Citrine Communiqué No. 5 {Wren Rock House Tour, Shopping, Beets, Beats and Esther Perel...}

Welcome to the second installment of my new series of home tours featuring some of the most unique and authentic dwellings around, guided by the people who devotedly created them. I am incredibly fortunate to live “where the mountains meet the sea” as Topanga reportedly means in the Tongva language. The Wren Rock House exemplifies the true spirit of Topanga Canyon in every sense. Cradled amongst the colossal rock outcroppings of the Santa Monica Mountains, it is a a home brimming with character and poetry. Friend and owner Jessica Janney treated me to tea and a tour as her dog Astrid trailed along. Walking the property, it felt as if the cabin and the gargantuan boulders were engaged in a conspiratorial banter going back to the 1920’ s when Topanga became a weekend refuge for Hollywood bohemians. As Jessica prepares to sell Wren Rock, she is already feeling nostalgic about the uncommon world she has forged here for 16 years. (Scroll down to shop the look!)

1. Define your interior design / décor philosophy in 3 words

Heart . Immersion. Light

Living room || vintage books including poetry by Jessica’s father Frank Janney || a window framing the massive rock formations outside

2. What’s the most sentimental thing in your home and why?

An Audubon print that was a gift from my brother. It is of swallows feeding each other which (to me) represents timeless love and connection and always having each other’s backs.

James Audubon print - Photo by Jessica Janney

3. What about your home delights you the most?

Wildlife immersion: lizards, snakes, skinks, birds, owls, hawks, jays, wrens, orioles, bats, big cats, deer & coyotes. Monoliths embedded with quartz. Privacy yet community. Spectacular views

4. Describe the sounds and smells in and around your home?

It starts with my mini rooster and the canyon wren have lived here since long before us, and in the evenings, we hear the great horned owls. Our house is located for most of the year just above the fog. Sometimes I almost smell the ocean. Citrus blossoms remind me of childhood in Granada, Spain.

Vintage heirloom silver tea set and modern bird vase by LA based ceramicist Linda Hsiao of Knotworks (see Shopping below for link) | clawfoot tub takes center stage in the open primary bedroom

5. Where do you enjoy shopping for furniture and accessories?

Mostly hand-me-downs, flea markets in small towns, Etsy. It’s not the brand, it has to move you. Handmade things made by loved ones like Grandma’s desk and a little CB2 to fill in the blanks. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec pieces - I like their thin lines and transparency, which allows the outdoor landscape to shine. I have one of Ronan‘s paintings in the she-shed.

6. What steps have you taken (or plan to take) to reduce your environmental footprint at home?

I re-use and try to reupholster with organic fabrics. I dream of having a house that is much like a living thing consuming energy, but also putting out energy.

“The She-shed was a hillside that I was determined to make into a garden, which soon turned into a fancy chicken coop that I drew up on paper and slowly progressed into today’s she-shed (much needed in a house of boys) with heated floors and hot shower inside a seasonal rock waterfall.” Jessica Janney

Shop

James Audubon original swallow print

18th Century Chippendale desk

Design Within Reach Duet daybed

Knotworks LA ceramic vase

Custom copper shower by Johnny Sterner Topanga

listen

If I were watching the moon rise over the mountains I would listen to this…

EAT

My favorite go-to beet dip recipe by Topanga chef surf mama Jessica Monty

LEARN

Citrine Communiqué No. 1 {West Coast Modern Monochrome}

We were brought on by an International couple to revamp two outdated bathrooms as well as reimagine the main fireplace elevation in the living room of an ordinary post & beam home. The idea was to create a simple modern design language to elevate these three modest spaces and bring cohesion to the rest of the house. The low cottagey brick fireplace seemed out of proportion with the high beamed ceilings and the edgy European black and grey open kitchen at the end of the living room. Additionally the space seemed shut off from the outdoors even though the views and natural light are quite lovely. We went on a mission to turn the fireplace into a statement by extending the height and opening up the windows to bring the outdoors in. The result is a captivating contrast between the crisp uncluttered interior space and the luxuriant mountain views beyond.

First, the fireplace wall. We felt that by eliminating the traditional fireplace mantle and taking the casing all the way to the ceiling, it would enhance the feeling of spaciousness and height. We suggested a dark charcoal roman plaster finish rather than brick to create a dramatic modern almost monastic feel. The windows either side of the fireplace were enlarged and given black metal sashes, a perfect frame for the outdoor California native gardens designed by landscape designer Jessica Voila of the eponymous Voila Gardens.

On to the bathrooms… When a client loves a long soak it’s important to get the largest freestanding bath that can fit comfortably fit into the space without sacrificing proportion. The custom halo illumination mirror adds ambiance and opens the space up while the perforated metal pendant light from Allied Maker adds a bit of formality.

We wanted our clients to feel that they could luxuriate in their bathrooms, not just have a rushed in and out experience. We had to maximize the experience with limited space because we were working with a tight floor plan and were unable to expand the footprint. We used high quality yet simple materials; linen Porcelanosa tiles for the floor and up the back window wall in the master bath and custom cabinetry throughout. Similarly, in the second bathroom, we chose humble white subway tiles, but created an illusion of more space by grading the shower floor and adding a glass half wall thus eliminating the need for a shower lip. The teak ceilings in both bathrooms serve several purposes: the wood breaks up the all-white tiling, brings in more of the outdoors and amplifies the resort vibes. The dark bronze hardware and Sonnemann sconces keeps it all fun and modern whilst tying it into the overall language of the house.