For the remodelling of the house, she collaborated with Kovac Architects. She wanted a home with a unique connection to its community, neighbourhood, and surrounding nature where she and Steve can live in a relaxed and comfortable manner with their sons and dogs.

The elegantly renovated home incorporates elements of Belgium’s traditional Flemish farmhouses, including clean lines, plenty of textures, abundant natural light, and a monochromatic interior that is both luxurious and approachable.

Kovac Architects preserved the original house’s post and beam structure – they’re “good bones”, says Vanessa – but the bricks were traded for wood cladding that had been given the shou sugi ban treatment, which originated in 18th-century Japan and involves charring the wood and then weatherproofing it.

Additionally, they added a new kitchen and family room, enlarged all the doors and most of the windows to allow better indoor-outdoor connections, and installed skylights to let more light in.

The living room features a slew of classic and contemporary design objects. An artwork by Callum Innes adds a pop of colour to the monochromatic palette.

Using hand-plastered walls and ceilings by surfacing specialist Kamp Studios alongside walnut beams and black steel frame, the interior presents a contemporary architectural canvas with distinct handmade touches.

The furnishings, upholstery, and fittings follow a monochromatic colour scheme while a carefully curated collection of artworks and accessories brings a sense of family history to the space.

“Aesthetically, the challenge was to achieve a low key luxury,” says Vanessa. “Ultimately we did that by blending moments of high elegance with a texturally edited palette of materials, colours, fabrics and furnishings.”

Natural fibres like jute, sisal, and linen, as well as aged timber lend tactility and a European sensibility while custom contemporary items bring the whole look into the 21st century. 

The living room mixes mid-century and contemporary pieces by well-known creatives. Two Regent armchairs by Marco Zanuso from the ’60s, a Polar Bear sofa by Jean Royere, a vintage Radial chandelier and a bench by Charlotte Perriand that functions as a coffee table blend harmoniously with the Brazier side table by Rick Owens and custom brass sconces by Alexander Design.

A photograph by Bill Henson titled Paris Opera – a gift from the late, Oscar-winning actor Heath Ledger, who was a family friend – hangs above the mid-century credenza.

Open to the garden, the family room features a rare pair of Axel Einar Hjorth chairs.

The pool room features Antony daybed by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouve and Agnoli
floor lamp from Oluce.

The handplastered wall lends a human touch that soften the contemporary furniture and artwork combo in this corner.

The kitchen and the master bedroom are Vanessa’s favourite rooms in the house.

The family spends a lot of time in the kitchen.

Featuring vintage bar stools by Alexandra Kohl and J.M. Szymanski, as well as a custom chandelier by Vanessa, it opens up to the yard and pool.

The adjacent dining room combines old and new with a striking custom pendant light by Pierre Yovanovitch, a 19th-century dining table and a set of restored Chandigarh chairs by Pierre Jeanneret. 

Vanessa designed the key pieces in the restful master bedroom, including the bed frame, the floating bedside table and wall lights. 

An especially commissioned nude painting by Alisson Van Pelt hangs above the headboard.

The lush garden was designed by Terremoto Landscape.

The outdoor daybed is by Vanessa, the pool umbrella is from Santa Barbara Designs.

Not including the eight-month delay caused by the Woolsey Fire – a devastating wildfire that ravaged 39,234ha of land in California from Nov 8 for three days in 2018 – the renovation took 18 months to complete.

Vanessa and her family moved in soon after the Covid struck the US in 2020. “It’s been an incredible haven,” she says.

“We were thrilled with the results and it has only gotten better with each day. We love how the house works for our everyday lives as well as for entertaining family and friends.”

Photography Adrian Gaut & Douglas Friedman

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