STYLE : INTERIORS : An Open Invitation

Though this guest house stands only yards behind a 1929 Tudoresque mansion in Hancock Park, its interior is light-years away from the wing chairs, Oriental rugs and brass chandeliers that decorate the main house. In the hands of Pasadena architectural designer Ryosuke Tsukioka, who designed the minimalist Los Angeles restaurants Katsu 3rd and Sansui, an unremarkable garage apartment was transformed into a tranquil Zen-like retreat.

To open up the existing space, Tsukioka gutted the building, leaving only the brick exterior, added five skylights and removed a stairwell. He then installed an enormous kaidan-dansu (literally, stair-storage chest) that serves as both downstairs focal point and access to the attic bedroom. Sleek surfaces abound: The kitchen has a long stainless-steel counter and glass shelves; tempered-glass panels enclose the bathroom; black slate covers an entire wall. Look closely, and you’ll also note a sense of humor: Sandblasted on the bathroom’s see-through door is the word private .