In L.A., the house that Google SketchUp built
![Janna Levenstein's 1950s house was a maze of small, dark rooms. With the help of a draftsman, UCLA architecture student, Google's free SketchUp software and her contractor, Levenstein turned the space into a bright, sleek, indoor-outdoor living space where every room opens onto nature. The home's new modern look comes partly from the immense amount of glass she installed. More... • 1950s home near LACMA becomes a modern duplex Also in Home & Garden: • Westwood bungalow remodel • Free software delivers a remodeled L.A. duplex • Remodel of a Gregory Ain • Epiphyllum: orchid cactus at the L.A. Arboretum • Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4dfb25f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/582x388+0+0/resize/582x388!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F26%2Feb7d6d9d0d753093afe7969dd192%2Fla-hm-janna-01-jzjqutnc.jpg)
Janna Levenstein’s 1950s house was a maze of small, dark rooms. With the help of a draftsman, UCLA architecture student, Google’s free SketchUp software and her contractor, Levenstein turned the space into a bright, sleek, indoor-outdoor living space where every room opens onto nature. The home’s new modern look comes partly from the immense amount of glass she installed.
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Janna Levenstein’s 1950s home was a maze of small, dark rooms. With the help of a UCLA architecture student and Google’s free software, she turned the space into a bright, sleek, indoor-outdoor living space where every room opens onto nature.
![Modern remodel](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/142cb90/2147483647/strip/true/crop/582x386+0+0/resize/582x386!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F01%2F47aff9781c03257c0400f1237aea%2Fla-hm-janna-02-jzjqxsnc.jpg)
The remodel created two units from one. Levenstein uses the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath unit at the back of the property, shown here, as her home. The one-bedroom front unit serves as a guest house and office.
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![Modern remodel](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f4e0082/2147483647/strip/true/crop/582x386+0+0/resize/582x386!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F15%2Ffe%2F9472d4b8f406869394e832222ec1%2Fla-hm-janna-03-jzjqu0nc.jpg)
Levenstein, shown here in her bedroom, used large commercial glass pieces from L & D Aluminum Doors on Normandie Avenue in Los Angeles.
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![Modern remodel](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/783ef19/2147483647/strip/true/crop/582x334+0+0/resize/582x334!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Ffe%2F1bedaef1f20d90495ce671443d3f%2Fla-hm-janna-04-jzjqxanc.jpg)
An iPod dock in the living room sends music throughout the house.
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![Modern remodel](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/78932d0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/582x397+0+0/resize/582x397!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdf%2F32%2Fb38592b5d04265b5dca237d4e808%2Fla-hm-janna-05-jzjqvbnc.jpg)
Natural light fills the remodels open plan. High-gloss white kitchen cabinet doors are custom pieces painted at an auto-body shop and placed on IKEA cabinetry.
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![Modern remodel](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/29b9a05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x329+0+0/resize/500x329!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2Fd2%2F17d05c76f09b4ff72aba22aa0fe3%2Fla-hm-janna-06-jzjqufnc.jpg)
The entry to Levensteins main unit opens onto the living and dining area. The dining table is her design. The table and its steel stools were made at a now-defunct metal fabricating shop in El Monte. The tops of the stools were painted to match the kitchen cabinets.
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![Modern remodel](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fad175b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/582x393+0+0/resize/582x393!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9a%2F27%2F290d74d8f3aff891778a47fe4939%2Fla-hm-janna-07-jzjqy3nc.jpg)
A long, panoramic window frames Levenstein in the kitchen. Says the voice-over actress turned house flipper: I went nuts doing the inside.
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