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Our most popular home-and-garden stories of 2015

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Author and radio show host Meghan McCain describes the style of her Hollywood one bedroom as scarf ace meets Graceland. See more

  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A sculptural Phillips Collection console in the Brutalist style adds an unexpected jolt to the front hallway of McCain’s Hollywood loft.  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Above a carved wooden camel cart from Global Views, an 8-foot pair of carved wooden wings. “My friends like posing in front of them for selfies and Instagram,” McCain says.   (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A detail of McCain’s bookcase reveals fashion and film books and a black velvet Marilyn Monroe painting.  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Drybar co-founder Michael Landau and his wife, Sarah Hutnick, transform a 1950 ranch house after falling in love with the backyard. Read more.

  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The exterior of the 1950 house offers a modern Ranch update with a mix of white stucco, weathered ipe panels and board form concrete. Heitler added a trellis in the front and back to add a sense of what he calls “solid geometry.”  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The couple fell in love with the property, which had reportedly been a working farm at one time. “I think they may have bought it for the land more than the house,” said architect Josh Heitler.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Sarah Hutnick, Samson and Michael Landau in the new loft-like living area of their Costa Mesa home. The kitchen was moved to face a dining room furnished with Restoration Hardware pieces and a living room that opens to the outdoors.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Contractor Todd Segal rebuilt his 624-square-foot home in Highland Park. Read more.

  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
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In the bathroom, Segal installed an open walk-in shower adjacent to the tub to open up the space.   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
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With one bedroom, one bathroom and an open living-dining-kitchen area, the house is not much bigger than a one-bedroom apartment.   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
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Jay Segal plays with her dog Bubbers in the loft her father built for her.   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
13/49

Actress Julie Newmar shows her Brentwood garden. Read more.

  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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Outside the bay window of her living room, a seating area underneath a vine-covered pergola is surrounded by roses, pansies and a potted Eureka lemon tree.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
15/49

Among the playful elements in Newmar’s garden, a sculptural gecko that she says is “sipping water from a stone container that the neighbor cat also likes to visit.”

  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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A double-width chaise sits under a semi-fruitless olive tree. To the left, topiary boxwood and azaleas. At right, early summer blooming Peruvian daffodil and later summer blooming pink tropical Crinodonna lily.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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Los Angeles artist Tamra Fago and her restored 1905 rental. Read more.

  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Though constrained in space, Fago’s home is an ever-changing canvas.

  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Sculptural hats are mounted on steel wire trees. Her high-end chapeaus ($200 to $650) are carried at Camille DePedrini in South Pasadena and at CruModerne.com.

  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
20/49

In the dining room, a West Elm Parsons desk is sandwiched between two white and birch-legged seats atop a bold, zigzag-patterned rug. On the table, Chilewich’s brass-colored vinyl runner in a coral pattern.

  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
21/49

Set decorator for film and television shows Peggy Casey and husband Erik Hillard transformed their Altadena home from a lawn to a garden. Read more.

  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
22/49

The couple assembled two sheds and a chicken coop off-site with recycled materials from the Habitat for Humanity store, and then had a crane drop them on the property fully assembled.

  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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Detail of a poppy.

  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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Erik Hillard and Peggy Casey in their Altadena garden. “She doesn’t have green thumbs,” Hillard says of his wife with a laugh. “She has green arms.”

  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
25/49

The original staircase and arches in the main entry stayed, but everything else was renovated in this 1927 Spanish Los Feliz home.

  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
26/49
The music room, painted a yellow inspired by French homes, opens to a patio equipped with a ping-pong table.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
27/49
The U-shaped landing at the top of the staircase offers space for large scale artworks and a futuristic chandelier by Apparatus.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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View from the living room through the entrance hallway to the dining room of Francois Moret and Anne Le Jeune’s 1927 Spanish-style home in Los Feliz. In a corner of the living room, which has wide-planked oak flooring, are tables by Danish Modernist Jens Quistgaard, art by Raymond Pettibon and photographs by Nan Goldin, Larry Clark and Ed Templeton.

  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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Architect Barbara Bestor devised an open centralized area where cars can be parked or used as a public plaza. Read more.

  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
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Casey Lynch, co-president of Local Construct Inc., takes in the view from the first-floor living room of a two-bedroom unit.

  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
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Although Bestor tried to make each unit a little different, there are repeated elements in bathrooms and kitchens. In the kitchen: Arcadia aluminum architectural windows, Bosch appliances, Carrara marble countertops.

