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"Once you crack open the egg, you see what’s inside and what’s possible," says designer Ben Warwas, who updated the residence with a bright-yellow facade, a new flow, and a sunny studio.
In 2010, after renting in northeast L.A. for several years and getting outbid on several houses, artist Antonio Adriano Puleo toured a two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow in Glassell Park the same day it was listed. It wasn’t large, but that didn’t matter. It was affordable, had a two-car garage that could be converted into a studio, and it sat on a quiet hillside street with views of the San Gabriel and Verdugo Mountains.
Displaying canvases by Steven Criqui (left) and homeowner Antonio Adriano Puleo (right), the transformed living room features a sculptural ceiling accented by a grate that brings light and air from the attic skylight above. Antonio designed the geometric print on the bench, which was made by James Melinat of Reigns Studio, who also built the custom cabinetry and bookshelves. Trifold sliders from Fleetwood open to the rear yard.
Photo: Taiyo Watanabe
"I’m a working artist, so the mere act of owning or buying a house was a bit of a feat," Antonio says. "I didn’t envision changing it per se, but I knew there was potential for growth."
Ceramic pendants by Courtney Duncan and a yellow sculpture by Antonio join a Hay sectional in the living room. Antonio crafted the stained-glass panel at left, near the staircase to the new sleeping loft. As elsewhere, Warwas trimmed the new Milgard windows with wood.
Photo: Taiyo Watanabe
Soon after the sale was finalized, he set to work updating the kitchen and bathroom and converting the freestanding garage into an airy studio where he could work on his paintings and sculptures. A few years passed. Wanting to make the most of the oddly shaped, diminutive rear yard, he reached out to architectural designer Ben Warwas, a friend from his undergrad days at MassArt in Boston. After much discussion, and drawing on his experience making skateboard ramps, Warwas designed and built a multilevel wood deck in the upper corner of the yard.
Antonio designed the console table using a zebrawood plank that once served as the mantel for the fireplace that was removed during the renovation. In the dining area beyond, pendants by Torbjörn Vejvi hang above a Kayu teak table from Design Within Reach.
Photo: Taiyo Watanabe
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: An L.A. Artist Gives His Home a Colorful Overhaul—and a New ADU—for $320K
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By: Kelly Vencill Sanchez
Title: Budget Breakdown: An L.A. Artist Gives His Home a Colorful Overhaul—and a New ADU—for $320K
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/budget-breakdown-the-fold-byben-los-angeles-adu-art-studio-4866026e
Published Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:08:09 GMT
