architect’s letter

Days of Being is a conversation - a conversation between past and present, between light and shadow, between precision and imperfection. When I first came across this old house, I fell in love with its honesty - the honesty of natural materials and handcrafted forms. I sought to create a space that feels intuitive, drawing from my background as a designer and architect from Hong Kong who did my growing up in New York and now based in Los Angeles. The design draws from a tapestry of inspirations that reminds me of home — The poetry of Wong Kar-Wai’s Days of Being Wild in Hong Kong, the impermanence of the Ryoan-ji temple garden in Kyoto, and hazy memories of rainy night conversations in a basement speakeasy in the Lower East Side.

I hope this space inspires relaxing morning coffees, lazy afternoon naps, initmate late night conversations and most of all - a home away from home for your visit to Los Angeles.

Image from In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai

  • A restored craftsman house

    This historic craftsman house, built in 1911, offers 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms accommodating up to 6 guests, with private parking for 2-4 cars, a full kitchen, washer/dryer, televisions in all bedrooms and living area, premium Wi-Fi, and is baby and toddler friendly.

  • INDOOR OUTDOOR LIVING

    Days of Being is a sanctuary of slow living, featuring seamless indoor-outdoor flow with sliding doors opening onto an engawa patio overlooking a Kyoto temple garden-inspired side garden, perfect for leisurely gatherings with watermelon and sparkling wine.

  • front garden

    The front garden showcases a variety of native and drought-tolerant plants typical of Los Angeles, including white sage, California buckwheat, pine muhly, Indian mallow, complemented by seasonal pink jasmine and Chinese fringe-flower, framed by an evergreen pineapple guava hedge, and featuring a Gingko tree for seasonal color shifts.

  • side garden

    Inspired by Japanese temples, the side garden by Krystal Chang Projects blends moss, ferns, golden forest grass, euphorbias, kalanchoe (felt bush), flowering maple (Japanese abutilon), Kashmir cypresses, a Japanese maple, and grevillea among existing loquat, persimmon, and lemon trees, transitioning gracefully from deep shade to bright sun.

  • living room

    The living area features exposed timber framing from the original structure, blending old growth trusses and beams with modern amenities like a 72” HDTV with AppleTV, Sonos bluetooth Beam sound bar, and a dining table for up to 6 guests.

  • Vintage and contemporary furnitures

    Contemporary pieces like the Mario Bellini Sofa and Noguchi's Akari lamps blend with vintage finds such as a Keyaki tea ceremony chest from Japan and an antique colonial school bench, creating a serene and eclectic atmosphere.

  • kitchen

    The fully equipped kitchen boasts a zellige tiled island and brand-new appliances including an electric stove, full-sized refrigerator, microwave, air fryer, and toaster oven, blending modern convenience with culinary delight.

  • serving maru coffee

    Start your mornings with freshly ground coffee from Maru Coffee, and peruse a curated collection of art, design books, and novels for a dose of morning inspiration and light reading.

  • dining nook

    Intimate dining area features a travertine table and custom upholstered cushion bench seating with cork wall coverings and skylight - Ideal for morning coffee and last night drinks. Enjoy soft listening with Sonos bluetooth Era 100 speaker.

  • Out of office

    The dining nook doubles as a versatile remote work office, featuring ample natural light and comfortable seating, enhanced by cork walls that provide excellent acoustics for podcasting or live streaming.

  • bathroom 1

    The bathtub and shower are perfect for traveling families with infants and toddlers, offering a spa-like experience for quality bath time enjoyment.

  • bathroom 1

    Complimentary disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, makeup removal wipes, and other hygiene products are provided.

  • bathroom 2

    The bathrooms feature a concreta finish in dark forest green and ocean blue, creating a serene spa-like atmosphere ideal for relaxing and focusing on self-care.

  • bathroom 2

    Complimentary disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, makeup removal wipes, and other hygiene products are provided.

  • bedroom

    All 3 rooms feature a queen bed with a custom headboard and side tables, access to a garden patio and a custom blanket, along with amenities like a 56” HDTV with AppleTV and private closet and drawers.

  • Bed

    All 3 rooms feature a queen bed with a custom headboard and side tables, access to a garden patio and a custom blanket, along with amenities like a 56” HDTV with AppleTV and private closet and drawers.