  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
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Architect Barbara Bestor’s design encourages interaction. “Everyone faces their neighbors, “ says Bestor, who placed all of the kitchens along the perimeter of the courtyard where people come in and out.

  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
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A 1959 ranch house designed by Modernist architect Edward Fickett renovated by Jaclyn Ferber and her husband, video director and visual creator for the band Muse, Tom Kirk in Nichols Canyon. Read more.

  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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From the living room, views to the backyard and pool area.

  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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A view of the 1959 Edward Fickett-designed home, which is about 2,500 square feet, from the backyard pool area.

  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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In the master bedroom, delicate wallpaper by English designer Timorous Bestie serves as a striking focal point and adds softness to the white interiors. The sconces were made from branches the couple found in the English countryside and spray painted white. They were then wired at Fantasy Lighting.

  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
37/49

Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills gets a makeover that pays homage to its murderous history Read more.

  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Mr. Doheny’s bedroom suite includes wallpaper by Osborne & Little.

  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Object d’art flower pots by Tommy Mitchell hang in Mr. Doheny’s Suite by Nina Campbell.

  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
40/49

Cliff Fong’s plant-filled solarium features a sofa, bench and armchairs by Bausman & Company and a chandelier from Liz’s Antique Hardware.

  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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On the first floor of the historic Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, designer Oliver M. Furth has re-envisioned the reception hall with a ceiling of recycled plastic and steel tile flooring.

  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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West German pottery decorates a tabletop at Trebor/Nevets in Long Beach. A set of four Eames Eiffel Tower chairs by Herman Miller sit around the table.

  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)
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“Love Is for All” pillows, part of the Trebor/Nevets private-label collection, are on display at the shop. The pillows are made of a mixture of vintage and new fabrics with reproduced photographs of couples.

  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)
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Robert Murphy, co-owner of Trebor/Nevets, an upscale home and decor shop.

  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)
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A midcentury hide-upholstered arm chair, a midcentury dresser and a vintage quarter-sawn oak magazine stand at Trebor/Nevets.

  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)
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Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan renovates a living room in Los Angeles. Read more

  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Corinna Loo, from left, and Eugenia Barbuc enjoy the new living room in their Miracle Mile apartment. The couple were the recipients of a living room makeover from Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan and Christiane Lemieux, Wayfair executive creative director, whose company provided all of the decorations.

  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Ryan and Lemieux held on to the couple’s quirky accessories to reflect their personalities: a colorful skateboard, piñatas, ceramics and an astronaut helmet. “It’s all about mixing their stuff with the new things,” says Lemieux. “That’s why it works.”

  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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The new living room is a lighter and brighter space with more seating. It’s also sophisticated and fun and deeply personal, thanks to the use of the couple’s furnishings, art and collectibles in the makeover. For more house tours, go to www.latimes.com/home

  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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As 2015 comes to a close, we're taking a look back at some of the photos and stories that readers loved best.

Our home-and-garden stories garnered the most interest, based on Web traffic: From small cabins to large backyards, colorful gardens to sprawling Southern California locales, readers devoured the eye candy of inspired décor, hipster shopping exeriences and unique construction-and-design ideas.

Style-wise, it's 'Scarface meets Graceland'

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Author, political pundit and TV personality Meghan McCain has a loft-style apartment in Hollywood where visitors are greeted by a framed American flag above a chunky, metallic console that looks as if it's been hacked raw by an ax. "I love a rock 'n' roll aesthetic, and I want my place to be where the after-after-party can happen," she said of her unique style.

A 'tear-down,' utterly transformed

"We bought this house for Samson," Michael Landau says with a grin as he tosses a Frisbee to the Australian shepherd in his backyard. "This house has changed our lives."
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The 1950s ranch home in Costa Mesa wasn't much to look at. But Drybar co-founder Michael Landau and his wife, Sarah, fell in love with the nearly half an acre of land it was located on. Over a two-year period, they took it down to the studs and completely reorganized the interior into an open-plan oasis.

Bigger isn't always better

Todd Segal on the back deck of his 624-square-foot home in Highland Park. The contractor took the house down to the studs and rebuilt everything, including the deck. "I wanted to live on a mountain," he says. "It doesn't feel like L.A. to me."
Todd Segal on the back deck of his 624-square-foot home in Highland Park. The contractor took the house down to the studs and rebuilt everything, including the deck. “I wanted to live on a mountain,” he says. “It doesn’t feel like L.A. to me.”
(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

This 624-square-foot Highland Park cabin was rebuilt to use every inch for a purpose.

