A smart family home on so many levels

Santa Monica architect Jesse Bornstein solved the dilemma of a sloping lot with a “split-plane” design that uses half-flights of stairs to keep the house free-flowing yet divided into distinct rooms. The result embodies what so many Southern Californians seek: more living space without the McMansion effect; light-filled rooms that feel connected to the outdoors yet still private; and a modern look that comes off as neither cold nor industrial. Here, a look down the open stairwell that serves as the spine of the house.

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• (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 16, 2014 8:35 AM PT

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Please don’t call it split-level. It’s a split plane house. Architect Jesse Bornstein modifies a classic idea for a modern age, crafting a home that feels spacious and open yet intimate -- a private refuge graced with functional beauty.

From the airy entry at the front of the house, a half-flight of stairs guides visitors up to the children’s bedrooms and family room, where this picture was taken, set at the back of the property. Another half-flight of steps leads up to the kitchen and main living and dining areas.

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The main living area makes the most of the open plan, drawing natural light from various sources. Sustainably harvested machiche, a red-tinged South African wood that’s twice as hard as oak, warms the space.

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Kalia Bornstein, 11, plays piano within earshot of sister Olivia, 9. Kitchen cabinets in the background have been positioned to control the view, shielding out neighbors and showcasing the best panorama of the surrounding city.

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All the case work in the house, including the kitchen cabinets, was constructed of Plyboo bamboo plywood. The consistent approach, Bornstein says, helps the space to feel like a unified design. Visible in the upper left corner: a part of the pass-through delivers light and air to a sitting room on the level above.

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Whereas some architects equate decoration with visual distraction, Shaun Bornstein says photos of their children and artwork by family members are essential elements, bringing more meaning to the design. “I feel like when you surround yourself with your loved ones — that’s energy,” she says.

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The area off the kitchen leads to a sunny deck above the garage. The decking is the same machiche used on the interior flooring.

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• Inside the Bornstein home

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Kalia and Olivia play in a pile of stuffed animals in the loft that runs above the bathroom between the girls’ bedrooms.

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• Inside the Bornstein home

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One of the appealing aspects of Bornstein’s design is the way in which nearly every room opens onto nature. Here, the glassed-in family room at the back of the property is ringed by timber bamboo, creating a calm, private space. On the level above, the expansive deck off the living and dining areas offers a stronger connection to the neighborhood.

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The master bedroom’s abundant built-in drawers and shelves, all done in plywood bamboo, creates that California rarity: room to grow.

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The timber bamboo seen through the family room windows rises to the top-floor master bathroom, where it lends another touch of nature.

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The home office, which sits closest to the street, is reached through its own exterior door and is separated from the main living areas by the garage. “There’s a greater degree of separation,” Bornstein says. “You feel like you’re going to work.”

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Bornstein’s house cleverly minimizes its presence from the street. The low-water garden and recycled-concrete driveway are just two of many green elements, which include solar panels on the roof, a solar heat exchanger that keeps the pool warm, and a multizone, radiant heating system for the floors.

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The sun peeks out from one of Bornstein’s carefully crafted planes and angles, all constructed to maximize light and views, yet protect privacy. “It’s breaking down the box and breaking preconceived notions of what a house should be like,” Bornstein says.

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• Inside the Bornstein home

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• A friendlier footprint: Green on 19
• New looks in wicker, rattan and other woven furniture
• Guerrilla gardeners take root in Southern California
• How to make seed bombs
• (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)