After Losing Their Home in the Palisades Fire, Erik and Leanne Ford Experienced a ‘Creative Reset’ in This Venice Retreat

Leanne Ford has spent her career completely transforming older homes alongside her brother Steve on HGTV’s Restored by the Fords and Home Again with the Fords. But after losing her Rustic Canyon home in the Palisades fire last year, she and her husband Erik wanted a home that felt familiar—and didn’t require an intensive remodel.

“At that time, it wasn’t a priority for me to take on a big renovation project in the way that I typically like to do,” Leanne says. “I wanted something that felt ‘done,’ a place where we could step into and simply add our touch to.” 

So, that’s exactly what they did. The couple purchased a four-bedroom Venice property on the iconic Sunset Avenue, the same street Leanne lived on when she and Erik were dating. The number one perk? It wasn’t a fixer-upper.

Photographer © Reid Rolls

Prior to making their purchase, Michael Baker of New MGMT Design & Construction spent three years remodeling the artist studio. Working with such a polished foundation, Leanne honed in on layering in her own personal style. 

Focusing on “refinement rather than reinvention,” she says their process involved choosing natural materials, tonal fabrics, and vintage woods—things that felt grounded, not attention-seeking. Carrying the same principles professed in her book Feel Free Home, those key elements were all about texture, nature, vintage, art, and personality.

Photographer © Reid Rolls

The home’s clean and contemporary architecture encouraged Leanne and Erik to pursue accents with more texture and even some imperfections. A Roman clay finish on the walls added more depth, the hue of the wood in the kitchen and built-ins brought extra warmth, and natural fabrics (think an extra-long bespoke sofa and jute rugs from Leanne’s collection with Loloi) tied it all together. 

Photographer © Reid Rolls

Photographer © Reid Rolls

“We avoided anything too new or ‘perfect’ and focused instead on materials that age well and get better with time,” she says. “All of those layers helped take what could have felt stark and turn it into something calm, cozy, and wonderfully livable.”

The couple’s perfectly imperfect home is an airy retreat that calls for a deep exhale upon entering. Complete with a yoga room and outdoor pool, it’s a true wellness escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Photographer © Reid Rolls

In February, the Fords listed their home for $4.45 million. At the time of publishing, its status was “pending,” according to the Compass website. Leanne adds that it’s also inspired by the interiors of the brick-and-mortars she put together for Buck Mason (the company Erik founded back in 2013) and served as a much-needed “creative reset.”

“It allowed me to slow down during a time of chaos,” she says. “Creatively, I needed to pull inward instead of push outward.”

That’s where the newly reimagined studio came in, which soon became Leanne’s refuge for ceramics, painting, and more artistic efforts.

Photographer © Reid Rolls

“I really think [it’s] the best part of the house,” she says. “It makes the home especially perfect for someone who wants to feel free and create however they’re drawn to that day. Having that kind of open creative space in a city, especially in a beach town, is such a luxury. And to have it separate, carved out as its own space within your home, is incredibly special.”

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