In historic Silver Lake, home remodeling is at an all-time high with many homes being updated or restored to their original look. To accomplish an extraordinary vision, it means fearless remodeling.
Silver Lake homeowner Michael Kahan has a stylistic eye for design. Combining his hobby of interior design with a love of shopping, he has transformed an ideally situated 2,400 square foot ranch-style house into a warm and inviting home worthy of eclectic Silver Lake.
Built in 1944 on bedrock, the front of the house overlooks the arroyo leading to downtown Hollywood. The entire back of the house has panoramic views of the Silver Lake Reservoir and the distant towers of Downtown Los Angeles.
Remodeling the Silver Lake home has been an ongoing labor of love since 1986 with the bulk of the work having been completed in the last ten years. "I've been hands-on regarding every detail down to the last hinge and knob. I also do the landscaping and planting in the garden. I spend two to three months in the Spring getting ready for Summer," Michael said, while overlooking the lush koi pond, bamboo garden and stunning backdrop of the lake from the cozy breakfast room.
This particular breakfast room has beautiful but unobtrusive maple cabinetry that looks free-standing but is actually built-in. The cabinet surfaces are topped with Brazilian blue granite, which carries into the spacious kitchen that was remodeled in 2002.
"In remodeling the kitchen and breakfast room, I worked with a cabinet contractor and the Neff Cabinet Company from Canada. We worked together in planning the layout and fine-tuning it. I custom designed all of it. The cabinet and drawer handles alone took three months to find. I also raised the ceiling in the kitchen and breakfast room by a foot and a half to give it a loftier feel, which made a huge difference. In the planning process, you have to visualize the details so you don't worry whether it will work or not."
The kitchen is simple yet stunning with its blond, curved pillow-styled cabinets, Brazilian blue granite counters/backsplash and porcelain tile floors.
"I wanted something different; something that made an inviting statement. It took a year of research to find the right fit of granite, cabinets, Miele appliances, Sub-Zero refrigerator, separate freezer drawers, flooring and hardware," Michael said.
"It's so important to get technical help. If you do it completely on your own, you may think you're ordering the right size cabinet, but when it's delivered it's an inch short and you have to start all over again. Don't be too daring or do it quickly and assume it's going to work. Anyone attempting a huge remodel such as a kitchen should get a second opinion. What you may want and what a designer may suggest can conflict with each other, but the final decision comes down to what the homeowner likes while keeping within the style of the home," Michael explained. "You shouldn't put an ultra-modern kitchen into a Spanish-style home because it doesn't make sense. While there are no set rules, try to stay within the home's general style."
In the design of the master bedroom, Michael raised the ceiling by eighteen inches and wanted dark wood around the floor moldings, window trims, doors, cabinets and furniture. The medium-brown oak floors and lighter paint create a tasteful, comfortable, peaceful environment. There is very little in the room except the bedroom suite and built-in cabinets that look free-standing.
"I worked with master furniture maker Chris Casney, from The Devil's Woodshop in Burbank. He created the built-ins to match the bed and side tables down to the exact color, which is also reflected in the window frames and floor moldings so that they just 'pop' and catch your eye."
In completely overhauling the master bath, Michael enlisted the aid of Sandra Wisot of Design Concepts in Silver Lake who suggested a floating cabinet to showcase the two glass, undermount sinks. The effect is light, uncluttered and perfect.
"The main issue with the bathroom was the layout. Trying to reconfigure and enlarge it, while using every bit of available space properly, was the trick. I researched the fixtures, the glass sinks and the mosaic tile for the walls and floors many months before construction even began. The contractor helped quite a bit with the detailed tile work, but even with all three of us working on this, it took eight months to complete both master bedroom and bathroom."
One of the most striking features of the bathroom is the double French door leading from the master bedroom to the master bathroom.
"Internet research led to my choice of processed glass doors. The company sent me several samples and I made my final choice from those. You can save a lot of time by surfing the Internet and finding companies that will send you free samples."
In the bathroom, the complex tile work looks seamless. The floor tiles are small mosaics of interlocking sheets in a basket weave pattern that were then sanded down to create a perfectly smooth floor. The intricate tile work on the walls consists of very small mosaics that create a continuous pattern reminiscent of understated and elegant wallpaper.
