Massar, co-owner of the house with Bradley Bickle. The pair has owned the house since 1997, when they began a remodel of the entire home.

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About this house: “I was attracted to the house by its strong lines of architecture, positioning on its lot and its almost natural state with wood detailing intact,” Massar reminisced.

Because of the wood detailing, the house epitomizes the early work of Buff & Hensman, he said. He calls the firm’s later work “sleeker, cooler, more modern.”

The major remodel and 1,000-square-foot expansion were completed a couple of years ago, but Massar has continued to refurbish and add on with Hensman’s blessings.

The project architect was Dennis Smith of Buff, Smith & Hensman. The firm was called Buff, Straub & Hensman in 1960. Smith joined after Straub left. Buff died in 1988.

Asking price: $2,195,000

Size: The house has four bedrooms in 3,838 square feet.

Features: Previous owners contracted with Buff, Smith & Hensman to convert a carport to a garage, relocating the front door and creating a sky-lighted entry with a pair of reflecting pools and a limestone bridge. The current owners installed new doors and windows, replaced asbestos-textured ceilings with drywall, added air-conditioning and copper plumbing, replaced counter tops with granite or marble, and substituted 1,600 square feet of wood decking on the terraces with Brazilian hardwood. They also added a lap pool, spa and landscaping. Chris Cox was the landscape architect. The house also has a steam shower and spa tub in the master; a home theater and city views.

Listing agents: Bob Weatherford and Karen Weiss, Coldwell Banker, Los Feliz, (323) 665-1121.

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