Post Modern Update: The Pasinetti House

Simplicity and elegance in a modern setting.

A kitchen remodel even a dog could love.

(I believe all dogs check out what's on the counters when we are at work. )

These photos are from an LA Times article,
Haralamb Georgescu's midcentury Pasinetti house renovated:

Architectural gem headed for tear-down is respectfully upgraded.

Kitchen Notes on the Pasinetti Renovation.

1. What had been a small galley kitchen was opened to allow a greater social flow to the dining room and living space.
   
2. The Formica counter tops were replaced with a smooth white quartz.
   
3. To reduce the scale of the kitchen appliances, the refrigerator and freezer were placed in separate drawers with cabinet fronts that match Georgescu's cabinet design and proportions, and a new mahogany finish connects them to the bookcases in the main living area.
4. My one reservation: The paneling behind the range is mahogany. As beautiful as it is, grease splatters on a wood back splash will discolor the wood. I would have liked to see milk white back painted glass just behind the range. It would have been appropriate for the style and also it would make the quartz pop.
   

The photo was taken on day 206 of the renovation.
Stark Ghost Chairs. Morredi of Denmark Dining Table.

Photo from demolition.
Note the wall up, jalousie windows, formica tops,
lipped cabinet doors, awkard cooktop location.

Day 225. What a difference!
Appliances by Sub-Zero, Miele and Bertazzoni.
Fixtures by Dornbracht and Blanco.

Notes from LA Times Article:
Architect Haralamb Georgescu (1908-77) is considered one of Romania's most important architects. Today many of his modernist buildings in Bucharest are landmarks. Despite designing dozens of buildings in Southern California, Georgescu never gained the same level of fame as his midcentury contemporaries. The Midcentury Modern Pasinetti home, built in Beverly Hills in 1958, was for sale as a tear -down in 2007. The idea was to replace the home with yet another over done, ridiculous behemoth Beverly Hills Tuscan style McMansion. Krikey! Was I descriptive enough?

Vision
The developer Tim Braseth says "developers do not need to replace a house in order to gain a maximum return." Braseth saw the beauty in the post modern structure and had the Pasinetti home restored with updated conveniences, improved building methods and energy efficient materials and technology that brought the home up to date while still respecting the integrity of the home's important design elements. The Pasinetti house is now being designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument.

For more information: click here for the LA Times article.
For a press release: click here.
For more inforation on the developer: click here