When you first saw the Trousdale home, you described it as “love at first sight.” What was it about that initial impression that struck you so deeply?

 

The mid-century architecture of the home was remarkably well preserved — which, in Beverly Hills, is almost unheard of. It hadn’t been renovated or altered in any way. The u-shaped layout wraps around a central courtyard that serves as the focal point of the main hallways and dining room. It’s sensational.

 

Built in 1966 by Benton & Parks, the house carries a rich architectural pedigree. How did you balance honoring its heritage with infusing your own contemporary vision?

 

We kept the general floor plan intact, simply updating the finishes while maintaining the overall atmosphere. The result is a home that feels authentic, yet carries a distinctly OSKLO Beverly Hills aesthetic.

 

WE DESIGNED THE COURTYARD AS AN HOMAGE TO HARAJUKU’S LUSH URBAN GARDENS  

 

Inside, you’ve layered influences from different eras and styles—Hollywood Regency, Italian modernism, David Hicks’ Britishism. How do you find harmony within this mix?

 

Design periods and designers themselves have underlying influences that are built upon. Mid-century was born of Art Deco, and various modern periods thereafter infused their influences on mid-century and Bauhaus, whether Hollywood Regency, Italian and French modern, or British classicism with a certain savoir-faire.

 

The garden takes cues from your time in Japan, with bonsai pines and moss-like grasses. How did Japanese aesthetics shape the outdoor experience?

 

We approached the courtyard as an homage to the urban gardens and shrines of Harajuku in Tokyo — lush sanctuaries that seem to defy the city surrounding them. Birds nest in the trees, and layers of green create a sense of calm, an evergreen oasis in the midst of urban life.

 

DESIGNING YOUR OWN HOME ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE RISKS THAT MANY CLIENTS MIGHT SHY AWAY FROM 

 

From pale oak floors to limestone fireplaces and earthy plaster tones, materiality is central to the project. What guided your choices in crafting this palette?

 

Our goal was to bring warmth and intimacy to an architecture that can sometimes feel airy and cold. We achieved this through creamy, earthy plaster walls and tones of limestone and natural stone that feel soft on the eye. When the architecture is perfect, less is always more — and this home had that quality from the very beginning.

 

As designers, what was it like to create a home for yourselves? In what ways did the process differ from client projects?

 

Designing your own home allows you to take risks that many clients might shy away from. You can fully commit to the details — the Jacques Adnet chandelier, the forged Paul Evans brutalist hardware on doors and cabinets — pieces that took a career to collect. These elements add depth and personality, making the home truly your own.

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We’re a multigenerational household — our mom lives with us and is a loving caregiver to our son. The house benefits from an incredible family-oriented layout, with rooms spread across the width of the home and the primary bedroom tucked privately at the rear. It’s a layout that balances togetherness and seclusion beautifully.