Photos: A Minimalist home in Silver Lake with views

Architect McShane Murnane designed his family’s Silver Lake home to take advantage of the view of the Hollywood Hills and beyond. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

May 16, 2014 5:37 PM PT

Cleo and McShane Murnane aimed to build a Silver Lake home on a steep hillside. Years on, they have a Minimalist home with views.

The Murnane home has a small footprint on the hillside. The larger upper floor cantilevers out over the lower level of the house. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Cleo Murnane serves drinks to children Lake, left, and Emerson in their hillside home, a new build in Silver Lake. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

McShane Murnane, working with contractor Resourceful Developments, installed windows above the stairs to naturally ventilate the house. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

The airy kitchen is a gathering place for the Murnane family. Ikea cabinets on the right have custom-made facings. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

White subway tile along the walls and open shelving above the stove add to the airy feeling in the room. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Cleo Murnane looks out the window of the master bedroom while dog Elsa naps on the bed. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

A skylight above the shower and bath brings natural light into the room. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Moroccan cement floor tile from www.contemporarytiles.se is used in the master bath. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Cleo McShane opens the door to the downstairs balcony. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Emerson gazes out the window from a built-in bench in her room. Her closet has a secret tunnel leading into the hall. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

McShane Murnane watches as son Lake scales the climbing wall in his room. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lake peers down into his bedroom from an opening in the living room floor that is concealed when not in use. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lake pops out from his bedroom below as his sister, Emerson, walks by. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

The main living area of Cleo and McShane Murnane’s home has an open floor plan, a sloping roof and wall-length sliding glass doors. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

The Murnanes sited their home at the top of their hillside property in Silver Lake to take advantage of the views. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)