S W E E T D I G S | 1 1 4 5 P I N E AV E N U E
"What better place is there
to enjoy the Southern California
weather than in your own back-
yard," states van Meurs.
There's an open-plan kitchen—distin-
guished by minimalist cabinetry and a
central island by luxe Italian maker Boffi,
and a well-curated stock of Gaggenau appli-
ances—followed by a cheerful dining area.
Both of these spaces are neighbors to the
airy living room, and all share an immer-
sive, sunlit quality due to their proximity to
the adjacent, fresh-air playground. "What
better place is there to enjoy the Southern
California weather than in your own back-
yard," states van Meurs.
Retractable walls of glass, an indoor-out-
door fireplace and large-scale Italian
ceramic tiles—these link the indoors with
a spacious, landscaped yard with a pool,
spa and al fresco dining area. A bonus
of location, in addition to having only two
direct residential neighbors, is a big wall on
the property's south side that the design-
ers have transformed into a drive-in-sized
movie screen. Scenes from a recent gath-
ering show kids lounging in the bubbling
spa watching the original Ghostbusters
projected on the improbably sized surface.
Upstairs, there are three bedrooms,
including a super-sized primary suite
that features an uber-open floorplan,
with no separation between the bedroom
and the spa-like bathroom or the closet.
"It feels like you're in a chic, boutique
hotel," says van Meurs of the sunlit space.
Sun-bleached wood planks are set in a
herringbone pattern, and there's a balcony
where you can oversee kids playing in the
pool below, or where you can relax after
dark, watching the designer light scheme
shift the waters from deep blue to magenta.
It's a peaceful scene in a home that
stands as a prime model for how different
modes of living—day-to-day domesticity,
Saturday night socializing and so forth—
can be elegantly unified under one roof.
Meanwhile, after only living in the new
home for two years, the designers are
moving on, and anticipating their next
chapter. "We're passionate about interi-
ors and ready for a new project," exclaims
Popovic. We say goodbye, but not before
van Meurs and Popovic issue a thought-
ful invite—"Stop by for a coffee next time
you're in the neighborhood"—that's entirely
in keeping with their open-door nature, and
the matching design sensibility that fash-
ioned this chic and welcoming hub.
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