When Ian Thompson and Muna Coobtee fell in love with a 1920s Tudor home in the Silver Lake Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, they knew extensive renovations would be in their future. Though they appreciated the period charm, the couple, who have three sons under the age of ten, wanted to update the space with an open floor plan, flood the home with light, and create an easy indoor-outdoor flow; they also wanted to nearly double the house in size. “Our challenge was how to balance these two elements—the original character and the client’s desire for a brighter, more contemporary setting,” explains Karen Vidal, who, with her partner Guy Vidal, is the founder of Los Angeles–based Design Vidal.
They began by building on a two-story addition that incorporates a luxurious master suite, two extra bedrooms, and a bath, adding 1,000-square-feet to the original 1,500. The previously dimly lit galley kitchen was blown out to make room for a central family gathering place that captures “the perfect So-Cal lifestyle of effortless indoor-meets-outdoor entertaining,” says Karen. Outside, they leveled the heavily sloped garden to create a practical, year-round yard. “We had isolated the addition from the original house structurally, so the project went surprisingly smoothly, given the scope,” Karen explains. “Terracing the backyard and adding the 26-by-15-foot pool was the most challenging aspect.”
Once the ten months of construction wrapped, the duo got to work on the interiors, harmoniously blending the unique individual styles of the clients, whose heritage is Midwestern and Palestinian. In the living room, the 1950s stone fireplace—one of the only elements not touched in the remodel—was the inspirational launchpad for a colorful, eclectic style Karen dubbed a “modern Tudor mash-up.” Walls were painted in bold colors and one-of-a-kind vintage accents—including Moroccan rugs and Danish midcentury furniture pieces—were added to create a truly individual space. The result is an eclectic home that combines streamlined practicality, nostalgic charm, and contemporary luxury in a timeless design with staying power.
