Home Away from Home

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Joe Lucas and David Heikka find their own personal paradise in Solvang

Homeowners Joe Lucas and David Heikka. Photos by Karyn Millet.

Joe Lucas, principal designer at Lucas Studio and owner of the multiline, bicoastal showroom Harbinger, and his partner, David Heikka, vice president of retail at Parachute, can often be found on a plane, traveling around the country mainly for work, sometimes for pleasure. Whether opening a new showroom, visiting a job site or shopping for clients, the pair lead a busy life that requires moments of respite.

All paint in the house is by Benjaman Moore. The entry features a mirror by Michael Smith for Mirror Home. Photos by Karyn Millet.
In the living room, the Viborg Sectional Sofa by Harbinger By Hand Collection is upholstered in Zak+Fox textiles and the pillows are by Kelly Ventura. Photos by Karyn Millet.
Wallpaper Panels by Arjumand’s World from Harbinger hang above chairs from Soho Home in the dining room. Photos by Karyn Millet.

For over 25 years they have called L.A. home, living for the last seven in the Silver Lake neighborhood. However, during the pandemic they realized it was time to create a nest where they could escape hectic city life and unwind from their countless journeys. “We loved our 1920s Spanish-style house, as it was set upon a hilltop, had amazing views and was the perfect size for both of us and our two dogs,” says Heikka. “But after seven years we were ready to try something new.”

Guests cozy up to the kitchen on bar stools by Ballard Designs covered in Zak+Fox outdoor textiles. The Purita kitchen faucet by Kraus is from Ferguson. Photos by Karyn Millet.
The Lucia Rise and Fall pendant by Hector Finch, from Harbinger, sheds light on the cozy breakfast banquette that
is covered in pillows by Kelly Ventura, Soho Home and Le Gracieux. Photos by Karyn Millet.

During the pandemic, Lucas was working on a project in Santa Ynez, which led to the couple spending long weekends in the region with friends, wine tasting and exploring. “Solvang is full of surprises,” says Lucas. “The area really spoke to both of us with its rolling hills, beautiful oak trees, farms and vineyards, as well as great restaurants and a sense of calm.” After a few unsuccessful bids for homes in Ojai and a handful of magical trips to Solvang, they fell in love and put an offer on the perfect property. “The house had a lot of what we liked—great layout, amazing views, beautiful pool, proximity to lots of amenities and a blank slate for us to put our stamp on,” says Heikka. “Joe’s work always features color and lots of layers, so we saw a great opportunity to make a beautiful home of our own. We called our broker that morning and made haste to Solvang to tour the house that day. A quick offer followed, and we got the house!”

The pink powder room features a pair of sconces from Hector Finch, a widespread faucet by Rohl and Vela Plus smart toilet by Signature Hardware, supplied by Ferguson. Photos by Karyn Millet.

The ranch-style, 2,600-square-foot home features four bedrooms on one side of the property and a living room, family room, dining room, kitchen and breakfast nook that open onto a central outdoor courtyard that is also accessible from the primary bedroom. Luckily, the previous owners took excellent care of the home, so the move-in process was fairly turnkey. “Since the bones were great and the previous owners had put so much pride into ownership, we wanted to continue that dedication to the space while making it our own,” says Lucas. “Really the biggest challenge was being patient with the process, as we had a few months after purchasing the home before we could move in, so we used that time to quickly scheme the house and decide on paint colors, furniture and fabrics and the overall vibe.”

Inside the primary bedroom, the jute wallpaper is by Twenty2 from Harbinger, the lantern is from The Urban Electric Co. and the carpet is by Stark. Photos by Karyn Millet.
In the primary bedroom, a mid-century chest of drawers holds a large onyx bowl from Harbinger.
Photos by Karyn Millet.
In the primary bathroom, the smart toilet and faucets are by Signature Hardware, found at Ferguson. Photos by Karyn Millet.

The two worked together to decisively curate each space so that friends and family could enjoy them. “Everything came together very quickly, and David and I agreed on most if not everything—which is a triumph for us as our design aesthetics differ a bit. David is more minimal while I love color, pattern and layers,” Lucas recalls. “We partnered with Urquidez, an amazing local contractor, and had the best project manager possible–thank you DJ!” The shared goal was to create a sense of calm by utilizing a rich color palette inspired by the surrounding environment. “To us these colors feel like a cross section of all the colors in nature we see around us,” Lucas notes. “One request from David was that he needed an office space—since he mostly works at home—so we created it in one of the bedrooms and painted the walls a dark chocolatey brown to give him the moody vibe he wanted.”

In the pink guest room, the bed and bedding are by Parachute, the wallpaper by KLS Textiles is from Harbinger. Photos by Karyn Millet.
In the colorful guest bath, the faucets and the Vela Plus toilet by Signature Hardware were provided by Ferguson and the hardware is from Emtek. Photos by Karyn Millet.

Of course, the greatest advantage when designing this project was Lucas’s access to top brands carried at Harbinger, which came together seamlessly. “We love to look around and see our favorite textiles from CW Stockwell, Zak+Fox, Kelly Ventura, Kettlewell Collection, Wayne Pate and Virginia White,” says Lucas. “From the lighting by Hector Finch and The Urban Electric Co, the rugs by Stark Carpet and Marc Phillips and the art and accessories by Karyn Millet, Lawson-Fenning, Soho Home and Harbinger vintage finds, it’s great to be surrounded by so many of our friends’ work and live in this collective environment.” Lucas and his team worked with Ferguson to source faucets, fixtures and smart toilets throughout. Each room is completed with at least one Parachute item, which adds an extra layer of comfort.

An outdoor seating set is covered in fabric by Chris Barrett, found at Harbinger. Photos by Karyn Millet.
A metal wall sculpture by artist Lane Walkup is surrounded by a woven hanging basket from Forage Florals in Santa Ynez and an antique farm table from the South of France. Photos by Karyn Millet.

When asked about their favorite moment inside the home or around the property, Heikka answers, “The pool. It’s the centerpiece of the backyard and we love its setting against the rolling hillside beyond. This is our first pool together, and we love to take our daily dips while staring out at grand oak trees and our friends, the local deer. And while we are on a main street in town, we feel completely removed from any sense of hustle and bustle and really get to relax when outside. It’s one of the reasons we love our home so much.”

The Terra-cotta pot at the corner of the pool is an antique found on a shopping trip in France. Photos by Karyn Millet.

SHOP THE LOOK

Joe Lucas shares what’s inside his Solvang escape

–Lucia Double Rise and Fall pendant shown in Naval Blue by HECTOR FINCH; available at Harbinger L.A.

–Ocelot Belgian linen by CW STOCKWELL; available at Harbinger L.A.

-Block Island Sofa by HARBINGER

–Rohl 8-inch Widespread Bathroom Sink Faucet (shown in polished nickel); available at FERGUSON

–Vela Plus Smart Toilet by SIGNATURE HARDWARE; available at Ferguson