Topanga Hillside House

Revamped Woodland Retreat

Its angled volumes echoing Northern California’s iconic Sea Ranch community, this treehouse-styled beauty was fully renovated by its current owner, a French ceramicist, in 2018. She clad the house in kayu wood to meld into its woodsy hillside and brought the outdoors in via exposed radiata pine paneling across interior walls and ceilings.

Wood is the home’s leading element and windows of varying sizes allow natural California sunshine and the interplay of light and shadow. Furnishings are designer, yet unobtrusive. Think a vintage Togo couch alongside textural, made-to-order rugs and runners, and an abundance of plants. Plus, there’s a fully-equipped yoga studio inside, and the artist-owner’s classic ceramics serve as functional art.

AROUND

Perched on a hillside with vistas over the lushly forested canyon that characterizes inland Topanga, this treehouse-styled home is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. An antidote to Los Angeles’ star-studded swanky side, Topanga is a timeless, Santa Monica Mountain enclave where the artsy, funky, nomadic-chic, and outdoorsy merge. Surfers, hippies and dreamers have long been drawn to this shaded canyon 15 minutes up from the coastline, where Topanga Beach is sandwiched between Pacific Palisades and Malibu. 

Named by the indigenous Tongva tribe, Topanga is believed to mean “where the mountain meets the sea” or “the place above.” Narrow canyon roads wind inland into the mountains, shaded by tall trees and sheer rock faces, and Topanga Canyon hides the largest state park within city limits in the US, with miles of wilderness to explore. There are almost 40 miles of hiking trails (some open to mountain bikers and equestrians, too) through grasslands, live oaks, and rugged geological formations. Bucolic and peaceful, the small community is known to be alternative and creative—home to artists, filmmakers, and musicians. It also offers boutique shopping, a legendary vintage retro store, small food and specialty product markets, and a handful of great cafes and restaurants. It’s just a short drive to Malibu, Santa Monica, and the San Fernando Valley, and about an hour to Downtown LA.

LOCATION

Topanga, Los Angeles, California, US. Nearest airport: Los Angeles or Burbank, both 45 minutes

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring and summer