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Most people walk into a house with a mental list of what to fix. Meghan Eisenberg walked into Treehaven with curiosity and an appreciation for what was already there. It wasn’t the kind of place begging for a gut renovation or a fresh coat of white paint. Layered, stubborn, and full of memory, this 1915 Craftsman hides behind towering cedar, elm, eucalyptus, and palm trees in Mount Washington – some over a hundred years old.
Treehaven is the kind of home that holds history in its bones. A modest cottage was first built on the property in 1908, then expanded into the main residence in 1915 – a carefully crafted example of early California residential architecture. Inside, so much of that original vision remains: leaded glass cabinetry, hand-built woodwork, the same hardwood floors that have been walked across for over a century.
Haris Kenjar
In 1988, the house was officially recognized as a Los Angeles Cultural-Historic Monument and placed within the Highland Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone – a quiet acknowledgment of its place in the city’s architectural story.
Raised in Los Angeles by an interior designer mom and the granddaughter of an architect, Meghan learned early on that sometimes the smartest design move is knowing when to step back and honor a home’s original architecture. Her approach is deeply personal. She lives in the mid-century house her grandfather built in 1950, a project she lovingly restored with her family.
This connection to her own design lineage gives her work a grounded authenticity – a respect for legacy paired with a clear vision for today’s living. With a background in Fine Arts and Art History, she brings a keen eye for detail, pattern, and storytelling to every project, always aiming to create spaces that feel both timeless and uniquely lived-in.
Haris Kenjar
The clients, Heather Sperling and John Chaffetz, weren’t looking to erase that character either. Heather, a chef and owner of a restaurant, and John, a hotelier, found the house in early 2020, just days before the pandemic, and immediately felt its potential – not in spite of its worn edges, but because of them.
They spent the first year living in the original back cottage while slowly restoring the main house. When Eisenberg stepped in, it wasn’t to reimagine the house – it was to help it grow into itself, and into the rhythm of the family living there.
We asked Meghan Eisenberg to share the moments that shaped this project and her unique approach to design.
Haris Kenjar
What was the “aha” moment in this project?
Enclosing the covered porch was the biggest AHA moment for us. The clients are big entertainers and often host large dinner parties. The original footprint of the dining room is period appropriate yet small for modern day living. Through reviewing archival imagery we discovered that the large porch was once enclosed. This sparked the idea to rebuild the enclosure, creating an additional lounge area and the flexibility to open up the dining room to accommodate for up to 18 guests.
Haris Kenjar
What was an unexpected favorite detail for the client?
The client was hesitant to put wallpaper on the dining room ceiling but it made the space and they ended up loving it.
Haris Kenjar
One splurge that was worth it and one secret save?
We splurged on a 1920’s persian sultanabad rug for the living room. We always tell clients that antique rugs are a worthy investment as they are something you can keep forever, even pass down to your children. A family heirloom of sorts.
Heather's grandmother was a talented still life painter. We placed her pieces throughout the home. Being able to use Marie Anna's paintings saved us from having to purchase artwork and more importantly, it was very meaningful to the family.
Haris Kenjar
The detail most people miss, but you’re proud of?
It's not really a detail but it was a challenge to bring lightness and levity to a dark craftsman house without the interiors feeling out of place. I am proud of the balance we achieved, bringing a sense of playfulness while still speaking to the depths and history of the original finishes.
Haris Kenjar
If this space had a theme song, what would it be?
Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Such a cozy, love filled family home.
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