This Architect Bought a Dated 2000s White Box in Pacific Palisades – Then Totally Transformed It with European Soul with a 'Casual Formality'
From a stainless-steel kitchen to vine-covered pergolas, architect Lea Schein designed every space to feel elegant and effortless
It wasn't love at first sight for architect Lea Schein. While the Pacific Palisades property came with ocean views, fruit orchards, and more than 300 varieties of plants, the house itself took a little more imagination.
Despite an exterior that blends California Mediterranean, Italian, and French Country influences, the interiors felt like an early-2000s white box – it had good bones, but very little soul. So, over 18 months, Lea and her family set about changing that. Finishing just a week before the 2025 fires hit L.A.
Today, custom millwork, paneled walls, vintage lighting, family heirlooms, and vine-covered pergolas give the architect's personal house design a feeling of character and 'casual formality' that it was so desperately missing.
Exterior: A series of vine-covered pergolas and outdoor living spaces strengthen the home's connection to its Pacific Palisades setting. Seating by RH is paired with a custom Rojo Alicante coffee table.
Set within a quaint town in the Pacific Palisades, an area currently being rebuilt after the fires, the journey to making this house a home was quite the 'emotional rollercoaster' for Lea, founder of Lea Schein Studios, and her family.
After coming back for a second viewing and finally falling for the property – 'it was definitely worth saving,' says Lea – she set her sights on fixing the inside to match the out.
Despite it having rather bland interiors, with a mash-up of several different home renovations, the previous owners had turned the exterior into the 'perfect Southern California vibe – like something out of a movie'.
The biggest transformation came from restoring architectural details that the house had been missing. 'The house started as a white box with flat stock trim everywhere, so we built up details to give more character,' she explains.
Living Room (left) and Dining Room (right): New doors and carefully framed sightlines create a seamless flow between the interiors and the garden beyond.
'My main references were historic Belgian, English, and Italian country homes,' says Lea. 'There’s a certain ‘casual formality’ I was trying to achieve that you often find in European spaces – elevated but still comfortable and livable.'
While many renovations begin with plans to expand, Lea took a different approach. Working within the home's existing footprint and exterior shell, despite substantially renovating every room, her goal wasn't to make the house bigger – it was to make it better.
'Most people don't realize how much work was actually done; they assume it's always been this way. That's really the goal: to make it feel timeless.'
While Lea was confident with the layout changes, it was the design decisions she questioned. 'Decision fatigue is real! I had so many ideas I wanted to integrate from years of collecting inspiration, so learning to edit and get to the core of the design was an important step,' she adds.
Laundry Room (left) and Entry (right): In the laundry room, Benjamin Moore's Acadia White walls and Shiitake Mushroom on the millwork balance the mix of Absolute Black countertops and handmade tiles. In the entryway, a reconfigured staircase, stone floors, and vintage Italian lighting furniture create a welcoming first impression.
To combat her decision fatigue, Lea kept the walls and trims fairly neutral, opting to use Farrow & Ball's Slipper Satin as the base color throughout.
'We wanted the house to feel warm and livable, so we layered colors like burgundy, brown, ochre, and navy paired with warm wood tones,' she explains. 'The goal was to create a cohesive, calm, and livable space, but each room has its own personality.'
Before you've even reached the main living spaces, that sense of peace and personality greets you at the front door.
As part of the entryway renovation, Lea designed a custom limestone door to set the tone, laid Belgian bluestone floors, and reworked the staircase with oak and iron detailing to create a stronger first impression.
'Ahead is a large gallery hall, which used to be twice as long, similar to a bowling alley,' she explains. 'We added plaster cornice details and applied trim to elevate the entrance and frame locations for art and lighting.'
Family Room: The family room, painted in Slipper Satin, was expanded by removing a bearing wall, creating a light-filled hub that connects the home's main living spaces. The large RH sectional is styled with a BDDW leather console table, a 19th-century lacquered chinoiserie table, and an antique Mahal rug sourced by AGA John.
The family room is where Lea's layout changes had their biggest impact on day-to-day life.
'The downstairs family room underwent a significant structural change,' says Lea. 'We removed a large wall that separated the gallery and family room, which required new steel beams and foundations. It was worth opening the space and essentially doubling the size of the room without adding new square footage,' she explains.
'The structural modifications allowed us to double the room size and open up the center of the house,' she adds. 'It’s the heart of our home.'
