Dakota Johnsonโs Hollywood Hills residence presents a thoughtful balance of midcentury modern architecture and relaxed personal comfort.
Designed in 1947 by Carl Maston, the home carries strong architectural roots while functioning as a welcoming retreat tailored to Johnsonโs lifestyle.
Clean lines, expansive glass, and original detailing meet soft textures, earthy colors, and collected furnishings.
Let’s take a look at it.
A Midcentury Modern Anchor in the Hollywood Hills
Carl Maston shaped the house in 1947 according to midcentury principles that favored restraint and proportion.
Clean lines and horizontal emphasis guide the eye across the structure, while generous glazing invites daylight into nearly every room.
Core architectural characteristics define the property:
Johnson encountered the home during a tour of Los Angeles properties and immediately felt drawn to its crisp geometry paired with a welcoming atmosphere.
Early in her career, around 2016, she acquired the residence and made a conscious decision to preserve its defining features.
Architectural integrity remained a priority, even as she tailored interiors to suit her personal rhythm.
Site and Setting
Placement within a quiet cul-de-sac surrounded by mature trees gives the house a treehouse-on-a-boat feeling. Privacy and greenery shape daily life inside the structure.
Oversized front doors and floor to ceiling windows dissolve visual barriers, allowing interior rooms to open toward foliage and sky.
Calm residential energy arises not only through architecture but through orientation and scale.
Geometry feels softened by surrounding vegetation, creating a balance between structure and nature.
Ownership Approach

Johnson chose restraint rather than dramatic renovation.
Original architectural elements remained intact, including structural lines and primary materials.
Thoughtful updates addressed comfort and function without overpowering Mastonโs 1947 concept.
Modern living requirements entered the space through subtle adjustments:
Historical character and contemporary ease coexist comfortably, allowing daily life to unfold inside a home that still honors its midcentury origins.
Pierce and Wardโs Interior Curation

Interior atmosphere required a partnership grounded in respect for architecture.
Pierce and Ward collaborated closely with Johnson to shape rooms that feel personal while maintaining structural clarity.
Vintage Meets Contemporary
Vintage sofas, classic midcentury silhouettes, artwork, and custom furniture coexist in a natural composition.
Select contemporary pieces carry sculptural lines and refined finishes, similar to Bonaldo furniture, adding contrast to the homeโs 1947 architectural framework.
Carefully chosen items prevent rooms from feeling overly styled while maintaining depth and character.
Contrast between decades gives depth and authenticity.
Carefully selected items prevent rooms from feeling overly styled.
Pairings appear deliberate yet relaxed:
Rooms feel collected over time rather than assembled all at once.
Designer Partnership
Creative dialogue between homeowner and designers centered on balance.
Midcentury bones provided a disciplined framework, while curated furnishings introduced warmth and softness.
Pierce and Ward approached each room as an extension of Johnsonโs personality rather than a showroom concept.
Measured restraint ensured that furnishings enhanced rather than overshadowed architectural form.
Aesthetic Principles
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Earthy tones anchor the interior scheme. Wood surfaces introduce warmth, while textured fabrics soften structural lines.
Tactile finishes such as velvet and woven fibers create a sense of comfort that balances crisp geometry.
Visual harmony arises through consistency rather than rigid symmetry, allowing each room to maintain its own character within a unified whole.
A Cozy Midcentury Retreat
Living room design captures the essence of the house. Architecture and furnishings interact in a way that feels intimate yet open.
Expansive front doors and walls of glass frame views toward the lap pool and surrounding greenery.
Sightlines extend outward, making interior and exterior areas feel interconnected.
Low ceiling lines and grounded furniture maintain a sense of enclosure despite generous glazing.
Furnishings anchor the space with purpose:
Green velvet cushions, terracotta vases, and scalloped bowls introduce tactile variation. Decorative objects remain purposeful rather than excessive.
Color composition shapes the atmosphere. Earthy neutrals establish a calm base, while mustard, teal, and orange accents animate the room. Thoughtful placement of these tones prevents visual heaviness and sustains a timeless character.
Compact Yet Soulful Kitchen and Dining

Kitchen and dining areas maintain the same design language while embracing a more intimate scale.
Proportion encourages closeness, reinforcing the homeโs welcoming nature.
Intimate Scale with Midcentury Character
A relatively small kitchen sits beneath a skylight that channels daylight into the center of the room.
Alligator Alley green cabinetry grounds the space and visually connects interior surfaces with surrounding trees.
Essential features define its personality:
Intimacy does not limit expression. Instead, scale enhances warmth.
Vintage Accents

A Persian rug introduces pattern and softness underfoot. Texture adds depth and breaks up hard surfaces typical of kitchen environments.
Material layering keeps the room approachable rather than austere.
Subtle contrasts create balance:
The dining area continues the narrative through similar tones and materials.
Cohesive Design Language
Green cabinetry and bohemian rugs align with broader color themes present across the residence. Continuity appears through repeated hues and textures rather than identical furnishings.
Consistency becomes visible in several ways:
Harmony develops gradually as one moves through the house, maintaining variety without disrupting flow.
Color Palette and Textural Harmony

Color and texture shape emotional tone across the entire residence.
Wood tones form the foundation of the interior scheme, grounding each room in warmth.
Neutral backdrops allow greens, reds, and burnt oranges to introduce energy.
Palette choices connect interior surfaces with surrounding greenery and California light.
Material contrast strengthens visual interest. Natural wood appears alongside glass, metal, and woven textiles.
Hard and soft surfaces interact fluidly, balancing modern precision with tactile warmth.
Personal Elements that Ground the Design
Personal objects transform architecture into a lived-in home. Vintage lamps, pottery, and distinctive accessories appear throughout, adding character and depth.
Creative life finds space within each room. Music equipment, books, and artwork encourage expression and gathering.
Seating arrangements invite conversation, reading, and reflection.
Abundant natural light and direct access to outdoor areas reinforce a relaxed Los Angeles lifestyle.
Layout and glazing keep greenery in view at nearly every turn, sustaining a calm atmosphere that defines the entire residence.
The Bottom Line
@archdigest Whether or not #DakotaJohnson โฌ original sound – Architectural Digest
Dakota Johnsonโs Hollywood Hills home balances midcentury modern heritage with warmth and personal comfort.
Carl Mastonโs 1947 architecture remains intact, while thoughtful interior curation introduces softness, texture, and individuality.
Historic structure and lived-in ease coexist gracefully, shaping a retreat that feels stylish, intimate, and fully personal.














