The Carla Residence is one of the most refined recent restorations to emerge from Trousdale Estates. A 1965 Rex Lotery designed residence that has been thoughtfully reawakened for contemporary living while preserving the architectural clarity that made it special in the first place. Commissioned during Paul Trousdale’s formative development of the neighborhood, the home sits on approximately half an acre behind gates, where a long private arrival sequence, expansive motor court of hand-cut granite cobblestones, and landscaped flagstone atrium establish a sense of privacy, restraint, and pedigree from the very first approach. The setting is classic Trousdale, but the execution here is unusually disciplined: elegant, architectural, and deeply respectful of the house’s original character.
What makes this restoration especially compelling is that SIMO Design did not simply modernize the home, they approached it as a historically significant property requiring a balance of restoration and renovation. According to the designers, one of the major challenges was that the residence had fallen into disrepair over time, and many of its defining exterior materials had been obscured. The original concrete block and redwood siding had been painted over so heavily that their natural tactility was largely lost, and a core goal of the renovation was to strip that back and reveal the honesty of the original material palette. That decision is central to why the house feels so convincing today: it does not read as a cosmetic luxury flip, but as a genuine effort to restore Lotery’s architectural intentions while quietly adapting the residence for modern life.
Lotery’s design remains the soul of the house. The residence is distinctive within Trousdale for its three-level composition, soaring volumes, and signature clerestory windows that pull natural light deep into the interiors while heightening the drama of the public rooms. The living and dining spaces are textbook Rex Lotery – open yet intimate, lofty yet warm – with major scale, abundant glazing, and a beautifully preserved original fireplace anchoring the main living room. Throughout the renovation, SIMO Design introduced new materials intended to support rather than compete with the house’s core mid-century framework, resulting in interiors that feel timeless rather than trendy.
The material story is particularly strong. Belgian oak floors, bronze fixtures, restored original concrete block, and custom redwood siding create a layered but restrained palette that feels both luxurious and authentic to the architecture. The kitchen is one of the most striking spaces in the house — wood-paneled and sculptural, centered around deeply honed Breccia marble countertops, a waterfall island, and an integrated sink that gives the room the feel of a custom furniture piece rather than a conventional kitchen. The primary suite, privately positioned upstairs, continues that same level of finish with an adjacent lounge, generous closet space, and a bath clad in honed Ceppo Extra marble. The overall effect is one of quiet richness: every material feels chosen to age well and to sit comfortably beside the restored 1960s shell.
The renovation extended beyond architecture and interiors into the landscape, which was also part of SIMO Design’s scope. That holistic approach is evident in how naturally the house connects to its grounds. Views open from nearly every room to the property’s exterior spaces, where a grassy yard, mature coral tree canopy, and original-design mid-century saltwater pool create an outdoor environment that feels both serene and highly usable. There is a strong sense of continuity between house and garden here, exactly the kind of indoor-outdoor relationship Trousdale was built to celebrate. The pool area, fire pit, shaded alfresco dining spaces, and city-light outlooks give the property a resort-like quality, but one still grounded in the elegance of the original architecture.
This property is no longer for sale.
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