Old World Meets New: A Spanish Revival in the Hollywood Hills

Rip & Tan: What was the initial vision for this renovation?

Tanya Saban: Old world architectural details and finishes–to give the space a sense of age, paired with contemporary elements in furniture and lighting. Ultimately, our priority became how we wanted the space to feel over how we wanted it to look. We always returned to the word sanctuary.

Lucie Klimes: A home that has harmony with the exterior. A place to recharge from city life.

Sarah Luhtala: A blend of old and new visual elements, transitioning fluidly from exterior to interior and back again.

Rip & Tan: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during this renovation?

Tanya Saban: The waterproofing and water damage were quite challenging. We had to trench into the bedrock to ensure we addressed the water damage from the source—the extra time and cost were worth it. We knew we were putting something out into the world with a high degree of integrity, leaving no stone unturned.

Rip & Tan: Were there any original elements of the home you knew you had to preserve?

Tanya Saban: Most of the home needed updating, and we were unable to preserve much. Luckily, the location and scale of the window in the formal living room were maintained. We worked closely with our architect partner, Sarah Luhtala, from StudioLuhtala, to design a new window with a more intentional composition. A soft arch and mullions scaled to the rule of thirds. I guess we can call it an “elevated” original element.

Rip & Tan: Any custom features or vintage finds that added that extra layer of charm?

Lucie Klimes: Many aspects played into the charm of this particular project. The moldings on the doorways, the Poul Henningsen light over the kitchen island, the Solid Claro Walnut wood primary bath vanity, and the custom tumbled white oak plank flooring made in France from Exquisite Surfaces. We achieve this long-lived-in look and touch by working closely with their team.

Tanya Saban: The tumbled limestone fireplace surround, the hand forged iron, and all the vintage lighting! A standout for us is the vintage Kalmar sconce in the living room. We love placing a singular light fixture in an odd corner. When the sun goes down and you light up the corners of a space, it feels really romantic. Almost cinematic. We affectionately refer to these as “lonely lights”.

Sarah Luhtala: The curved staircase. The kitchen counter nook, now filled with heavyweight linen cushions —we eliminated a whole cabinet to achieve this little moment, and I love that!

Rip & Tan: Are there any details in this home that feel especially “you” as a design duo?

Lucie Klimes: The pop of sherbert pink in the serene girl’s bath. Creating a sense of ritual around the house with incense and candles, and the soulfulness of the property. Also, the gorgeous custom staircase with landing details we studied endlessly with Sarah Luhtala.

Tanya Saban: An emphasis on dappled light shining through the windows throughout the day. The solar study we conducted early on was crucial in achieving this goal. The study factors in the existence of old-growth trees and how the house would look inside at any given hour of the day, throughout the year. We spend a lot of time on the size, shape, and location of windows and doors when the project scope allows for it.

Rip & Tan: What’s your best advice for renovating a historic property?

Sarah Luhtala: The up-front research to lay the groundwork. Let it be the guide to move the design forward with clarity and intent.

Lucie Klimes: I suggest reviewing all of the old documentation of the property to keep the overall integrity of how it was built. Don’t overdesign.

Tanya Saban: This property does not have a historical designation and has been through many renovations before we started, so there was a lot of freedom. But generally speaking, historic properties often require work to bring them up to code and the safety standard. If that’s the case, do your best to recreate what was there originally. I recommend documenting everything before you touch the house. Let that be your guide.

Rip & Tan: Looking back, what are you most proud of about this project?

Sarah Luhtala: The drawings that let this all come to life.

Lucie Klimes: The collaboration with Sarah and Tanya. It has been a catalyst for new opportunities—retail projects with Sarah Luhtala, and starting Broad Project with Tanya.

Tanya Saban: Exactly. I feel honored by and proud of the level of collaboration and creative partnerships that were born out of this project. I also really appreciate the steadfastness of the entire team over the past four years to do this project the right way.