Perched atop a challenging 45-percent slope in the Hollywood Hills, this striking residence by Kristen Becker of Mutuus Studio reimagines what luxury living can look like within a modest footprint. Completed in 2016, the house was commissioned by an actor-director couple who wanted their Los Angeles home to feel as intimate and carefully curated as their New York City penthouse loft. The steep, oak-dotted hillside presented serious design challenges, but Becker transformed these constraints into architectural opportunities that give the home its distinctive character.
Becker drew inspiration from the clients’ travels through Ireland and their fascination with European castles, creating a sequence of spaces that unfold with theatrical drama. Visitors enter through a wooden, steel, and concrete bridge that spans a secret garden before arriving at an imposing bronze door. The garden connects to a courtyard where sunlight filters through floor-to-ceiling windows into the bathroom below, evoking the atmospheric quality of ancient fortresses. Medieval castles and industrial buildings both influenced the aesthetic, resulting in a design that feels simultaneously raw and refined.
Designer: Kristen Becker of
The multi-storey structure steps down the hillside rather than fighting against it, allowing each level to capture different views of the surrounding landscape dotted with shrubs, cacti, and mature oak trees. Natural light floods the interiors through expansive glazing, while a garage-style door in the main living area lifts upward to dissolve the boundary between inside and out. This connection to the terrace extends the living space and takes full advantage of California’s temperate climate. The steel and concrete structure provides the industrial backbone that supports the home’s open, flowing layout.
Interior design played an equally important role in the project, with Becker collaborating closely with the clients on furnishings that reflect their globetrotting lifestyle and eclectic taste. The living room showcases caramel leather sofas alongside leopard-print stools and a bronze and glass coffee table by Willy Daro. African artwork hangs near pieces from Brian Henson’s childhood collection. The dining area features a Finn Juhl teak table surrounded by Peter Moos chairs, all illuminated by a custom Facaro bicycle chain chandelier that adds unexpected whimsy.
Throughout the home, vintage pieces from different eras and continents sit comfortably together. Ricardo Fasanello’s Anel chair shares space with Bruno Mathsson’s Pernilla Lounge Chair, antique Chinese sideboards, vintage Japanese benches, and a Norman Cherner swivel chair from the 1960s. An Arc dome pendant by Allied Maker illuminates a vintage Warren Bacon saddle stool. Every element received thoughtful consideration, with the design team and owners collaborating to ensure each piece contributed to a seamless experience of place.
The Hollywood Hills House stands as proof that luxury and modesty can coexist. Becker’s background in dance informed the seamless flow through the rooms, where movement feels intuitive and natural. The residence delivers a sophisticated California lifestyle while maintaining efficiency in both space and resources. Photography by Kevin Scott captures how this modern castle commands its hilltop position, offering a fresh interpretation of the iconic Case Study Houses while establishing its own contemporary presence in the Los Angeles architectural landscape.
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