"The honed marble around the double-sinks and the curved Jacuzzi tub are from Turkey. There's also a towel warmer and recessed lighting all throughout the bathroom. The shower has brushed nickel Dornbracht fixtures including the showerhead and steam shower fixtures," Michael said, pointing out some of the more subtle details. "As the homeowner, you have to choose the color scheme that you're comfortable with. I've seen some horrendous decisions and I have wondered whether it's from the homeowner or the designer. Be smart about fabric, color and design choices and avoid trends. You're the one that has to live with it. If you use a designer don't let them talk you into something that just doesn't please you. Function is important, but so is personal taste."
The home that Michael has created has taken time, energy and money, but it's well worth the investment as each room flows seamlessly into the next.
His latest project, just completed in October 2007, is the three hundred square foot den, which serves as an office and media room.It took four months to completely re-design.The handmade desk in the den, which is eight feet long and placed snugly into a recessed alcove, overlooks the lake and seems to be built-in, but is not.
"I researched desks extensively on the Internet and took only certain elements from the ones I liked and put them all together to create this one-of-a-kind piece.Chris and I had to fine-tune it, so instead of a large piece of glass covering the top of the desk, I suggested that it would be more interesting to have three separate drop-in pieces outlined by the beautiful mahogany wood," Michael explained. "Finding the right handles are always difficult so I purchased several samples and tried them out first."
Michael finally found the perfect handles made of antique brass in a simple and elegant curved design that does not overpower the beauty of the desk, but enhances it.
Many of the older homes are drafty, so Michael made important changes.
"One of the first changes in the den included double-glazed windows for more energy efficiency," Michael said. "The stained redwood paneling makes the room warm and comfortable without being stodgy or fussy. There's a fireplace in the living room and another one in the den, which was originally in brick. I wanted to brighten the room up and made the fireplace surround in small, honed marble tiles and added seeded glass doors to the bookshelves, which really changed the look of the room. In my many travels, I've actually found pieces of furniture that I've not found in Los Angeles. One of them was a leather sofa, which conceals a motorized recliner that I found in Las Vegas. I just recently purchased the latest high definition TV that hangs on the wall opposite the sofa for perfect viewing. My taste has evolved in the last ten years.Finding unique pieces that go together is the enjoyable challenge."
As Michael leads this writer into the next area, it is clear that each room offers a different energy: Each one inviting in its own way.
"I've been totally involved in the design, layout and details with every room of my home. Whether it's the French doors, recessed lighting, or ceiling speakers, a great deal of research went into every room," Michael said. "I plan as much as one year in advance before I remodel. I choose each piece of furniture and accessory for a specific reason, whether it is color, texture or for its special uniqueness. Homes can often be stuffy or too cluttered; keep things simple so that the eye is not overwhelmed."
In fact, Michael has collected unique pieces including a lovely living room cabinet from Hong Kong and a beautiful dark blue Chinese rug dating back to 1906. A built-in niche above the fireplace set into a floor-to-ceiling marble wall showcases a limited edition Lalique piece he located in Atlanta, Georgia. Artwork around the house was either commissioned or purchased from art auctions all over the world, including an exquisite piece he brought back from Bali.
For homeowners who want to get involved, Michael willingly shares advice.
"If a piece of furniture, a rug or an accessory catches your eye, buy it. Don't second-guess yourself because you may never see it again. I've learned that the hard way and then had to search for it. The pieces I've accumulated have been purchased over the past twenty years. For colors, paint an area of the wall and look at the sample. Get online and search for ideas but don't do things hastily and do your research. You should have a concept far in advance of the remodel and, most importantly, have patience. If the contractor says it will take three months be prepared for it to take six and maybe even nine months. Be a part of every decision daily. If you're not part of the process there will be problems at the end. Keep an eye on the progress being made every single day. Try not to make too many changes while the remodel is in full swing because it will cost you dearly. Never pay the contractor fully up front, either. A 10% down payment is the norm and pay him as things progress with a payment schedule. Only pay his final fee at the end when everything is done to your satisfaction. Do things by permit because the inspections are for the homeowner, not the contractor."
With so many incredible views of the lake from several rooms, the garden, patios and pool, Michael has wisely invested in the overall feel of his home on the hill.
"A home is an on-going project, so I'm not done, yet," Michael said with a grin, "And, I'm working on my sister's house, now!"