Carla Ridge

Tucked into the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, Carla Ridge is a departure from the flash often associated with the mansions of Los Angeles’ storied Trousdale Estates. Designed by Sarah Rosenhaus in collaboration with builder and designer Oliver Mateen, the residence takes its cues from the terrain—leaning into the steep, rocky hillside as an opportunity for refined and restrained design.

The home unfolds as a single-story composition defined by lime-washed plaster, travertine, and glass. Curved walls and arched openings soften the architecture’s geometry, nodding to both Mediterranean influences and the legacy of California’s midcentury modernism. A 12-foot entry door opens to a central living space where full-height glazing draws the eye across the terrace to a sliver of pool, drought-tolerant plantings, and the city below. Throughout the property, landscape designer Michelle Shofet worked with olive trees, sculptural succulents, and native grasses to thoughtfully weave the building into its site.

Throughout, the structure prioritizes openness. Long sightlines and natural light animate the interior, where honed limestone, expressive wood grain, cork, and grasscloth lend a grounded materiality. Built-in seating, softly arched thresholds, and low-slung furnishings gesture toward a Balearic sensibility.

In the kitchen, warm wood cabinetry and rope-woven stools temper the coolness of the veined white stone countertops and backsplash. Open shelving and generous island seating reflect Mediterranean traditions where cooking, gathering, and conversation converge. Just beyond, a den-like space blurs the line between inside and out, continuing the home’s breezy spatial rhythm.

The primary suite carries this language forward, layering sandy tones, textured upholstery, and natural fiber rugs for a subdued palette that emphasizes light over decoration. A marble-framed fireplace is flanked by a pair of plush lounge chairs that frame the view. As elsewhere in the house, the architecture invites moments of quiet reflection.

Executed with a sharp eye for proportion and material integrity, Carla Ridge offers a subtle counterpoint to its, at times ostentatious, Los Angeles residential context. The project makes a strong case for designing with restraint—deferring to site and surroundings rather than spectacle.

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