Andrea Michaelson, an interior designer based in Los Angeles, has completed the renovation of a distinctive new home in Venice, marking a significant lifestyle change after years spent in Beverly Hills. The project, which concluded in August 2025, involved gutting and rebuilding a 1970s house on a double lot adjacent to a canal, transforming it into a 2,689-square-foot residence featuring a striking copper exterior.
Ms. Michaelson, 67, purchased the property near the end of 2019 for $3 million. The lot’s location—with alley access to a canal bridge and space for a sizable garden—appealed to her desire for a more walkable, beach-adjacent neighborhood after living in the hills for many years. “It feels like you’re in a little oasis,” she said of Venice, which she saw as a better fit following changes in her personal life, including her children moving out and a divorce.
Initially, Ms. Michaelson planned to demolish the existing structure and build a new home, drawing on her architectural background to create a design that complied with local setbacks and height restrictions. However, changing flood zone maps imposed new requirements to elevate the house several feet above ground level. This would have compromised ceiling heights and her vision for seamless indoor-outdoor living. Facing these constraints, she opted to renovate the existing home instead.
The renovation involved stripping the building to its foundation and framing before rebuilding with copper cladding chosen for its aging patina effect. A covered walkway leading to the entrance features cast-iron tiles beneath a corrugated copper roof, supported by antique French cast-iron columns. Weathered wood gates with worn zinc panels—sourced from France—screen the property from the street.
Inside, Ms. Michaelson incorporated materials that evoke a sense of history and character. The ground floor includes tumbled brick flooring installed in a groutless herringbone pattern, a fireplace surrounded by raw concrete, and a steel plate staircase. Repurposed vintage warehouse doors, refurbished to fit the new structure, add to the aged aesthetic. A custom kitchen work table integrates original brass banking hardware with modern functionality, including a brass cooktop and recessed burners, complemented by suspended cookware shelves.
The upper level contains two bedrooms, a family room, and an office. Notably, the primary bedroom features an 18th-century Flemish tapestry alongside vintage and contemporary furnishings. Bathrooms are clad in pinkish Ceppo Rosso marble, sourced from New York Stone.
The project took roughly two years and cost about $2.8 million, including $200,000 spent on the initial, ultimately abandoned design. Despite early setbacks, Ms. Michaelson expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying the home feels “special” and “unique,” reflecting her vision for the next chapter in her life.