A family trades Silver Lake for a nature-embracing Idyllwild home

The Donovan family left Silver Lake for Idyllwild after visiting a for-sale home on a lark. The property’s two structures date to the early 1920s. Catherine with Bon, age 4, and Michael with Tate, 7. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

July 18, 2018 11:59 AM PT

The 2-acre Idyllwild property had been extensively rehabbed by a previous owner. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The main residence. There is also a habitable garage/carriage house on the property, as well as a 1955 Trail Chief trailer. The latter two are available as Airbnb rentals. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

A Hans Wegner rocker finds a cozy home in front of a granite-covered fireplace. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

A previous owner conjoined the main house’s three levels, from basement to attic with a spiral staircase, seen here to the left. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Pine log accents were added by a previous owner. The rustic Idyllwild home provides a complementarly showcase for the Donovans’ prized secondhand finds. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Tate Donovan relaxes in the living room. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The Donovans were drawn to Idyllwild’s outdoors, and their home brings the outdoors indoors. Catherine Donovan jokes that before, “We were ranch people living in Silver Lake.” (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Catherine Donovan sifts through the family record collection. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Eames molded-fiberglass chairs occupy the dining area. The butcher-block counter in the background came from artist Pauline Annon’s former home in Silver Lake. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)