Kitchen: The kitchen balances traditional oak cabinetry with two-tone upper cabinets painted in Farrow & Ball's Drop Cloth. A striking wall of stainless steel storage and a custom vent hood add a contemporary touch.
At first glance, a wall of stainless steel cabinetry in the kitchen might seem an unexpected choice, but it's precisely that contrast that gives the room its character.
Having lived in the house for a year and a half before renovating, Lea had already developed a clear understanding of how the space functioned. 'We liked the kitchen layout so we kept it similar, but rebuilt the kitchen with custom cabinets by Swiss Wood Working, skilled millworkers based in LA,' she explains. In a fitting twist, the team had originally built the previous kitchen for the home's former owners some 15 years earlier.
'I referenced scullery kitchens from the 1900s,' Lea explains of the inspiration. 'They were the workhorse of the home, and I wanted our kitchen to be both beautiful and functional.'
Kitchen: Handmade Robin's Egg by Cle backsplash tiles, Absolute Black granite, and warm oak millwork soften the kitchen's more utilitarian materials. While the perimeter counters are a leather finish, the island boasts Arabescato Marble worktops, styled with BDDW stools and lighting by Hector Finch.
'I love the juxtaposition of traditional oak paneled cabinets with modern, sleek stainless,' she continues. 'Everything is durable and meant to be used. The stainless steel is a hygienic material, and the countertops are Absolute Black granite, which is used in science laboratories,' Lea adds.
'I fell in love with the handmade backsplash tiles from Cle Tile, which add a rustic, soft feel. Overall, the materials play well with each other and create an interesting, unexpected mix that feels traditional but fresh.'
Functionality was every bit as important as aesthetics. 'The kitchen tends to be the space where family and friends gather, so it was important to be large and open and have areas for people to congregate as well as cook,' says Lea.
Dining Room: Painted in Benjamin Moore's Inner Balance, the dining room combines family heirlooms, vintage 1950s Italian lighting, and sweeping views to create a space designed for gathering. At the center sits a custom white lacquer table paired with custom midcentury walnut and burgundy leather chairs.
The dining room captures that balance between European and Californian style perfectly.
Framed by what Lea describes as 'the most magical view of Los Angeles at night,' the space combines architectural charm with personal touches.
During the renovation, a full wall of wine refrigerators was removed to prioritize gathering and connection instead. 'We removed a full wall of wine refrigerators to allow for more seating,' says Lea. 'We integrated the same beam design as the family room, which really warms up the space. Added family heirlooms make this room feel especially meaningful.'
Living Room: Surrounded by full-height windows and doors, the living room embodies Lea's vision of 'casual formality'. A stunning Ralph Lauren chandelier anchors the room, zoned by a custom rug by AGA John. A BDDW Abel Sofa is the main lounging spot, sat opposite a custom blackened steel coffee table by Dewinter Metal Work.
'The living room was another non-negotiable space for me,' Lea continues. 'I had dreams of this room from day one.'
Surrounded by full-height windows and doors leading to vine-covered pergolas, it's a room designed for both entertaining.
'We replaced the modern fireplace with a custom-carved Nero Marquina marble mantel to elevate the room,' she explains of the added detail. 'We used plaster moldings to highlight the tall ceilings and bring the space more into proportion. It’s the perfect room for family, gatherings, and celebrating special events,' Lea adds.
Living Room: A custom Josef Frank-inspired daybed in Design Of The Time fabric with a custom pillow in Classic Cloth fabric and Samuel and Sons piping cord (left) and a custom carved Nero Marquina marble mantel (right) finish the living room, adding personality and permanence to the space.
Some of the most meaningful pieces, however, are the ones with personal stories attached. 'The armchair in the family room was my parents' for many years,' says Lea. 'It was originally upholstered in a deep red velvet, but needed a bit of TLC. We reupholstered it in Rose Tarlow fabric, fixed the springs, and gave it a new life.'
'We also created a new heirloom piece, the custom daybed in the living room, inspired by a 1930s Josef Frank design,' Lea continues.
'We adjusted the proportions and used ‘Design Of The Time’ rust-colored fabric and Samuel and Sons cord for contrast trim,' she adds. ' Mixing personal pieces and items collected from travels makes the house feel layered and unique.'
