New York architect Mike Jacobs took his edgy style way west, to Los Angeles, where he brought together domestic life and work life with balance and beauty. Lorraine Studio is a live work home and graphic arts studio that drawing from its youthful locale and fresh, sunny climate. This California house does a little flip from what you might expect in a live work house, putting the professional part upstairs (for privacy) and the living space downstairs to take advantage of the outdoors. And that they do! A massive sliding glass wall opens interiors to the garden and pool outside, inviting natural light, fresh air and the green-ness in. But here, the green factor goes beyond the views. This eco house design incorporates passive solar technology, and any extra power is re-circulated back into the Los Angeles grid. Smart, and sweet! Check it out.
The large picture windows naturally illuminate this work area and add an awesome sense of space, which is further enhanced by the vaulted ceiling. The bright white backdrop is warmed up with natural wood floors and furnishings. We love this long shelf, which separates the stairwell from the work area, while adding stylish storage and display nooks for books, art, anything that inspires!
But you don’t have to look far for inspiration. The desk is tucked beneath a large picture window that opens up the space, floods it with light and invites the outdoors in.
Professional and comfortable all at once, it’s easy to see how one could spend long work hours, when you get to work in a chic space like this!
A row of windows along the opposite wall also warms up interiors with streams of sunlight.
The stairs lead down to the main level, taking you from work to home…
The living areas feature that same crisp, clean palette of bright white and warm wood. The ceiling detail adds architectural interest to the space.
The concrete floor leads through the living area and out to the garden through a large open door.
In spite of its trendy aesthetic, practical work area and livable main floor, the house maintains a strong connection to its surroundings. We love that you just slide the door open, and step out into the grass. You just have to take a moment to enjoy the simple things in life.
The architects had some “technical difficulties” to overcome, but they made it work. From Mike Jacobs Architecture, “The design, which evolved as a negotiation between the Los Angeles off-street parking requirements and local zoning mandates, simultaneously satisfies and subverts local code. Automobile parking tolerances were adopted in the spatial organization and siting of the structure. These are layered within the domestic needs of the ground floor workspace through large custom-made glass doors and a structural slab.”
The home’s exterior is a traditional peaked roof topped with something pretty modern – solar panels, which heat the 1,200-sq.-ft. structure and pool. Any excess power is re-circulated back into the grid. Awesome.
Mike Jacobs Architecture
