Volume 01: A 1950s House of Sunlight, Shadows, and Garden Views

Volume 01: A 1950s House of Sunlight, Shadows, and Garden Views

This remodeled 1950s home measures just under 230 square meters and is located in sun-kissed Southern California.
The entire interior is finished in lime plaster that changes color as the sun moves. The goal here was to create a living, breathing sanctuary that wakes up with you, bringing the rhythm of the day into your life.

In this house, the windows carry a beautiful responsibility. They are tasked with bringing the most soothing light inside, offering a pocket of morning sun, a sudden shower of noon light, or a ray of golden evening sun to ease you into the quiet of the night. They function like living frames, placed to connect you with the garden outside, with the dancing trees, and the vast, vast blue sky.

The windows are narrow and elegantly tall, leaving large areas of solid, unbroken wall. Walls to rest your back against, to hold your art, and to carry your books, allowing you to slip into someone else’s story and detach.

The dialogue between the walls and the window openings creates a rhythm of light and shadow. The plaster absorbs the sun but allows corners to retreat into darkness. When you need a moment of your own, a shadow is always waiting for you on the comfortable sofa or a small wooden chair looking out into the garden.

The kitchen faces north and east. As the warm sun leaves and a cool blue light settles in, the soft yellow cabinets step in to hold onto that warmth, keeping the kitchen the beating heart of the house.
The design is open and free of heavy wall cabinets. The center belongs to the island, a raised wooden table weathered beautifully by the passing of time. In the corner, a round dining table brings the room together. The space holds you, giving you moments to stay and make memories.

The bedroom receives the warm, golden evening light. To soften the intensity of the sun, the entire room is finished in a soft blue lime plaster. The color and texture absorb the sun and reflect it back in a dreamy tone, as if the room is wrapping you in a soft ocean haze.

The attic rooms show the play of the roof, where the dormer windows punch through like curious eyes. The geometry of the roofs encloses you gently, creating instant moments of refuge where you can sit by yourself with a cup of tea, read your book, and connect with the scent of the garden outside.

Chairs are the heart of this house. They are scattered everywhere, offering simple opportunities to sit, see the garden, and watch the play of shadows. They are of different colors and different shapes. Refusing to be a matching set, they give the house a quiet sense of charm and playfulness.

As you move through the house, the art speaks to you, showing you hints of personality, of desires, and of dreams. The play of the sun, the tonality of the walls, and the stories of the paintings are singing to calm you down. The space whispers that it is beautiful to be imperfect and reminds you that your house is a place to simply slow down.

Room Stories: Volume 01
Design and 3D modeling: Afshan Behnam


If you loved what you just read, I have put together the sourcing directory for the furniture, fixtures, and paint colors here:

Kitchen

Living Room

TV Room

Garden

Sitting Room

Bedroom 

Paint palette & finishes

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please note that renderings are produced using revit, enscape, photoshop, and ai tools as representative studies for layout, scale, and concept. these renderings cannot fully capture the true depth, texture, and beauty of the listed products, fixtures, materials, and finishes. we always recommend visiting the manufacturer's website and ordering physical samples before making a final decision. 

If you would like to discuss your space, its layout, light, colors, your pain points, and what you love about it, feel free to book an appointment. I would love to explore these possibilities with you on a collaborative and personal level.

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