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SECOND NATURE

A charming midcentury dwelling in Glendale’s Childs Canyon is given new life.

WORDS BY ANUSH BENLIYAN < PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGHAN BEIERLE-O’BRIEN

with a unique Japanese-influenced roofline and a perch up in the Verdugo Mountains near protected parkland, this 2,560-square-foot Glendale property was originally built in 1956. In 2014, ACME Real Estate agent Cari Field and her husband, Matt, purchased the three-bedroom abode for their family of four knowing that it would be their lifelong home. For the remodeling and decoration that took place in subsequent years, they called on Los Angeles–bred interior designer Deirdre Doherty, who upgraded the outdated floor plan into an open concept while safeguarding distinct historical features that give the house great character, like the lavarock fireplace in the living room. “We love to keep the original elements of the home, honor them, yet make the space feel current,” says Doherty, a self-confessed mix master and chameleon of styles. “I love combining new and old for a fresh outlook.”

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DETAIL: A vintage flush-mount chandelier from the now-defunct Retro Gallery in Los Angeles greets guests in the entry.

LEFT: A Matters of Space entryway console is enhanced by a vintage lamp and painting. Deirdre Doherty Interiors’ namesake principal designer notes that the home features “tons of vintage pottery and collectibles throughout. The client loves to shop the flea market and is a true believer of being eco-friendly by making use of things that already exist—hence the vintage flair.” The slate floors are original to the house.

RIGHT: The dining room features a custom wood-slab dining table, Wegner Wishbone chairs, drapery in Donghia cream and yellow striped linen, and a Lawson-Fenning chandelier. Plus, “that view out to the hills of L.A. and the amazing palm trees is hard to beat,” says Doherty.

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ABOVE: “The kitchen was the clients’ main focus,” notes Doherty. The eat-in kitchen, “equipped for a chef,” features vintage stools, a Miele coffee maker, double ovens, warming drawers, two full-size sinks, and a top-of-the-line electric range. An uninterrupted line of custom walnut cabinets (thanks to paneled appliances) is paired with handsome black-honed, riverwashed granite countertops.

LEFT: Highlights in the living room include retro seating (the blue swivel chair is from the Pasadena Antique Mall), vintage fabric pillows from Nickey Kehoe, and a vintage kilim from Jamal’s Rug Collection. The light fixture was made for the family by owner Cari Field’s uncle, Lee Ferrier, and the artwork was created by her aunt, Kay Ferrier.

DETAIL: Houdini Standing, 2007, ink and oil on unprimed paper, by Los Angeles–based artist Whitney Bedford, sits above a vintage dental cabinet.

LEFT: In the master bathroom, walnut counters on the wall-to-wall vanity call to the kitchen’s custom cabinetry, while new slate floors echo the original stone of the home’s entryway. Premium Hansgrohe plumbing is paired with walnut and brass pulls from Liz’s Antique Hardware and Lagos Azul wall tiles. The bathroom renovation also included the additions of a soaking tub and large shower.

BELOW: The master bedroom’s floor-toceiling corner windows and fireplace were uncovered from behind soundproofed walls during the renovation. The Ann Sacks fireplace tiles recall Eames designs—an apt nod to the home’s midcentury roots. The custom headboard features Maharam fabric, a nice contrast to the Matteo bedding and Thomas Lavin drapery. Vintage accents include an infinity mirror, chairs, and Moroccan rug from Jamal’s. Carved stone lamps, equipped with onyx-and-brass on/off buttons, rest atop nightstands from Empiric.

< DEIRDRE DOHERTY INTERIORS, ddidesigns.com