Villa La Maida by SLS Properties

From the outside, Villa La Maida in California’s San Fernando Valley seems apt to have been built in the 1920s. Its Mediterranean Revival architectural style, overlaid with elements of Tuscan design, sets it apart from the surrounding dwellings.

In devising the design vocabulary, Shlomi Sfadia of SLS Properties chose to give the home, completed in 2024, an island-inspired identity to evoke the feeling of being transported to an Adriatic paradise. Sfadia sought inspiration from his travels, harmonising architectural hallmarks he had encountered across the Mediterranean. He also aimed to give the home the spirit of a far-removed oasis. “I often take cues from high-end luxury resorts, which is why so many people feel my projects successfully create the sensation of being at a resort, effectively transporting them to those different locations,” says the designer. The home was conceived as an indoor-outdoor sanctuary, featuring an open-plan layout with plentiful natural light and luxuriant landscaping. Spread over two storeys and 500 square metres, it comprises five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a theatre room, a pool house and an open-to-sky shower.

The home was conceived as an indoor-outdoor sanctuary, featuring an open-plan layout with plentiful natural light and luxuriant landscaping.

The studio wove the built form around the existing landscape, preserving mature trees to afford unfettered views from the bedrooms. The ethos extended to the office, which is oriented toward the peaceful courtyard, and the upper level, a placid hideaway outfitted with a bench, a built-in planter and a fireplace. In an effort to keep the palette earthy, the studio chose natural materials such as reclaimed wood, white oak and stones like limestone and travertine. The walls were treated similarly, emblazoned with specialty plaster to achieve a perfectly imperfect finish, as was the roof in the pool house, which was crowned with clay tiles to evoke a Mediterranean flair. Sfadia calmed the interior with neutral tones but made exceptions in the pool house and theatre, where he used dark burgundy and green plaster finishes to conjure a theatrical effect.

If the interior was important, so too was the landscaping, which Sfadia deemed crucial for establishing the home’s Tuscan soul. “We incorporated plants commonly found in Tuscan villas, such as olive trees, cypress, rosemary and lavender, to help guests teleport to Tuscany even before entering the home,” he explains. The old-world touches were balanced with practical considerations, as in the case of the driveway and other exterior areas, which were treated with chip seal to ensure durability. “I wanted the future owners of this home, along with their guests, to feel as if they are in Italy at a Tuscan villa. When they step into the backyard, they should feel immersed in the natural beauty of the Italian countryside while also experiencing the home’s character and warmth.”

SLS Properties’ Villa La Maida is a warm and welcoming home crafted to emulate the carefree feeling of lounging in the sun. The home is a reflection of the studio’s curated approach to residential design and injects a magnetic European flair into its Californian locale.

Interior design, build and landscape design by SLS Properties.