A family trades Silver Lake for a nature-embracing Idyllwild home
The Donovan family left Silver Lake for Idyllwild after visiting a for-sale home on a lark. The property’s two structures date to the early 1920s. Catherine with Bon, age 4, and Michael with Tate, 7. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
The 2-acre Idyllwild property had been extensively rehabbed by a previous owner. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
The main residence. There is also a habitable garage/carriage house on the property, as well as a 1955 Trail Chief trailer. The latter two are available as Airbnb rentals. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A Hans Wegner rocker finds a cozy home in front of a granite-covered fireplace. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A previous owner conjoined the main house’s three levels, from basement to attic with a spiral staircase, seen here to the left. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Pine log accents were added by a previous owner. The rustic Idyllwild home provides a complementarly showcase for the Donovans’ prized secondhand finds. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Tate Donovan relaxes in the living room. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
The Donovans were drawn to Idyllwild’s outdoors, and their home brings the outdoors indoors. Catherine Donovan jokes that before, “We were ranch people living in Silver Lake.” (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Catherine Donovan sifts through the family record collection. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Eames molded-fiberglass chairs occupy the dining area. The butcher-block counter in the background came from artist Pauline Annon’s former home in Silver Lake. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Catherine Donovan, left, Bon and Michael Donovan hang out in the kitchen. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A closeup look at the kitchen. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A butcher block-counter came from the former Silver Lake home of artist Pauline Annon (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A closeup of a bathroom. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Pine log ceiling beams (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
The basement doubles as a wine cellar. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
At home in Idyllwild (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A spiral staircase connects three floors. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Upstairs, the children’s room (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A dormer window in the children’s bedroom (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
The childrens’ room upstairs at the home of Catherine and Michael Donovan, Tate, 7, and Bon, 4, in Idyllwild. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Toys in the children’s room (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A 1955 Trail Chief trailer can be rented through Airbnb. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
An outdoor kitchen area for the rental trailer site (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A restroom and shower for the rental trailer site (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
