Lighting and Outdoor Space Were Key to Transforming This New Construction Home
When Shanty Wijaya of Allprace Properties decided to take on her latest project—a modern farmhouse in L.A.’s historic Jefferson Park neighborhood—she wanted to create a calming atmosphere with an intrinsic outdoor-indoor living situation inspired by the California-cool neighborhood it was built in.
“This neighborhood is known for its Craftsman-style homes, filled with character and history,” says Shanty. “The layout was very closed off and the finishes were uninspiring. The landscaping was completely bare, unappealing, and empty. Our goal was to transform this standard new build into a character-filled Craftsman-style home that blended nicely into the charming neighborhood.” Working with a theme of modern farmhouse and Craftsman style, she completely restored the newly built 2,000-square-foot home, which includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms on a 5,076-square-foot lot.
AFTER: Artificial turf and new grasses were added, as well as custom pathways around the yards. The pathway continues to the front of the decking and “she shed” and can be used as a space for alfresco dining.
To start the transformation, Shanty added detailed custom woodwork and paneling throughout the space to give it a crafty farmhouse feel. “We wanted the spaces to blend together cohesively, and we didn’t want any of the rooms to feel redundant,” she explains. To make the home feel more up-to-date, she added a bold splash of color and pattern ranging from deep navy bookcases to printed accent wallpaper by Farrow & Ball. “We also created a sense of warmth and coziness in the home with a cohesive color palette and plenty of room for entertaining and relaxing. The entire property is drenched in bold colors and patterns and an abundance of textures, yet the design elements are still subtle and not overpowering,” she adds.
For the designer, one of the biggest challengers was to infuse a sense of personality and character in a new construction home that had neither. Typically, Shanty builds a home from the ground up or extensively restores or remodels older homes, so this was a new venture for her. “Older homes are full of intricate details, built-ins, and mature landscaping, and our biggest challenge here was to emulate these traits in this project,” she adds.
BEFORE: Before the renovations, the home was a new construction, built in 2019. The layout felt closed-off and lacked personality.
Given the location in sunny, beautiful California, lighting and outdoor space was key to transforming the home. Shanty worked extensively to highlight the abundance of natural light, adding new skylights, aluminum wood-clad windows, and glass patio doors all around the house for multiple outdoor access points.
Landscaping was also essential in creating a home that maximized the idea of indoor-outdoor living. “We also created viewpoints of the lush greenery and landscaping elements from every window and glass door of the home,” says Shanty. “Tall mature plants, hedging, and trees offer privacy for the homeowners, even with windows and doors open.” The front and side yards and the backyard are all connected through custom-made concrete pathways, allowing for a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors.
BEFORE: The kitchen felt cramped and lacked design elements. “Our main goal was to add character and charm to the home, so it could blend in seamlessly with the other homes in the neighborhood,” says Shanty.
AFTER: The floor plan was opened up to make the kitchen feel more spacious. Custom wallpaper was added to the kitchen, as well as farmhouse aesthetics such as wood paneling and bright windows.
Outside, Shanty added modern furniture and perhaps one of the highlights of the property: a “she shed.” Perched behind the hammock and metal pergola bench in the backyard, the custom-designed space can be used as a studio, office, yoga studio, or just as a place to escape when it’s most needed. “We fully customized this shed with flooring, windows, a maple wood wall paneling, dark ceili
ng, pendant light, and electrics,” says Shanty. “The pink pattern cement tile on the entry floor completes the look. We specifically used maple wood wall paneling to give the shed a unique factor and a ‘cabin in the middle of nature’ vibe.”
AFTER: “We specifically used maple wood wall paneling to give the shed a unique factor and a ‘cabin in the middle of nature’ vibe,” explains Shanty.
Touches of star jasmine plants and a tranquil copper water fountain flank the outdoor space and create a serene vibe.
AFTER: “I love how balanced the overall design, look, and vibe is and how it translates so well to our modern farmhouse theme. The home feels complete and the rooms have their own unique personalities, which tie in nicely with the rest of the property,” Shanty says of the bedroom.
AFTER: The outdoor-indoor living philosophy is in evidence here, as the doors of the bedroom can be opened to enjoy natural light and the backyard.
Allprace Properties also partnered with Humble Design, a nonprofit serving families, veterans, and individuals emerging from homelessness, to have a portion of proceeds from each of its homes sold to sponsor a furnished home for a family transitioning out of homelessness.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
