Buying a Perfectly Fine House and Ripping it Apart
Personalizing Our Dream Home: A Journey of Updates and Upgrades
When we first stepped into our house, we were captivated by its architectural beauty and interesting, “not for everyone” design. The house, originally crafted by Los Angeles architect Gil Stayner for his own family, held an undeniable presence. However, while the house was nearly perfect in so many ways, it needed to reflect who we are and cater to our personal interests. This is the story of how we ripped apart a perfectly fine house to reimagine our dream home with the help of the original architect's son, Christian Stayner, who now runs the family architecture firm.
Discovering the Potential
The house, influenced by the iconic Sea Ranch architecture and the styles featured in Sunset Magazine from the late 1970s through the 1980s, was a masterpiece as it sat. Its open floor plan, high ceilings, and natural light were just some of the features that made us fall in love instantly. But as we spent more time visiting the house prior to the start of demo, roughly 9 months, we realized that while the house was beautiful, we had some ideas that would really make it ours.
Reaching Out to the Stayner Architecture Firm
Understanding the importance of maintaining the architectural integrity of the house, we decided to reach out to the Stayner Architecture Firm. We were delighted to learn that Gil Stayner's son, Christian, was now running the firm. Christian, who spent the first decade of his life in the same bedroom our son will have, had a deep, personal connection to the house. His intimate understanding of the home's design and history made him the perfect person to help us with our updates. His father, Gil had all of the documentation and original drawings stored safely and we have had access to everything.
Collaborating on a Vision
Our first step was a detailed discussion with Christian and about our ideas and needs. We wanted to preserve the elements that made the house special while incorporating changes that would make it feel more like us. Christian’s enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate were evident from the start. Together, we explored various options, balancing modern updates with the existing classic style.