That time actress Julie Newmar – Catwoman! – let us into her spectacular garden

Julie Newmar stands beside the rose named for her. "It's like pale gold dipped in rubies," she says, "and the scent of it is an 11 out of 10."
Julie Newmar stands beside the rose named for her. “It’s like pale gold dipped in rubies,” she says, “and the scent of it is an 11 out of 10.”
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

In less than a quarter-acre acre in Brentwood, Newmar has created a small arboretum with trees, including Japanese butterfly maple, olive and silk floss, garden beds containing nearly 100 rose bushes, and about 80 types of begonia and numerous day lilies. There are also four "secret" garden spots if you know where to look as well as prehistoric stones, modern sculpture, and a mirrored "Alice in Wonderland" gate. "For me, it is a powerful place of healing, resolution and renewal," she said.

Living large – in less than 900 square feet

Artist Tamra Fago stands in the front doorway of her 900-square foot home in the Garvanza neighborhood near downtown L.A.

Artist Tamra Fago stands in the front doorway of her 900-square foot home in the Garvanza neighborhood near downtown L.A.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The cozy 1905 home was made over as a charming artist's space in Garvanza, one of L.A.'s oldest neighborhoods.

'It's like the Taj Mahal for chickens'

The couple say that wildlife, such as this Western Scrub-Jay, multiplied after they installed a Bauer oil jar water fountain from Potted.

The couple say that wildlife, such as this Western Scrub-Jay, multiplied after they installed a Bauer oil jar water fountain from Potted.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

An Altadena backyard becomes a lush retreat with room for a beehive and a coop.

'Ugly, outdated' 1927 Spanish is reimagined

Designer Emmanuel Cobbet reconfigured an outdated home with awkward additions as this more cohesive space for a family of five. He also organized the outdoor spaces, creating living and dining rooms as well as a garden and spa.

Designer Emmanuel Cobbet reconfigured an outdated home with awkward additions as this more cohesive space for a family of five. He also organized the outdoor spaces, creating living and dining rooms as well as a garden and spa.

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The original staircase and arches in the main entry stayed, but everything else was renovated in this Los Feliz fixer-upper.

High-density living in Echo Park

In an effort to avoid repetition, each of the 18 units is compositionally unique. “Each one has its own advantages,” says project architect Stacey Thomas. “We tried to make each one a little different.”

In an effort to avoid repetition, each of the 18 units is compositionally unique. “Each one has its own advantages,” says project architect Stacey Thomas. “We tried to make each one a little different.”

(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Architect Barbara Bestor built 18 houses on a string of lots that previously held only five homes, employing a community-centric design billed as a way to promote neighbor engagement and ease L.A.'s housing crisis.

'I knew it was the house for us right away'

Museum white walls serve as a backdrop for works by English artists Sam Winston, Ray Caeser and Storm Thorgerson.

Museum white walls serve as a backdrop for works by English artists Sam Winston, Ray Caeser and Storm Thorgerson.

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A 1959 ranch house designed by Modernist architect Edward Fickett needed a rennovation that preserved original details as it was updated for sun-drenched, indoor-outdoor living in Nichols Canyon.

Greystone Mansion's murderous makeover

Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills gets a makeover that pays homage to its murderous history Read more.

Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills gets a makeover that pays homage to its murderous history Read more.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Instead of ignoring the Beverly Hills mansion's tragic past, designers used their decorating skills to transform its interior in rememberance of the Feb. 16, 1929, deaths of oil heir and homeowner Ned Doheny by his secretary, Hugh Plunkett. (It was ruled a murder-suicide, but speculation abounds.)

Retro Row in Long Beach: 'It's hipster central'

West German pottery decorates a tabletop at Trebor/Nevets in Long Beach. A set of four Eames Eiffel Tower chairs by Herman Miller sit around the table.

West German pottery decorates a tabletop at Trebor/Nevets in Long Beach. A set of four Eames Eiffel Tower chairs by Herman Miller sit around the table.

(Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

(Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Craft beers, wine bars and restaurants are helping to fuel a renaissance along Long Beach's 4th Street shopping district which includes plenty of vintage clothing boutiques and antique shops.

Video: A Miracle Mile living room grows up

Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan renovates a living room in Los Angeles. Read more

Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan renovates a living room in Los Angeles. Read more

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

A young couple wanted their apartment to look more adult but still represent their personalities. Design guru and Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan did the rest.

denise.florez@latimes.com

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