Back to tour another of Kurt Krueger’s renovations, this Westgate Residence in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles is featured in the series “Behind the Gates.” The show takes you behind the scenes of iconic homes across the country. The show’s host and Kurt discuss how he created a luxury home within a small footprint and was able to make the home feel more spacious without adding any square footage or increasing the building envelope.

“A key thing for a small space is to focus on the details. It’s very important to look at the smaller things people will notice; everything down to door handles, baseboards, and cabinetry.”

Kurt Krueger

The house feels open with expansive spaces, but has distinct areas defined by walls that are see through bookcases which highlight the owners collections. The TV is hidden behind a panel that is mounted onto a track system. The entire bookcase was a custom build and by including other panels on the bookcase, when you slide the one hiding the TV, in either position it looks natural.

For the project, the team was inspired by an Italian tile. They decided to custom fabricate a natural stone using the waterjet technique which they were able to use throughout the interior spaces of the kitchen, bathroom, and on the fireplace surround. Krueger’s use of natural materials make this mid-century home feel warm and grounded, but with the sophistication found in modern architecture. Connecting the outside in and expanding the overall living space, he used douglas fir in the doors and windows of the interior space and in the front courtyard privacy fence and exterior facade.

Clever design techniques for the front courtyard extended the living space outdoors. Street passers-by can’t see in on this private oasis with firepit. Any street noise is drowned out by water features. Krueger created a design element with a retractable sunscreen awning that has a very practical purpose of providing shade during the sunniest parts of the day. When not in use, the awning is easily stowed away.

View more about the Westgate Residence in our Portfolio.