Slat House, Playing with Light
David Feldman is the co-founder and CEO of Y Lighting and home furnishing store, Zwello. His enthusiasm for modern home d?©cor extends beyond his professional life. He works and lives modern. Dave‚Äôs Marina Del Rey home is a case in point.
It was once a shingle and tile house, typical of styles in the area, sitting on a small 35 x 90 lot. Its main attraction is the spectacular ocean view. Dave planned to tear down the existing structure and start afresh. But local building codes brought the project to a screeching halt when it was discovered that, in order to preserve the view, the existing structure would have to remain. He hired David Hertz Architects to find a way to take the house from meh to modern. The firm’s solution was unique – so much so that the house is now known as The Slat House.
The architects encased the entire exterior with Ipe wood slats. Ipe is a Brazilian wood that‚Äôs incredibly strong. Harvested from naturally sustainable forests, it’s a perfect choice for a seaside location. It naturally resists rot, decay, insects, and mold. It looks nice, too. The original home‚Äôs scale gave it a dwarfed look compared to its neighbors. The slats give the impression of elevation without increasing the size of the home. The ocean-facing panels open to provide a clear view of the water.
David is the owner of a lighting concern. So of course he paid particular attention to this aspect of the home’s design. The house gets a lot of natural light in the daytime through large windows and skylights. The slats create a wonderful shadow patterns which changes throughout the day.
Since the house is modern and linear, the designer chose low-profile fixtures and luminaires that embrace that linearity. LEDs add detail to the stairs by casting their silhouette on the wall. Low voltage recessed lights were used in the kitchen, living room and upstairs hallways.
Directional recessed lights highlight artwork. The upstairs hallway is narrow. They get a nice wall wash effect from the recessed lights. The lighting is controlled with the Lutron Spacer system. It’s programmable and operates at the touch of a button.
The linear pattern is repeated throughout the house in elements such as the stairway, with its interlocking wood design. Dave furnished the home simply. The dining area is furnished with a T Table and Missoni‚Äôs Mademoiselle chairs, both from Kartell. The pendant fixture over the table is Fucsia 12, designed by Achille Castiglioni. “It’s really timeless,” says Dave. “We love the repetitive nature of the 12 identical pendants from a central frame.”
The view from the upper deck is beautiful. Open, sliding doors welcome the light as well as the ocean breeze. The fireplace is the perfect focal point for entertaining. I’d like to thank Dave for sharing his home with me. He was also kind enough to provide a list of the light fixtures used throughout his home. If you’d like a copy, please email me from the contact button on the left.
