California dreaming (again)

There’s probably not too many folks you can name that have worked on projects for both the Beastie Boys and Trina Turk, and published their own book, not to mention had homes show up in Dwell and the LA Times Magazine practically simultaneously. That person is California based architect Barbara Bestor, who was nice enough to say yep when I e-mailed her about running some of her work here on the blog. The book (which you might already have a copy of) is Bohemian Modern: Living in Silver Lake and her projects are – from my point of view - just about a perfect combo of modernist sensibilities and a laid back style of living. Take a boo below at Bestor’s home Glendower, uh-huh, that exterior shot shows it sitting beneath Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis-Brown House in Los Feliz, and the following image is a peek at the shaded back patio and pool. Next up is a couple of shots of the Floating Bungalow (check the March issue of Dwell to see more), and finally an exterior and interior of the Surf Shack, designed for photographer Dewey Nicks, which popped up here in the LA Times mag. Seriously, with this kind of inspiration I could so easily be talked into buying a one-way ticket to LA... [Image 2: Vårt Nya Hem. Image 3,4: John Ellis. Image 6: Dewey Nicks. All other images: Bestor Architecture]

California dreaming

Right about now, at the tail end of winter, I'm at my wits end with the cold and the grey and my dreams turn wistfully to California. I'll noodle through real estate websites and find Palm Springs gems like this and this that I've been trying to talk friends into buying. Then reality sets in, and the sun - thankfully - comes out.

But it's good to dream, and it's extra good to dream on a blurry post-Oscars® Monday morning. So, when I found this gorgeous Santa Monica home splashed across the glossy pages of the LA Times Magazine, I knew I had to share. The home is owned by photographer Dewey Nicks and was designed with a nod to mid-century California style by architect Barbara Bestor. The interiors are smashing, and shake together kid-friendy glamour with a keen vintage eye by designer Paul Fortune. Maybe the Nicks family needs a pool boy?

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Hey, where did the shots go??? Well, I got a rather nasty legalese e-mail regarding copyright infringement, so they just had to come down. Sucks, huh? And the first time that I've ever been asked to do that too! In the meantime I'll be checking in with the Barbara Bestor to see if she has any shots available (check out the rest of her firm's portfolio here, it's brill). If you fancy scoping out the original LA Times article, click here.