Dean Levin's Laurel Canyon Home Mixes Modernism and Warmth
Designer Dean Levin renovated a Los Angeles home he shares with his family, filling it with custom 22RE pieces and works by French, Danish, and Italian designers. The Laurel Canyon residence blends California bungalow warmth with Japanese-inspired details, including a black-stained exterior. Levin opened the staircase and added a large window to bring more light into the previously dark space.
Dean Levin grew up in Los Angeles’s Westside, with a fashion-designer mother, and became interested in the city’s architecture as a teen. After studying architecture at Pratt and working as an artist, he returned west in 2019 and purchased a 1,500-square-foot Laurel Canyon house. He founded 22RE in 2021.
For the renovation, he removed ceilings to reveal beams, stained redwood cladding black in reference to shou sugi ban, and used wall-to-wall carpeting. The home combines his custom 22RE furniture with pieces by French, Danish, and Italian designers.
This story may encourage homeowners and designers to consider lighter, more open renovations that mix modern furniture with Japanese-inspired and Californian elements. It could boost interest in custom pieces and small design firms like 22RE, while reminding readers that thoughtful material choices and daylight can reshape dark interiors. Its influence may remain within lifestyle and design circles rather than broad policy or social change.