Georgina Avenue in CA by Whipple Russell Architects

Date of Publishing: June 6, 2024

Contents

Architecture Design of Georgina Avenue

Description About The Project

The design retained the original concept of a central volume with stairways and a layout allowing a view from the front door through to the outdoors. Marc Whipple suggested deconstructing the old house for material recycling rather than demolishing it, followed by extensive excavation due to the large below-grade area of the home.

Entering through a wide black steel pivot door from Neoporte Doors, one steps into a vibrant modern live/work gallery space. This area is illuminated by a central skylight, a collaboration between Marc and Julie, comprising nine Velux units over a 15 ft. x 15 ft. atrium that lights up all three stories. Pale grey porcelain tiles from Ergon, sourced from Spec Ceramics, seamlessly flow from the exterior to the interior.

To the left of the entry is a powder room and an elevator by Savaria, servicing all three floors. The lighting design, crafted by Fox & Fox, enhances the dramatic black kitchen with its 16 ft. x 4 ft. polished Absolute Black granite island. Adjacent to the kitchen are the dining area, fireplace, and conversation zone, accented by Marc’s vertical ribbon windows. Italian kitchen storage cabinets by Ernestomeda, and a kitchen desk and chair hidden behind the entry art wall, complete the space. The kitchen backsplash, designed by Julie and made of metal tiles by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, was purchased from Ann Sacks Tile. The white fireplace, designed by Julie with assistance from Marc and Mauro Puccia, features a quartzite top and surround.

Art pieces significantly enhance the home’s atmosphere. Works by James Verbicky, including “media paintings” collages, and a ceramic Dalmatian from Julie’s grandmother, infuse personal and artistic touches.

The upper floor houses a combined child’s bedroom and playroom with a large street-facing picture window. A glass walkway connects the child’s wing to the primary suite, adding light and views, and includes an office alcove. The primary bath showcases a striking Kenya Black marble wall from Antolini. The primary suite opens to a terrace overlooking the patio seating area and yard.

The downstairs atrium gallery is vibrant with a wall-sized piece by graffiti artist James Goldcrown. This below-grade area includes a cozy big-screen viewing area, a bar with Brazil White quartzite countertops from Stone Mart, a climate-controlled wine storage unit designed by Julie, a weight room, and a guest bed and bath. The flooring throughout features 24 x 12 inch porcelain tiles by Eleganza.

The Architecture Design Project Information:

Project Name: Georgina Avenue
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Project Year: 2017
Designed by: Whipple Russell Architects

Georgina Avenue in CA by Whipple Russell Architects

Outside, the patio is set up for outdoor living with comfortable seating around a fireplace, a full outdoor kitchen and bar in quartzite, and a garage converted into a showroom for Julie’s Harlen Collection.

Lighting design for the house is by Fox & Fox. Just past the glass-sided staircase follows a striking all-black kitchen with a 16 ft. x 4 ft. island of polished Absolute Black granite with waterfall edges, and opposite that are the dining area, fireplace, and conversation area flanked by Marc’s signature vertical ribbon windows.

The use of black granite for the kitchen countertops is repeated in the design of the dining table.

The Georgina Avenue Gallery:

Text by the Architects: What first greets the visitor to this Santa Monica, CA house is the generous front setback, and the landscape design by Z Freedman Landscape Architecture. A lighted series of steps lead up around a soft bed of fescue grass and a mature sycamore tree, past a stand of saplings. Black textured Basalt stone tile from Norstone USA frames the entrance. This project was an opportunity for our client and Marc Whipple to enter into a true collaborative adventure. Julie Cantor had in mind for years a modern take on an NYC loft space with an open volume, skylights, and very little strict division between rooms. A friend thought that sounded like a house she had seen – Whipple Russell Architects’ Summit House in Beverly Hills. Julie loved the Summit house and hoped for a smaller version to fit on her suburban lot.

Photo credit: William Maccollum, John Fox | Source: Whipple Russell Architects

For more information about this project; please contact the Architecture firm :
– Add: 15021 Ventura Blvd. #869 Sherman Oaks, Ca. 91403
– Tel: (323) 962-5800
– Email: ea@whipplerussell.com