- Interior
In Studio City, Los Angeles, SLS Properties redefines the boundary between living and nature. A 7.3-meter-tall indoor planter forms the beating heart of the kitchen, setting the tone for the entire home. With a dark, earthy material palette and lush planting, the result is a sanctuary that feels closer to a resort than a classic LA villa. Discover how architect Shlomi Sfadia balanced calm, texture, and drama.
In Studio City, a neighborhood known for its privacy, mature greenery, and proximity to the energy of Los Angeles, SLS Properties has created a home that fully reimagines the relationship between architecture and nature. The house, spanning 515 square meters across two levels, five bedrooms, and six bathrooms, took eighteen months from design development to completion. Designed under the direction of Shlomi Sfadia, the project carries the name "tropical modern sanctuary," a concept that is felt throughout every space in the house. 
The standout feature is the kitchen, anchored by an impressive 7.3-meter-tall indoor planter. This living green backdrop is not a decorative detail but an architectural foundation. Planted zones and floor-to-ceiling glazing carry that concept through the rest of the home, allowing indoor and outdoor spaces to dissolve into one another almost seamlessly. The design draws inspiration from resort architecture and elemental landscapes, deliberately embracing a darker, more sensual material palette than is typically seen in Los Angeles. 
While Southern California homes tend to favor bright, sunlit tones, the design team consciously chose the opposite direction. Deep charcoal tones, charred wood finishes, warm limestone hues, and layered greens from the landscaping come together to create a moody, earthy atmosphere. Charred wood cladding, lava stone, and limestone were selected for their durability, but just as much for the way they age over time and gain visual richness. These materials reject a polished finish, favoring instead a natural authenticity, supported by a sourcing strategy that blends global inspiration with local, climate-appropriate Southern California choices.
The goal was to balance openness with intimacy, and to create moments throughout the house where architecture, greenery, light, and texture work together to make the home feel like an escape from the city
The home's spatial layout emphasizes fluid transitions: from the kitchen and dining area to the living room and a dedicated theater/media room, all connected by large glass panels and sliding doors that draw light and greenery deep into the interior. This choreography ensures every room feels like part of a larger, cohesive whole. Smaller spaces received equal attention — the powder room, for instance, is framed by dark materials and limestone, with a floating sink set against a floor-to-ceiling window that frames the greenery beyond. 
Despite the home's considerable scale, restraint remained a guiding principle throughout the project. Rather than spectacle, it was atmosphere, proportion, and material consistency that were meant to make the house memorable. The result is a home that stands out not through outward display, but through a thoughtful dialogue between raw materials, lush nature, and calm, sculptural forms — a true tropical modern sanctuary in the middle of Los Angeles.
Photography by Nils Timm
Text by Manou Raeves