Artist Antonio Adriano Puleo has completed an ambitious $320,419 renovation of his Glassell Park bungalow, transforming a modest two-bedroom home into a vibrant artistic haven complete with a bright yellow facade and a custom accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Working with architectural designer Ben Warwas of Byben, Puleo reimagined the 2010-purchased property to maximize space and create a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.
"I'm a working artist, so the mere act of owning or buying a house was a bit of a feat," Puleo explains. "I didn't envision changing it per se, but I knew there was potential for growth." After years of renting in northeast Los Angeles and being outbid on several properties, Puleo toured the Glassell Park bungalow on the same day it was listed, drawn to its affordability, two-car garage suitable for studio conversion, and hillside location with views of the San Gabriel and Verdugo Mountains.
The renovation project, dubbed "The Fold" for its paper-like folded facade, began with basic updates to the kitchen and bathroom, plus the conversion of the freestanding garage into an airy art studio. When Puleo decided to expand further, he reconnected with Warwas, a friend from their undergraduate days at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, who had previously designed and built a multilevel wooden deck in the oddly shaped rear yard using his experience building skateboard ramps.
"The priority for me was maximizing what was available and reconfiguring it in a way that was cleaner and more efficient," Puleo says. "Ben understands space and is great with materials." Warwas immediately saw opportunities to improve the property's functionality, noting the underutilized space in the living room and the awkward circulation patterns throughout the small home.
The comprehensive renovation included removing a large fireplace to extend the living room rearward, improving backyard access, adding a second kitchen door, and creating a cozy sleeping loft beneath a raised roof. The most dramatic change came from raising the living room ceiling and defining it with a sculptural curve – one of Warwas's signature design elements. "The ceiling just brought the whole project together, because it resulted in a whole new facade in the back," Warwas explains.
The project's scope expanded to include a full ADU conversion of the existing garage and laundry room structure, complete with bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and workspace. The addition connects seamlessly to the rear deck, creating what Warwas describes as "an indoor/outdoor flow that makes the space feel bigger." The ADU kitchen features high ceilings, a skylight, and large square windows that flood the space with natural light.
Cost-conscious throughout the process, both Puleo and Warwas found creative ways to optimize savings. The detailed budget breakdown shows major expenses including $52,360 for structural work, $44,725 for wall finishes, $38,372 for roofing, and $32,532 for design fees. Warwas estimates he saved $20,000 to $30,000 by positioning the large living room slider without requiring a moment frame and suggesting less expensive ceramic tile for the studio shower instead of the originally requested cement tile.
Puleo contributed significantly to cost savings by creating many textiles himself and designing custom furniture pieces, including a console table made from zebrawood that once served as the removed fireplace's mantel. His friend James Melinat of Reigns Studio, a skilled finish carpenter and furniture maker, built the custom pieces along with all millwork and cabinetry. "There are a lot of unique handmade pieces in the house," Puleo notes. "I'm very fortunate to have very talented friends. I buy some pieces, trade for others."
The transformation extends beyond mere renovation to include artistic curation. One bedroom now serves as the Fold Gallery, where Puleo displayed models and drawings of Warwas's work as the inaugural exhibition for his "Essays on Abstraction" series. The living room showcases canvases by Steven Criqui and Puleo himself, while ceramic pendants by Courtney Duncan and dining area fixtures by Torbjörn Vejvi add artistic flair throughout.
The project's unified aesthetic comes from the Dunn-Edwards Biscotti paint color that ties together both the main house and the ADU/studio structure. "It's one of my favorite colors, and Antonio chose it," Warwas says. "We didn't even have a discussion about it – it's like we were psychically linked." The color choice exemplifies the collaborative spirit that defined the entire renovation.
Despite the project's evolution from a simple studio expansion to a comprehensive renovation with a $320,419 price tag, Puleo expresses no regrets about the expanded scope. "Once you crack open the egg, you see what's inside and what's possible. And suddenly, you're attached to all these concepts," he reflects. The result is a cohesive artistic environment that serves both as a living space and a creative sanctuary, proving that thoughtful design can maximize potential even in modest spaces.
