
A Hilltop Mid-Century Modern Bungalow in Los Angeles Is a Zen Sanctuary
A refuge from the busy city below.

Set atop a hill in Echo Park in Los Angeles, this two bedroom, one-bathroom home had the most spectacular views, but needed some attention and upgrades. “As the home was on a steep hill, we needed to do new structural retrofitting. A roof replacement and pretty much a full gut remodel on the interiors,” explains Amanda Gunawan of architecture and design firm, Only Way Is Up (OWIU), who oversaw the project with co-founder Joel Wong.

Justin Chung
The renovation project was for Sue Chan, the food and beverage multi-hyphenate behind Care of Chan. “We wanted to construct a space that was both ideal for working at home and a retreat from the city,” Joel says. “Sue Chan is constantly going between New York and Los Angeles and wanted a home that highlighted the best of Los Angeles while remaining a curated space for work and calm.”

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Instead of expanding the footprint of the two-bedroom, one-bathroom main house, which would be very costly, Amanda and Joel decided to build a separate unit on the property to act as an office and ADU.

Justin Chung
Sue wanted the space to be minimal, zen, and calming, but also optimized for hosting. Keeping those wishes in mind, the OWIU team also used the natural beautiful of Los Angeles, particularly the surrounding Echo Park hills, as inspiration for the space. Amanda and Joel drew from Japanese design principles, including elements like shoji screens and raised platforms in the home and ADU.

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When planning the layout, they ensured that the space could flow seamlessly to accommodate large groups of people. “We took advantage of the natural connection between the indoor and outdoor areas, linking the kitchen to the living room and, subsequently, to the deck, making the space feel significantly larger while at the same time introducing special elements around the house,” Amanda adds.

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The living room, in particular, was designed to blend both the indoors and outdoors—it opens to a deck with views of the hills. Because of those design choices, there is plenty of room for hosting and ample natural light.

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The kitchen, which was co-designed with Reform, has a slanted skylight that floods the space with natural light. Cedar and oak wood finishes add warmth.

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The bedroom is a private retreat. “The bedroom incorporates a shoji screen for privacy and sits on a discreetly raised platform to signify a space of retreat without breaking the open layout,” Joel says. “Each of these spaces is tied together by an earthy, minimal aesthetic that emphasizes comfort and functionality.”

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As you go towards the office/ADU, there is a curved walkway that the OWIU team says serves as a practical path and an introduction to the property’s natural beauty, showcasing the lush greenery and hilltop vantage points. The office/ADU mirrors the aesthetic of the main house and is a space for Sue to focus on her work.

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“Cedar-clad siding and oak finishes create a visual harmony with the main house,” Amanda says. “Inside, a raised platform and a picture window frame the surrounding trees, emphasizing a sense of retreat and connection to nature. This unit was inspired by the need for a space that could serve as a true escape from the main living area while remaining cohesive with the overall design.”

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The design duo was careful in integrating the second structure into the main property, while also making sure it stood independently and served its specific purpose of being a space for focused work.

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The property is truly a sanctuary, high above the busy city. “Sue Chan is delighted with the home, as it perfectly balances her need for a serene retreat with her love of entertaining,” Joel explains. “The seamless indoor-outdoor flow and the thoughtful incorporation of natural elements resonate deeply with her lifestyle. She appreciates how the home reflects the best of Los Angeles while providing a curated and functional space for both work and relaxation.”