Casa Princeton
Rekindling the spirit of a 1930s Spanish Colonial, Emma and Matthew Goodwin have poured a lifetime of creativity into a soothing oasis of tactile encounters – warm, abundant and ever-welcoming.
Bathed in dappled sunlight that warms its interiors, Casa Princeton is a 1930s jewel lovingly nurtured by generations of careful custodians who have called this place home. Balancing architectural integrity with modern living, the residence reflects the energy of a vibrant young family while fostering creativity.
“The home can be experienced instinctively and intuitively, which has an amazing way of ‘dropping you in’ to soak up all of life.”
Upon returning to Los Angeles after a decade spent in New York City, Emma – an Australian-born expat – and Matthew Goodwin – born and raised in California – sought an authentic and tranquil retreat to support their busy lives. Enamoured by the rustic architecture of the Mediterranean during a creative sabbatical abroad, the couple were immediately drawn to a Spanish Colonial dwelling of eloquent tactility and understated elegance. “As architects, designers and hoteliers, we naturally correlate how we feel with the places and spaces we spend our time in,” Matthew explains.
Devised around interstitial encounters, the longstanding structure bestows an intrinsic sense of ease. “The home can be experienced instinctively and intuitively, which has an amazing way of ‘dropping you in’ to soak up all of life,” Emma describes. “You don’t have to think or worry about anything – you can just be.” An addendum to the residence’s ongoing story, the alterations have been consciously detailed to uphold the spirit its origins. Wrapped in a thick, hand-trowelled plaster shell, the architecture is defined by rolling arches and terracotta embellishments – recuring motifs carried throughout the home.
Intricate patterned tilework, wrought iron fenestration and aged brass recall the romanticism of the Art Deco movement and the pre-war ebullience of Hollywood glam. Earthen hues meet soothing cream surfaces that sweep effortlessly across the dwelling, while muted sage greens, fluid striations and characterful oak pieces ground the composition in organic warmth. The restoration leans into the very early origins of Spanish architecture in California – the Andalusian style – paring back visual noise to allow the palette to breathe. Little distinction exists between inside and out, further dissolved by handmade clay tile floors, stone washrooms and glazed casement openings that draw in gentle breezes through billowing linen drapes.
Nestled within an established boundary hedge, the landscape revolves around a glassy outdoor pool and a rare 50-year-old orange bougainvillea. Californian natives and undulating wildflowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds, while the intoxicating scent of Madagascan jasmine cloaks the exterior of the pool house. After languid summer days or spontaneous late-night swims, a heated outdoor shower awaits at the rear of the garden. “Margaux, our three-year-old daughter, fondly refers to it as the ‘garden-fairy shower’, having to step through Santa Barbara daisies and flowering Kurapia to reach it, while a taro frond stands taller than her,” Emma says.
