Houzz Tour: Making a Comeback in the Hollywood Hills

Even though the rotting, crumbling 1912 cottage on this Hollywood Hills, California, property was beyond saving, Colin Rhys saw a golden opportunity for the site. As the principal of Xanadu Group, a design-build firm, he knew he would be able to build something new that would make the whole endeavor worth it. So he scooped up the property and set out to create a bright and airy home complete with his own backyard ceramics studio.

Houzz at a Glance
Location: Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles
Size: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms plus a guest studio
Who lives here: Colin Rhys, the principal of Xanadu Group, a design-build firm

BEFORE: The property’s original cottage was built in 1912 as part of a collection of hunting cabins marketed to East Coasters. “Everything was rotted out inside,” says Rhys, recalling his decision to tear down and build new. “Even the foundation was crumbling.”


AFTER: Rhys honored the previous home’s rooflines, scale and street-facing-window sizes when he designed and built the new two-story home. “I tried to stay true to what was there and what was in the neighborhood,” he says.

Cuban royal palms flank the new garden wall and gate, which are illuminated at night by antique gas lamps.


The home’s elevations were partially inspired by the light and airy plantation architecture Rhys was drawn to during travels to the Caribbean.

An ipe-wood deck and planter boxes, filled with yellow sweet potato vines, surround the house. Rhys used Dunn-Edwards’ paint here: Whisper White for the exterior trim, Cool December for the siding and Shallow End for the operable shutters and eaves.

Pavers: Belgard


A former gallerist, Rhys gave the home plenty of space for displaying his art collection and used skylights to flood the interior with daylight. The entry opens to a spacious living room, where custom windows were sized to replicate those in the original house.

The floors are French white oak with a wire-brushed wax finish, from DuChateau Floors.

Armchairs: Camerich


The living room accommodates Rhys’ vintage Wurlitzer baby grand piano. The large painting behind the piano is by Mariana Lopez. The stairs lead to the second-story master suite and library. The hallway leads past guest bedrooms and bathrooms to the kitchen and the dining and great rooms.


A vintage Moroccan rug and seating by Minotti anchor a conversation area in the living room. The ceramics on the coffee table and next to the fireplace are works by Rhys.

Painting on left wall: Mark Chariker; lithograph above console: Cecily Brown


The great room, part of the kitchen and dining space, overlooks the backyard and pool deck, as well as the small guesthouse. Fleetwood glass walls slide open into pockets to allow unobstructed access to the outdoors. Rhys created the blown-glass objects on the coffee table.

Sectional: Minotti; coffee table: Camerich; white stools: CB2


The kitchen’s custom cabinetry is made of a flat lacquer finished with wax, for a subtle sheen that fits with the white marble countertops.

Appliances: Miele; faucet: KWC


In the dining area, curvaceous Anglo-Indian antique metal chairs surround a Saarinen dining table.

Art: Shaun Leonardo


A small seating area at the top of the stairs is part of the library. The 1940s chandelier came from a Palm Springs estate sale.

Armchairs: Restoration Hardware; art: Mark Chariker


The second-story master suite opens to a balcony that overlooks the backyard. Recessed, motorized shades provide privacy.

Bed: Minotti


A custom fireplace, clad in honed limestone, is a focal point for the master suite’s sitting area, which includes Philippe Starck armchairs. One of Rhys’ ceramic pots graces the Camerich coffee table. The photograph above the fireplace is by Vee Speers.


The master bathroom includes a walk-through shower that connects to the balcony. A frosted-glass sliding door provides privacy to the outdoors, as will bamboo plants that will reach the second story upon maturity. Honed limestone was used for the flooring, countertop and integral sink, and the cabinets are custom.

Faucets, showerhead: Dornbracht


Rhys designed the house to have three guest bedrooms, as well as a guest studio, to accommodate frequent visits from friends around the world. “I like to entertain and to have houseguests, but I wanted to give everyone their space,” he says.

Double doors from the guest bedroom seen here lead to the deck. The bedside lamp is a French art deco piece. The artwork above the bed is by Gilberto and Gabriel Colaco. The photograph is by Bert Rodriguez.


One guest bathroom has an Asian feel and includes a steam shower.

Tile: Stone Source; faucets: Aquabrass


Another guest bathroom includes a long, deep soaking tub.

Tub: Americh; sink faucet: Hans Grohe; tile: Stone Source; art: Brian Burkhardt


BEFORE: The home originally had a large, deep swimming pool that ate up much of the backyard.


AFTER: The new home includes a wraparound deck and balcony that link both floors to the outdoors, and a landscape that includes a new, smaller pool and a raised spa. The guesthouse, which doubles as Rhys’ ceramics studio, was built on the site of the original single-car garage.

Behind the guesthouse, Rhys nurtured the property’s old redwood tree back to life, watering it and trimming dead branches.

White outdoor furniture: Philippe Starck for Kartell; woven outdoor furniture: Restoration Hardware


The new pool includes a submerged bench. The avocado tree behind the spa is original to the property, a remnant from when the Hollywood Hills area was dotted with avocado groves and other fruit orchards. The block fence, topped with redwood slats, provides privacy.

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