12.16.22 | DIGS.NET 25
W R I T T E N B Y K A R I N E M O N I É
P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y RYA N L A H I F F
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spoon, Jennifer Garner and media magnate
Byron Allen. What unites a diverse portfolio of
styles that range from transitional to Tudor is
an innate understanding of the livable luxury
and indoor-outdoor lifestyle that is at the heart
of what Southern California living is all about.
Intimately familiar with Santa Monica's strict
building codes, he's nimbly navigates within
its limitations, seeing them as design chal-
lenges that flex his creative muscles rather
than limitations. "Working within the confines
of Santa Monica's zoning laws, my aim was to
create a design that was unique and special yet
considerate of its location."
Ungar's expertise is confirmed by the expe-
rience of the interior. The discrete exterior
belies the expansive experience tucked behind
the home's large front door. "Due to the qual-
ity and nature of the natural light that floods
the interior, there is an unconscious feeling of
being uplifted," Ungar says. "It's incredibly,
almost unexpectedly, bright and open inside,"
Pence confirms. That effect is underlined by
high ceilings, a 22 foot wide wall of sliding
glass doors that open up the back of the house
and 6,000 square feet of flexible space that
sprawl over the three story interior. "This home
has been thoughtfully designed to support a
family's needs as they change and grow over
the years," says Pence.
Witness the two rooms the flank the front
door. To one side is a large room with a private
bath. "It can be used a listening or music room,
a guest room or, with work from home now a
reality, it would make an ideal office space,"
says Pence. On the other side is a room that
can serve as formal living room, a dining room,
a library or a playroom.
A well-designed kitchen is consistent in
its role as the centerpiece of daily living. This
one, with its Miele appliances, its extended
island, its impeccably designed storage, and
its open-plan footprint, invites both home and
professional cooks alike to flex their culinary
muscles. It shares space with a large open
room with a dramatic fireplace that can be
designed as a welcoming family room or large
