Photo by Lisa Romerein
Steep slate rooflines, simple exterior massing, small-paned windows, and octagonal-shaped chimneys give the newly constructed California house a distinct British accent.
“Cozy” isn’t an adjective often used to describe new construction in Los Angeles. But in the exclusive enclave of Brentwood, widely known for its glitz and glamour, there is one home that defies the notion that bigger is better. Amidst droves of sprawling mid-century ranchers and Mediterranean-style mansions, the charming stone exterior gives off a vibe that is more “Cotswolds” than “California” with its steep slate roof, limestone-and-stucco façade, and white oak trim—not to mention its more intimate scale.
Photo by Lisa Romerein
In the entry, gray and white marble tiles in an antiqued finish are a rustic alternative to the more refined black and white polished tiles often seen in Old Hollywood homes. The groin vaulted ceiling and a reclaimed French pine coat-closet door convey character and authenticity.
“It might not be the first style that comes to mind when you think of architecture in L.A., but the English country style was once quite prevalent in the area and has deep roots in Hollywood history,” says Steve Giannetti, architect and co-founder of Patina Home & Garden. “Back in the 1920s, it was a popular style for courtyard apartments. I remodeled one that was originally owned by Charlie Chaplin. In many ways,this new house is a throwback to that bygone era—but tweaked for modern, luxurious living.”
One of seven homes featured in Patina Homes and Gardens, Steve’s fifth book with his wife and business partner, interior designer Brooke Giannetti, this English-style house was created to capture owner Leslie Benziger’s passion for gardens and penchant for heirloom antiques. The U-shaped structure’s floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors offer picture- perfect views and easy access to vegetable gardens, flower gardens, and outdoor “rooms,” including a central courtyard anchored by a limestone fountain. Windows and doors are clad in steel and painted pale gray rather than the expected black or bronze. According to Brooke, the lighter color draws the eye out beyond the frame.
Photo by Lisa Romerein
“I’ve always admired antique tapestries but thought they were too dark and heavy for my own home,” says owner Leslie Benziger. “But the colors in this one are bright and the trees have a whimsical ‘Dr. Seuss-like’ quality that I find charming.” Interior designer Brooke Giannetti extracted a vibrant teal color from the 18th-century Aubusson and repeated it on a pair of antique French fauteuils placed at each end of the 19th-century Gustavian dining table.
To build on the indoor-outdoor connection, the Giannettis integrated exterior elements into the interior design. Ten-inch- thick walls swathed in plaster play off the stucco façade, while white oak floors, doors, built-ins, and beams refer- ence the shutters and trim. In the living room, the floating fireplace wall features the same Kansas limestone used outside and offers a lighter, more contemporary alternative to the classic English red brick. “I was very specific about the finish on the stonework, so I gave Steve and Brooke a photo of the late Bunny Mellon’s farmhouse to work from,” Leslie says. “Her stone had a sun-drenched, washed-out look that I love.”
Photo by Rob Cardillo
The homeowner’s collection of antique silver desk accessories started with inherited pieces from her mother and grandmother. Over the years, her friends took notice and began gifting her cardholders, compacts, cases, and pens for special occasions.
Photo by Rob Cardillo
The cozy den is wrapped in a scenic wallcovering depicting an Indian port bursting with flora and fauna.
Photo by Rob Cardillo
Antique books and beads create a striking backdrop for an arrangement of blue delphinium.
“To me, green is every bit as neutral as beige, tan, or taupe. Just look at a garden and you’ll see how every variation exists harmoniously.”
—Designer Brooke Giannetti
Photo by Rob Cardillo
The living room’s palette is inspired by the hues in an heirloom oil portrait of the homeowner’s mother that reigns above the custom limestone mantel. Silvery blue Fortuny pillows mirror her dress while lampshades and cushions in warmer shades of amber are reminiscent of her auburn hair.
The furnishings and decorative finishes are also intended to bring the outdoors in while infusing the rooms in sentimentality. Throughout the light-filled spaces, whimsical textiles in botanical and floral motifs mingle among cherished antique case pieces, tables, and chairs featuring handsome silhouettes and layers of patina. In the dining room, a large 18th-century tapestry of a forest garners a place of prominence inside a niche formed by the custom white oak bookcase and door surround. A hand- painted wallcovering of an Indian port with its waving palm trees, still waters, blossoming bougain- villea, and bejeweled camels trampling over sandy dunes brings a well-traveled sensibility into the den. In a bedroom, another wallcovering, this one with flowering vines, reads both poised and powerful with an ethereal colorway and exaggerated scale.
Photo by Rob Cardillo
The bold scale of the floral-print wall- covering in this bedroom is balanced by the softness of its blue, white, and green palette. The tall headboard and architectural-fragment lamps carry the eye up in tandem with the climbing vine.
Photo by Rob Cardillo
The sun-drenched laundry room is equipped with wide countertops and a deep farm sink ideal for potting plants and arranging flowers. “Steve has a way of making even the most utilitarian spaces look and feel luxurious,” says Leslie.
Photo by Rob Cardillo
The seat height of the built-in bench in the mudroom was meticulously measured and designed so that Leslie, an avid equestrian, can stash her riding boots beneath it.
Photo by Rob Cardillo
In this guest space, an assemblage of botanical etchings, engravings, and prints of various provenances hangs above a 19th-century French daybed upholstered in wool mohair.
Except for the saturated hues in the dining room’s tapestry and the living room’s heirloom oil portrait of Leslie’s mother, the home’s palette remains soothing and subtle. Muted blues extracted from the sky, along with grays, peaches, and pinks pulled from the stonework, glimmer among the gold leaf, unlacquered brass, and solid bronze details on the antique-inspired lighting and hardware. An abun- dance of green also sprouts up in a range of tones that stem from the landscape. “To me, green is every bit as neutral as beige, tan, or taupe,” say Brooke. “Here we have olive, apple, sage, and moss. They are meant to be mixed, not matched, and they go together because they grow together. Just look at a garden and you’ll notice how every variation exists harmoniously. As I see it, if God can do it outside then we can do it inside!”
