Pink House

Santa Monica, CA

2025

TIMELESS REVIVAL: Honoring 1927 Spanish Colonial Heritage Through Wabi-Sabi & Cultural Harmony

For Marjan Sarshar, founder of Kreation Organic Cafe, owning a home on iconic La Mesa Drive was a lifelong dream. The street, famous for its historic grandeur and canopy of century-old Moreton Bay fig trees, offered an atmosphere unmatched anywhere in Santa Monica.

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, developer and general contractor Peyman Rahpeymaei achieved the near-impossible: finding and securing a rare, historic property on this coveted block. What followed was a dedicated five-year journey from initial acquisition and complex historic permitting to a complete wabi-sabi transformation that seamlessly weaves together historic Spanish character, organic minimalism, and rich Persian cultural accents.

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Respecting the Past: The 1927 Architectural Roots

Originally designed and built in 1927 by master architect and builder Frank E. Bivens Jr., 2230 La Mesa Drive is a key contributing property to Santa Monica's prestigious La Mesa Drive Historic District. The original two-story residence was celebrated for its quintessential Spanish Colonial Revival architecture:

  • Signature Façade Elements: Smooth, plain stucco walls punctuated by an iconic, large rounded bay and irregularly placed window openings.

  • Artisanal Craftsmanship: Hipped and gabled red clay tile roofs, a central window adorned with an elaborately conceived wood grille, and delicate decorative ironwork.

  • Historic Canopy: Set along La Mesa Drive, a street renowned for its century-old, towering Moreton Bay fig trees that create a magical canopy and lend immense heritage value to the neighborhood, the home sits seamlessly within its natural setting.

The Metamorphosis: Wabi-Sabi Meets Persian Heritage

Guided by Marjan Sarshar's vision, the interior concept achieves a rare balance: pairing the understated, earthy simplicity of wabi-sabi with the soulful warmth of Persian culture, all while preserving the home's original 1927 Spanish character.

Key Architectural & Restoration Highlights

  • Wabi-Sabi & Persian Interior Synthesis: Traditional lime plaster walls establish an earthy, tactile foundation throughout the home. Against this organic backdrop, carefully curated Persian architectural details and artisanal elements create a deep sense of lineage and story in every space.

  • Sourced Antique Roof Tiles: To extend and restore the roofline while preserving historical integrity, original 1927 red clay tiles were carefully salvaged and paired with meticulously sourced vintage tiles matching the original color and patina.

  • Preserved Historic Elevation: The exterior street elevation remains entirely faithful to Frank E. Bivens Jr.'s 1927 vision, protecting the character-defining ironwork, wooden window grilles, and rounded entrance bay.

  • Organic Landscape Integration: Designed by Dana White, one of the town's most established landscape designers, the surrounding gardens pay homage to the street's monumental fig tree canopy, weaving native flora around the historic architecture to enhance its tranquility.

  • Artisanal Culinary Center: The heart of the home features a bespoke kitchen co-created with world-renowned makers eggersmann Kitchens Home and L'Atelier Paris Haute Design | Los Angeles, combining raw material textures with high-end culinary precision.