This remodel was completed during Malibu’s 2001 - 2004defacto moratorium. No additional floor area could beadded, so most of what was completed on this project was cosmetic. The existing house suffered from a lack ofaesthetic cohesion due to a series of disjointed earlieradditions. The original house also lacked a sense of entry. Steve Yett’s elegant solution to this was to remove thesection of portico that was covering the front door andinstall a much taller, luxurious front door which thenbecame possible with the removal of the section of portico. The entry gate was then placed on axis with the front door.
The client brought an interior designeronto the team early on. The interiordesigner drew up her plan, and thenwent away on a cruise for a month. The client asked Steve Yett what hethought of the plan. “I told the clientthat it wasn’t what I would’ve done,but I could see how a lot of peoplewould find it appealing. And thatobviously she brought the interiordesigner on board because she hadseen something that the designer didthat she liked, and thought would beappropriate for this house.”“ I don’t like it. What would you do?”“That’s not fair. She isn’t here toexplain her concept.” Steve Yettresponded, trying to be a teamplayer.“Draw me what you would do. I’mcurious. Obviously you’re going tocome at it completely different.”The interior designer had a couple ofcités in the Master Bathroom.“Not one mind you, but two... And itwasn’t that large a bathroom. Iasked the client if she or her husbandsat when they got dressed. She said‘no.’ Did they like to converse with
others while bathing? “No.” I couldn’t figure out a good reason for having two cités in the bathroom -well other than for visual flair, and maybe the interior designer to get a larger sales commission. Idecided that it made more sense to make a larger shower. I drew something up - it wasn’t the finaldesign mind you, but the client liked it enough that I ended up helping with the interiors as well.”