2430 Bywood Drive

A single horizontal stroke of post-and-beam Modernism designed by legendary MCM architects Buff and Hensman, AIA. Located in an ultra-quiet Glendale neighborhood shielded from nearby freeways by a hillside of wild natives and Coast Live Oak, the compact 1954 home, while small, nonetheless shares the architects' trademark strategies and example of their early work. In step with the original palette of exposed dark-stained beams, wood lap siding, natural materials, and earth tones, the new wood cabinets throughout, warm but uncluttered, reinforce the home's straightforward simplicity. An efficient plan with brown matte floor tile links the flicker of the living room's fireplace with the open kitchen and cook's island. Tuned to their provenance with tile work characteristic of Buff and Hensman, the two bathrooms have been renewed while retaining some original fixtures and finishes. Outside, the long, lean lot includes a large private patio and two bonus rooms: a small studio/office, just a couple of steps away from domesticity, or grab-your-gear-and-go from the generous storage space. The entrance from the street is also compact. Here a short winding path of railroad ties flanked by black Japanese river stones and golden green rays of Phorium tenax leads to the sheltered doorway of translucent glass.