Primary Suite: The primary suite embraces a softer palette, with Portola Paint's Sevilla limewashed walls, a serene Noguchi Akari pendant, garden views, and a reconfigured closet designed to maximize both storage and flow.
Upstairs, the spaces become quieter, softer, and more intimate. 'There is a hierarchy to the rooms,' explains Lea. 'More formal spaces like the entry and living room have more detailed and layered moldings, while upstairs, the scale of the trim gets smaller, but they are still cohesive.'
'The views of Downtown, Santa Monica, and the Pacific Ocean are incredible,' says Lea of the top floor. 'The primary bedroom remained mostly intact, aside from new windows and doors and lime-wash-treated walls and ceiling. It’s such a cozy, warm room,' she adds.
'We completely reconfigured the primary closets and bathroom suite,' says Lea. 'We reoriented the primary bathroom to have a strong axis point centered around the beautiful freestanding bathtub. His and Her closets connect directly off the bathroom, making it both functional and spacious.'
Primary Bathroom (left) & Powder Room (right): While the primary bathroom centers around a freestanding Waterworks tub and symmetrical layout, the powder room offers a moodier moment of contrast with limewashed walls and a Rojo Alicante marble vanity.
'The primary bathroom was the most successful in capturing my vision for the design,' Lea continues. 'We incorporated paneled walls and vanities, as well as the custom medicine cabinets with polished nickel trim. The paint color looks amazing in the space at different times of the day. It's the perfect space to start and end the day,' she adds.
'It was important to create symmetry, with the bathtub as the centerpiece and a view of the native California garden beyond,' says Lea.
But while the primary bathroom is light and serene, the powder room embraces a much darker and more theatrical character.
Lea describes it as one of the home's moments of contrast, wrapped in deep, moody tones from floor to ceiling, the bijoux space feels almost jewel-box-like. A veined stone vanity introduces warmth against the darker backdrop, while sculptural lighting and a tiny antique mirror add unexpected drama.
Outdoor Dining Area: A vine-covered pergola creates an inviting outdoor dining space that makes the most of Pacific Palisades' year-round climate thanks to a custom carved limestone table and rattan chairs.
The outdoor rooms feel every bit as considered as the spaces inside. Located between Santa Monica and Malibu, the home enjoys ocean views, year-round sunshine, and cool coastal breezes – something Lea was determined to maximize.
'We wanted to take advantage of the indoor-outdoor living and maximize views,' she explains. 'When selecting new windows and doors, we focused on maximizing sightlines so we can open the house up and enjoy the outside. We installed a large pocket steel door in the family room so that the wall can fully open during entertaining and on warm nights.'
Step outside, and the atmosphere is even more romantic. Vine-covered pergolas create shaded outdoor living and dining 'rooms' that feel worlds away from the city beyond. Beneath the greenery, lounge areas and dining tables encourage long lunches, evening gatherings, and the kind of effortless entertaining that California homes are known for.
Outdoor Dining (left) & Dining Room View (right): Expansive openings and abundant pergolas blur the line between indoors and out, allowing the garden to become part of everyday life. Inside the dining room, Willy Guhl planters and arrangements by Inner Gardens continue the verdant theme.
Following 18 months of renovations, Lea and her family had finally reached the finish line. The house was complete, boxes were unpacked, and then everything changed.
'The fire was traumatic, especially the timing,' recalls Lea. 'After more than a year of renovations, we moved back the week before the fire. On January 7th, 2025, we received the final sign-off from the city inspector. The fire started around 11:30 am, and by 1:30 pm, we were shoving clothes and important papers in our cars and fleeing.'
'Our concerns shifted to our community and to the future we had dreamed about,' Lea explains. 'The hikes with our dog, the farmers market in town on the weekends, and raising our future family in this special, tight-knit community.'
Miraculously, their home survived. While extensive smoke damage and ash remediation still had to be addressed, the house itself was spared.
'Seeing our house survive amongst the devastation makes you feel grateful, sad, and guilty all at the same time,' says Lea. 'But the Palisades has been resilient and is rebuilding. There is a deep sense of pride living here, and we feel fortunate to be a part of this community.'
Today, Lea is helping others rebuild in the area, while beginning a new chapter of her own. 'We just welcomed our first daughter and look forward to making new memories with her here.'
The home Lea Schein created was designed to feel timeless and welcoming. After everything that followed the renovations, it has since become something even more meaningful: a place for family, community, and a hopeful new chapter.
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