Making It Work

Reviving his clients' cramped classic, a clever architect digs into his bag of tricks

Written by Fred Albert • Styled by Char Hatch Langos
Photographed by Grey Crawford • Produced By Wendy Manwarren

When Paul Franceschi and Allison Amon purchased their Los Angeles home a dozen years ago, they were so taken by its setting that they overlooked its size -- a mere 1,600 square feet dispersed over two hillside levels. But with the birth of their son and the arrival of a daughter a few years after that, the couple decided to adjust the home to suit their changing needs. Reluctant to leave their cherished Silver Lake neighborhood, Paul and Allison asked friend and architect Jeff Soler to expand the existing structure without compromising its cozy, 1930s character. "The house had a casual vibe to it; it was always comfortable," Soler says. "The challenge was to keep the essence of the house, but reinvent it."

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