“Two years ago, Lidan Sfadia and I sketched what at the time felt like a dream on paper,” says developer Edward Grigoryan. “A year ago, it was just dirt. Today, it’s a reality that still leaves me breathless.”
The subject? A sprawling, 7,300-square-foot, U-shaped single-story home located in Tarzana, a San Fernando Valley neighborhood known for its quieter residential character and indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Combining Craftsman influences with elements of Tuscan architecture, the residence is organized around a central courtyard and a close connection to the landscape.
Photography by Nils Timm
As the home comes into view, its Tuscan influences begin with the landscape. Olive trees imported from Napa Valley punctuate the grounds, while limestone-clad walls draped in climbing vines set the scene. To enter the home, visitors pass through French iron-framed doors and step into a space defined by tumbled limestone floors, 12-foot-high ceilings, and Belgian linen drapery that softens the architecture’s substantial scale.
Photography by Nils Timm
Throughout, hand-applied plaster in a warm greige lines the walls, providing a serene neutral backdrop for the natural material palette. The home’s U-shaped layout, meanwhile, separates the private quarters from the public gathering spaces into opposite wings while maximizing ambient light and outdoor views. Nestled within the central garden, the pool is edged with fragrant rosemary, further blurring the distinction between the architecture and landscape.
Photography by Nils Timm
“From the outset, the home was designed around the concept of a massive central courtyard—so we created a 35-foot bridge at the entrance,” says Sfadia, an LA-based developer and the home’s co-creator. Yet that isn’t even its most dramatic—or Zen-like—feature of the home. An imported Bonsai tree was placed directly into a central atrium with a crane. Framed by the surrounding architecture, the tree turns the atrium into a contemplative pause within the home.
Photography by Nils Timm
Adjacent to the atrium, an understated kitchen features custom oak cabinetry, a La Cornue oven, and an island finished in what the designers identify as Bonsai marble—creating what Sfadia and Grigoryan call a “full circle moment.”
Photography by Nils Timm
Drawing inspiration from European architecture—especially Tuscan villas—where materials tend to age gracefully over time, Sfadia and Grigoryan sought to create deeply tactile, atmospheric interiors built to last.
“We wanted to create a calm and relaxing environment but with wow moments created by scale,” the duo explains. Case in point: The family room features a floor-to-ceiling fireplace that functions as a sculptural anchor between two generously sized Belgian linen sofas from RH. A jute rug from Lulu and Georgia, two hair-on-hide Pierre Jeanneret-inspired accent chairs, and a custom artwork by local artist Zack Bayati complete the room.
The neighboring breakfast nook pairs a custom travertine table with woven dining chairs and accessories from Berber Imports. The formal living room also centers on a commanding fireplace, this time complemented by a lighter-hued Lulu and Georgia wool rug, a custom brown suede sofa from a local furniture maker, and a Crate & Barrel lounge chair and coffee table.
Photography by Nils Timm
In the home theater, olive-toned limewash walls create a subtle yet cohesive departure from the home’s overall palette. The dining room returns to the Tuscan-inspired vernacular with an RH brown reclaimed oak table and Belgian linen slipcover dining chairs; an early 1900s antique Persian rug adds another layer of pattern and history underfoot.
Photography by Nils Timm
The private rooms continue the material language established in the shared spaces. The primary bedroom—which offers views of the garden alongside its own fireplace—features a Jenni Kayne linen slipcover bed covered in bedding from Parachute Home, along with a jute rug and a seating area with two Belgian linen chairs from RH flanking a Zara Home side table.
Photography by Nils Timm
The en-suite bathroom continues the emphasis on natural and handcrafted materials with handmade Moroccan tiles, a freestanding tub, an expansive walk-in shower with brass-clad glass doors, and a private outdoor space.
Photo courtesy of Nils Timm
“It’s a resort-like home designed to infuse its inhabitants with a sense of peace and serenity,” Sfadia says. “Building a big, one-story home has always been a dream, and this one really brought that dream to life. With 12-foot ceilings and 10-foot-tall windows, the scale is dramatic, yet despite the proportions, the house remains deeply livable—that was always the ultimate goal.”
That balance of scale and livability ultimately found an audience before the project formally entered the market: A creative couple relocating from Malibu in search of privacy, a slower pace, and a sense of permanence purchased the home before it was listed.
Photography by Nils Timm
