Colorful, Architectural Gem in Ojai
A home that embraces the outside is a must at a location as amazing as Ojai, California. Inspired by artistic charm and natural beauty, John Hidley and Beth Stephens feel blessed to live in their dream home. The exterior is full of eclectic influences — from Japanese to California Mission. The couple wanted the home for a perfect representation of their style, so that they teamed up with John’s daughter, architect Kate Svoboda-Spanbock, of Here Design and Architecture to style their vibrant nature-inspired retreat. “I usually find something I don’t like about a house,” says Beth,”but at this house, everywhere I look I see something I love.”
in a Glance
Who lives here: John Hidley and Beth Stephens
Location: Ojai, California
Size: 2,100 square feet; 1 bedroom, 2 baths
That’s intriguing: The indoor stair risers are designed to look like a waterfall, with its transitioning colors representing water and earth.
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“Our decorating doctrine would be to be lively yet restful at precisely the exact same time,” states Hidley. With this in mind, Svoboda-Spanbock designed the home with color, comfort and utility, using bold colors and an abundance of built-in storage space inside this custom shelving.
Shelving paint: Bittersweet, Pratt & Lambert
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The citrus-colored entryway is lined with built-in storage, allowing the few to tuck away odds and ends in the start and end of the day.
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All the tile at the residence is sourced from a producer in Mexico. Svoboda-Spanbock ordered the kitchen tiles in an alternating pattern, providing the backsplash a customized appearance.
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The couple worked with kitchen designer Pamela Leone to create a highly efficient, organized and practical kitchen space. This sliding shelving unit is one of the many customized features. “She had us take inventory of each and every dish and utensil we possessed,” Hidley states. “It seemed like a pain in the time but turned out to be absolutely crucial for such a great design.”
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Hidley determined on glass doors to display their glassware in the top cabinets. The clear doors offer an appearance of being open, without the probability of things falling outside, breaking or becoming covered in dust.
The few decided honed Caesarstone countertops to get a more earthy feel.
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To choose the color palette, Svoboda-Spanbock brought in five color boards for the couple to choose from. “At first I did not enjoy any of these,” says Stephens. “Imagining this reddish right next to this green on a board just seemed like a lot of, but I love it!”
The couple was originally hesitant about the lime-green Goldenberry color by Pratt & Lambert on all the door and window frames. Svoboda-Spanbock clarified that the opinion outside this home is green or brownish. Framing the view with all the lime green highlights the outdoor scenery.
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Svoboda-Spanbock mixed Hidley’s love of Southwestern, California Mission and Japanese architecture by focusing on their use of organic elements and substances. The few had the upholstered living room furniture custom created by Kravet Couture. Many of the home’s furnishings and textiles were sourced by small boutiques, for example Kava Home.
Table: Ethan Allen
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The framed wall indentations were built prior to finding artwork to fill them. The couple found the large, beautiful painting by Sheri Belassen in a shop in Santa Barbara, California.
Wall paint: Downy Gray, Pratt & Lambert; mantel paint: Goldenberry, Pratt & Lambert
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Hidley discovered the vibrant living room rug fastened to the wall of a shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Creating an attractive yet enjoyable home on such a small, narrow lot wasn’t simple. To maintain the home from feeling like a long, narrow tube, Svoboda-Spanbock designed multilevel ceilings and flooring and multiple openings to outdoor patios. The patios were developed to feel like extensions of the house, giving the home a spacious, wide feel. Hidley remembers a visiting buddy exclaiming,”I know I am out at this time, but I feel like I’m inside!”
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After moving , the couple realized they used the dining area more for enjoying a cup of coffee, reading or using the computer than dining table. They replaced the seats with a sectional couch from Kava Home and changed the space a cozy corner surrounded by windows.
Dining table: Hidley’s mum’s; mirror: Pottery Barn; rug: Crate & Barrel; painting and giraffe: Leslie Clark
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The tile detail about the stair risers adds even more vibrant colour to the home. Svoboda-Spanbock designed the staircase to seem like a waterfall when someone is standing in the bottom and looking up. The best includes more oranges and yellows — symbolizing the earth — that slowly fade into more blues and greens to signify water.
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This comfy room doubles as a library and home office. The Southwestern feel of the home shines with cowboy paintings by artist Mick Reinman, leather furniture and vibrant textiles.
Couch: American Leather, Home Furniture Company; throw pillows: Crate & Barrel; leather seat: Pottery Barn
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The library was designed to function as an extra bedroom if needed. A sliding door is concealed in the built-in shelving divider, which could section off the room and allow for more privacy.
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Svoboda-Spanbock used natural substances as her inspiration and chose acid-tone cement flooring in a dark brown stain to seem like a dirt ground. The flooring utilize radiant heat, which makes the home more energy efficient.
The hall includes an arched door leading to the bedroom. “We originally wanted all arches,” states Hidley,”but my daughter Kate stated no. She gave us this one to keep us happy.”
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The master bedroom has a gorgeous outdoor feel with its elongated windows and views of the outdoor landscaping.
Bedding: Pottery Barn
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While designing the home, Svoboda-Spanbock made spaces for pieces of antique furniture Hidley already possessed, such as this heirloom dresser in the bedroom.
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The couple wanted their master bathroom feel like a spa. They decided to have an unenclosed shower plus a large two-person bath with a view of the lush outdoor scenery.
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Svoboda-Spanbock desired every detail to really have a purpose. This outdoor cutout wall, although not functionally necessary, provides the distance with greater visual thickness in either direction.
“Kate designed our house exactly how we desired, with a lot of patios and windows,” states Hidley. Although Stephens did not move in till after construction had begun, it is precisely what she wanted as well. “It couldn’t have been more perfect,” she states.
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Hidley advises other homeowners to clearly communicate taste and style to their architect. Hidley drew his own plans for many years but couldn’t figure out precisely how to make them happen. “Kate prevented many potential mistakes,” he states. “We went into it with very detailed plans, leaving no rooms for mistakes or surprises, and came out directly on budget.”
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The home opens to multiple outdoor patios, each with distinct character and utilized at different times of the day depending on the sun and weather. “We often have lunches and entertain out here,” states Hidley.
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The back patio opens to a gorgeous backyard designed by landscape architect Kathy Nolan. Drought-tolerant and fragrant plants, including some fruit-producing ones, are one of the plantings.
The few ordered all their patio furniture out of patiosUSA.com and purchased the umbrellas out of a shop in Palm Desert.
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Front exterior includes a strong Santa Fe–fashion influence using its earth-inspired colors and drought-tolerant landscaping. Although the residence is exceptional to the neighborhood, it blends well with the natural environment of Ojai.
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Svoboda-Spanbock worked with structural engineer Laima Reeder, contractor Scott Loomis and painting contractor Scott Titus. Jack Khalifeh helped with the mechanical, plumbing and electrical. “Having a radiant flooring, a ton of windows without air conditioning, this was no small accomplishment,” states Svoboda-Spanbock.