Angel Dream
In Holmby Hills – one of Los Angeles’ most storied enclaves, tucked between Beverly Hills and Bel Air – the echoes of old Hollywood still linger.
Known as part of the ‘Platinum Triangle’, the neighbourhood is defined by sweeping estates, tall hedges and quiet, tree-lined streets. It is the setting for a sprawling residence by Clint Nicholas Design, where a postcard-like European air meets contemporary family living. “It has this very established, romantic character,” says interior designer Clint Nicholas. “Holmby Park just nearby gives it this gentle connection to nature that really shaped how the clients wanted to live.”
“There was a sense of history the moment you arrived. We wanted to keep that intact, but make it lighter, more open and more connected.”
Set on a generous half-hectare site, the home – called Angel Dream – reads as a layered, European-inspired villa: classic on the outside, carefully modernised within. The brief was anchored in preserving its sense of romance while softening the architecture for modern family life. “The property already had this old-world European feel,” Nicholas says of the 1,858-square-metre dwelling. “There was a sense of history the moment you arrived. We wanted to keep that intact, but make it lighter, more open and more connected.”
Originally defined by heavy materials and compartmentalised rooms, the redesign focused on flow and light. Walls were opened up, skylights were introduced strategically and darker finishes were stripped back to reveal a calmer, more breathable interior language. “As we removed layers, the house just kept getting better.” Material decisions became central to that transformation. Dark beams, ironwork and heavy mouldings gave way to light oak floors and softer plaster finishes, while stone from Eco Outdoor brings a grounded but refined tone across surfaces. “One of the biggest shifts came from simplifying everything,” Nicholas says. “It became less about adding and more about editing.”
Original mahogany doors were ebonised externally and bleached internally, with their hardware retained as a subtle bridge between old and new. A textured lime plaster runs throughout, giving the walls a gentle sense of movement. Even the grand arched hallway was preserved in spirit, but stripped of excess detailing, allowing its scale to speak for itself.
The entrance sets the tone: a double-height volume flooded with natural light from a skylight above. An arched glass-and-steel door remains, though refined to feel less ornate. From here, sightlines stretch all the way through the house and out to the pool beyond, reinforcing the connection between inside and out. A work by Enrique Martínez Celaya anchors the space, while in the living room, a James Turrell installation subtly shifts the atmosphere throughout the day. It’s a more formal space, but one that is constantly in use. Adjacent sits the ‘blue bar’ – a moody, lacquered space with a brass-and-glass tiered bar inspired by a visit to Reschio in Umbria. “It’s become the family’s favourite spot,” says Nicholas. “It’s playful, dramatic and a little unexpected.”
At the heart of the home, the kitchen is intentionally restrained, with light oak cabinetry and honed Portuguese limestone benchtops forming a soft tonal palette. A coffee station, layered with ceramics and earthenware, brings warmth and personality. The dining room is defined by light itself. Suspended above the table is Flylight by Amsterdam studio Drift, sourced from Carpenters Workshop Gallery – a responsive glass installation that moves with the grace of a flock in motion. “It brings this sense of aliveness into the room,” Nicholas notes. Nearby, a retained stained-glass window subtly references the home’s original character. The primary bedroom provides a gentle counterpoint; cashmere rugs, mohair, linen and layered textures create a calm mood. It opens onto a vine-covered balcony for two – an intimate pocket overlooking the landscape below.
Outside, the landscape becomes an extension of the architecture. Designed by Joshua Rosen of Los Angeles landscape architecture practice Studio Grey Green, the grounds are shaped by axial alignments, framed views and a careful balance between structure and softness. “From the beginning, the goal was seamless indoor-outdoor living,” Rosen explains. Existing features were reimagined rather than erased, including a former koi-filled waterfall, now transformed into a yoga deck and pickleball court. Mature California oaks frame the motor court, while a stand-out specimen tree anchors a gathering space beneath lantern-lit branches. Across the site, cobbled paving, stone basins and verdant planting soften the geometry.
Planting brings the landscape to life: Cécile Brünner roses, star jasmine, echium, magnolia and crepe myrtle weave texture, fragrance and seasonal change throughout the gardens. The pool house, designed by Jen Durica of Los Angeles-based Durica Design, acts as a quiet focal point – lifted lightly above the ground and wrapped in trellis vines and timber. “We wanted it to feel like a jewel box sitting gently within the landscape,” Durica says. “Sculptural but never forced.” Together, house and landscape settle into a shared rhythm – old-world in spirit, but open and attuned to California’s light.
