Houzz Pro Spotlight: 3 Approaches for Giving a Unique Look to Your Home

• Ronnie Gor

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.

Who: Ronnie Gor of Amorphous Studio
Where: Tarzana, California
In her own words: “I love helping people with their choices. It helps me understand them and helps me with the design and execution.”

Ronnie Gor loves designing homes that are modern, beautiful and, above all, functional. “Your home should be unique and also work well for you,” says the owner of Tarzana-based Amorphous Studio.

The path to her passion. Gor turned her degree in architecture and her eye for good design into a career working first on large commercial and institutional projects and then on residential design. Building her own home led Gor to add licensed general contractor to her credentials. She opened her woman-led firm in 2012, with a design-build model that allows her to focus on projects from start to finish. “It’s a quicker process with better quality, and the concept is executed correctly,” Gor says.

Exploring possibilities. Gor, who is LEED-certified, also focuses on sustainability in her designs. “I include features like air tightness, landscaping, water retention and roof gardens,” she says. Gor also champions multifamily affordable housing and ADUs. “You can do so much with ADUs,” she says.

Looking for ways to add unique touches to your own home? Gor shares some tips below.

1. Erase Boundaries

Blur the lines between your indoor and outdoor spaces. “Nature is the goal,” Gor says.

The distinction between interior and exterior space seems to disappear at this Los Angeles home. Oversize doors and windows line most of the two-story main living area, punctuated by white walls that almost disappear from view. The tile flooring and ceiling treatment used in both spaces enhances the nearly seamless transition. “You can see the sky and follow the paths of the sun and moon,” Gor says.

2. Tie Spaces Together

Add design features that encourage a connection to both your primary home and the ADU. “A few impactful changes to the existing home plus a well-thought-out design for an ADU can create wonders,” Gor says.

This Los Angeles-based family asked Gor to add a primary suite addition to the main home and to turn the garage into an ADU for extended family members. The exterior of the addition features a wraparound porch that’s a destination for both structures. “It serves as a social conduit,” Gor says. She gave the ADU a less boxy layout, Craftsman-style details to match the main house and a view of the street from the kitchen window for more interaction with the neighborhood. “It feels like a tiny home,” she says.

3. Take a Risk

Explore unexpected design ideas. “I tell homeowners it’s OK to be bold,” Gor says.

She worked with the owners of this 70-year-old ranch home to give it a modern look while adding more space in the main house and a two-story attached ADU. The main living space features a contemporary version of a barrel vault ceiling. “The homeowners are fond of curves,” Gor says. Glass-walled interior rooms enhance the open feel and industrial elements add to the look. The exterior got an updated finish that fits in with the surrounding homes. “I wanted to keep the home balanced and contextual within the neighborhood,” Gor says.