Restoration Notebook
How my restoration of a classic Modernist house in L.A. turned into a decade-long love affair
By David Hay | From Preservation | September/October 2009
During his 15 years in the Bonnet House, David Hay:
- Repainted and restored the exterior redwood siding and stucco.
- Removed concrete from the driveway to restore the contours of the garden.
- Installed new cabinetry in the bathroom, matching the original; restored the rusted steel-framed window that ran the length of the bathroom.
- Removed paint from all mahogany paneling.
- Reinstalled the c. 1944 closet doors and window treatments, including original wood venetian blinds.
- Removed light fixtures and replaced them with originals.
- Rewired much of the house.
- Replaced all doorknobs.
- Removed, sanded, repainted, and reinstalled the cabinetry in the kitchen.
- Replaced contemporary countertops and flooring with period-appropriate linoleum.
- Sanded all floors, removing a pickled white finish.
- Repainted the interior using a palette favored by Neutra.
- Restored the large interior chimney breast.
Comments
Submitted by NYCGuy at: August 28, 2009
very good article re the preservation lab at U Penn, including a sidebar critique re the keeping modernist works brand new: http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0709/feature2_1.html