by admin | Jun 27, 2014 | Blog |
We are in the process of totally remodeling the interiors of several apartment properties in Honolulu. Individual apartments on Waikiki beach and the Gold Coast area of Honolulu are in a very special location and are now excellent properties to modernize and improve. Interior designer Loren Eckelberry and I provide a total service of interior architecture, interior design and furniture selection to update these ocean-front homes. The homes are being remodeled in a contemporary style that is inflected by island-style materials and furnishings. High-end appliances are seen side-by-side with exotic wood cabinets and view windows overlooking the surf. It’s a great pleasure to be working in the Hawaiian Islands because the locations are so attractive and the people we work with are so friendly. These projects enable us to bring a sophisticated mainland and European design sensibility to these projects that now cater to customers that have homes around the world and wish to have a particular Hawaiian feel to their properties in Honolulu. The very latest in German plumbing fixtures are utilized in the bathrooms and the kitchens are built using the best of American appliances. The finishes show a refined choice of materials that are understated and luxurious at the same time. We are so excited to be bringing our talents to bear on these exceptional...
by admin | Jun 27, 2014 | Blog |
I have designed two hillside homes in California’s Topanga canyon that take advantage of ‘passive-solar’ design. These homes provide the best of California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle living accompanied with spectacular views of the rugged landscape in Topanga canyon. Both homes are of a passive solar design, meaning that the home have been configured to take energy-saving advantage of the local breezes, sun orientation and heat-storing finish materials. It’s wise to design the homes to naturally take advantage of the local climate and we find that configurations that save energy make the house more comfortable year-round. Design features that reduce air-conditioning also reduce glare and increase the enjoyment of views. The homes were designed in a generous 4,000 square foot size and feature a kitchen open to the family room, a bright and sunny staircase in the center of the house, four bedrooms, a media room and a three or four-car garage. Interior living spaces are accompanied by shaded outdoor patios that can be used for a large part of the year; Rooms flow to the outdoors to enjoy the California climate. The exterior materials of the buildings have been selected for their fire resistance and the landscaping around the homes will complement the design features while also increasing fire safety. The choice of a Mediterranean design brings to mind similar houses dotted in the landscapes of Spain, Italy and the South of France. My frequent travels to those countries result in designs that include old-world comfort and enjoyment of life incorporated with a tasteful use of all modern conveniences. The honest forms of Mediterranean homes go well with a contemporary...
by admin | Jun 27, 2014 | Blog |
We are announcing the successful release of the renovation of the façade of the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The owner of the hotel, Dale Lohrer, said: “The Cecil Hotel began its gentrification to restore it to its former glory of the 1920’s when it was one of the largest hotels on the West coast. We peeled away decades of remodeling that had all but covered up its grand days.” Dale continues: “With the lobby completed, we were faced with the monumental task of how to regain the grand look of its existing storefronts along Los Angeles’s Main Street. We consulted with Anthony Eckelberry on historic and beautification imagery. He was hired and provided detailed plans that would discard the drab 1950’s remodeling and restore the storefronts beyond their original splendor. A year in the making and the unveiling of the facade revealed sculpted columns, moldings and fascia, creating a refreshed look for this landmark property.” It was a challenge to remove the facade of the building’s street level and replace it with a design that fit with the remaining classical elements of the hotel. I endeavored to give the façade a style that looked as if it had been built that way originally yet was actually a step up in quality and finishes. My research background in classical architecture helped me contribute elements that seem natural for a structure of the 1920’s, yet these forms relate to our modern necessities for visibility and security. I have completed the design of numerous hospitality design projects. I have been involved in renovations of two Beverly Hills hotels and have...
by admin | Jun 27, 2014 | Blog |
We completed a new home that expresses new concepts of luxury and informality in contemporary home design. The owners of a Los Angeles property commissioned my firm to design a minimalist-style home that would accommodate their simplified lifestyle yet feel expansive and uncluttered. Due to the sloping land and the desire to have the house fully accessible, I came up with the idea of linking the two main parts of the house –bedrooms and living areas- with a long sloping hallway. To accentuate the hallway’s dimensions, I designed 20 foot high ceilings and curved the walls on both sides. This turned the hallway into a dramatic three-dimensional space that engages the viewer by changing with every step. The living areas that overlook the garden pool are tall, well-proportioned spaces that can open up completely to the outdoors with folding glass door panels. Along with the sense of drama imparted by the soaring spaces, the rooms feel comfortable and in the words of one viewer “just right”. The builder remarked “Anthony has a wonderful grip on quiet elegance.” Growing up in Paris I experienced homes and public spaces with a large scale and grandeur about them yet possessing a sense that you could pull up a chair and relax by the fire. I try to impart that quality of a wide-open space that feels informal enough for a quiet conversation. With this new home, it appears that we have succeeded in conveying grandeur and informality all at...
by admin | Jun 27, 2014 | Blog |
An artist and her film-producer husband owned a small one-story home in a fashionable West Los Angeles neighborhood. As an architect, I interpreted their wishes into a classic Spanish-style home that is now twice the size, keeping the authentic feel of the traditional home. I see too often house additions that are modern structures set onto an existing house, so the art is to make it look like it was all created at the same time, but long ago. When construction was over, the homeowners said: “We had searched for over a year to find an architect who could renovate our 1920’s Spanish home while maintaining its sense of character and charm…and you did it!” The old home had attractive touches in the front but the back portion felt cramped and was isolated from the garden. I left just enough of the old house facing the street to maintain the authentic character, and took down the structure behind the façade to create an entirely new two-story building. I blended the old with the new by adding a full-height curved entry tower. The homeowners added: “Anthony was wonderful at adding just the right touches and incorporating some of our ideas into the plans.” In commenting on the design process, the owner said: “I really appreciated Anthony listening to our desires and the time he took with the preliminary drawings to create such a spectacular home.” This project shows that homes in our cities can adapt to our growing families while preserving the character of traditional...
