Turned out in West L.A.
It’s hard to believe that an ordinary 600-square-foot house once occupied the same space that Babak Mirdamadi’s two spacious, modern homes now do. Standouts among the plain architecture in this unassuming pocket of West L.A., the vertical, light-filled structures blend a contemporary sensibility with warmth and hominess.
The house facing the street -- a nearly identical twin directly behind it is listed separately -- has an unusual barrel-shaped roof and appealing landscaping. Inside, cool tile and warm wall colors soften the modern architectural elements.
“I didn’t want a person working in a Century City office coming home to another office and white paint,” Mirdamadi said. “So we added color, angles, curves and textures.”
About this house: Mirdamadi and building designer Octavio Rezende had clear goals when they designed this home.
They wanted an entertainment showcase and utilitarian space wrapped up in an aesthetically pleasing package that also captured an urban sensibility. Mission accomplished.
High ceilings and open areas create breathing room, despite the narrow lot. Rezende designs luxury yachts and ships, so he is adept at utilizing square footage while maintaining an airy feel. The use of limestone, white porcelain tile and polished slate lighten the interior, and the CaesarStone kitchen and glass-tile backsplashes add texture and color.
Upstairs, the master bathroom features cube-shaped sinks and a modern Jacuzzi tub, which fills from the ceiling. The master bedroom has a large walk-in closet accented with African walnut and glass tinting.
The third level opens to a finished rooftop deck, which catches breezes off the ocean and provides extra space for entertaining. It can easily fit a couple of furniture groupings and is accented with a sculptured water fixture.
There isn’t much of a yard, but there is a small garden and room for alfresco dining, as well as an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and rotisserie.
Size: The front house is 2,000 square feet. Two houses share the 5,453-square-foot lot.
Features: The home, with three bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms, has stainless-steel professional kitchen appliances; self-closing kitchen drawers and cabinets in maple; an in-drawer microwave oven; European Cubrix lighting; a tankless hot-water heater; a central vacuum and in-sweep system; a halogen and low-voltage lighting system with programmable dimmers; a security system with two-year, prepaid monitoring; and it’s cable- and satellite-ready.
Asking price: $1,680,000
Rear house: With three bedrooms and 2,100 square feet of living space, it is listed at $1,645,000. The rear home is accessed by a common driveway-walkway, which is landscaped with small succulents.
Where: West Los Angeles
Listing agent: Michael Hiatt, Prudential California Realty, Brentwood Gardens; (310) 207-7080, www.greatestatesla.com.
To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high- resolution color photos with caption info on a CD and a description of the house Real Estate, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012. Send questions to homeoftheweek@latimes.com.
