Melissa and Ryan Williams of W2 Studio have created beautiful homes all over our neighborhood, most of them in Lakewood and Forest Hills, often using the footprints of homes built half a century ago or more. (I worked with them for a profile of a home they redid on San Rafael in our 2008 Home Design issue.)
Now they’ve been tapped to renovate the circa 1938 Stanley Marcus house, according to a story in the most recent edition of F!D Luxe. (I unfortunately can’t find the story on the DMN’s website.)
Last August, owners Mark and Patricia Lovvorn were planning to demolish the house, and the Observer got wind of this, citing "energy inefficiency" as their reason for demolition and inability to use the current structure. After much public outcry, the Lovvorns ultimately decided not to tear down the house, and perhaps part of the Williamses’ overhaul will be making the home more energy efficient.
One thing is certain — the Williamses hope to complete a renovation that no future owners will want to tear down. "I would hate to think that in 30 years people would be tearing our houses down," the article quotes Melissa as saying. "We want to design things that are hopefully timeless and worth preserving."
