Designer Jake Arnold’s eight-month renovation of the Los Angeles home of Drs. Jason and Jessica Diamond provides an elegant object lesson in expeditious decorative transformation through subtraction and addition. First, the subtraction. The existing house had, in Arnold’s words, “a heavy ’80s glam vibe” that was inconsistent with the subtle and sophisticated mood favored by the designer as well as the homeowners. Arnold began by stripping away some of the more dated elements of the décor, notably a host of elaborate moldings and column details, overwrought, faux-limestone fireplace surrounds, and track lighting.

The designer completely recast the character of the home through a series of strategic additions. He replaced the existing floors throughout the home, beginning in the enclosed entry courtyard, where he installed a patchwork of reclaimed grey barr limestone. In the primary social spaces, the stone transitions into floors of rough-hewn, reclaimed French oak in planks of random width that underscore the material’s age and history. Arnold then sheathed the walls in parchment-colored Venetian plaster, further enhancing the depth and texture of the architectural envelope.

“These materials have inherent character and soul, so they make a big impact,” Arnold avers. “We were obsessed with the texture of the wood, so we decided not to do a lot of carpets. The floors already have so much warmth and beauty.”The designer also installed reclaimed wood beams in the ceiling of the primary bedroom as well as in the massive skylight that crowns the entry courtyard, creating a bond between the overhead and underfoot planes. A consistent drapery treatment of tall curtains in the same pale, knubby linen ties the various rooms together. “The curtains are tailored like an amazing gown. We played up the height to create a powerful vertical element,” Arnold says.