A Designer’s Architecturally Significant Home

Nicholas Bijan Pourfard has had a varied – and somewhat serendipitous – life trajectory, spanning skateboarder, luthier and designer. These days he has made a return to the wide-open spaces that shaped him, calling Escondido, California home. Surrounded by exotic gardens that he tends to daily, Nicholas resides in a space designed by the late modernist architect & industrial designer, Walter S. White. Now in his safe (and highly skilled) hands, he has made thoughtful additions, such as custom furniture & lighting, while slowly, and with great sensitivity restoring the homes original bones to their former glory.

“This house was designed by Walter S White. He was approached in the late 80s as a friend of the owner of the land. White was in the later part of his life and career here.

“I have lived here now for three years and have been in the process of restoring it/updating for the last three years. I am trying my best to ride the line between remodelling, while thoughtfully improving details and aspects of the house. I do not wish to compromise its original identity.”

I am trying my best to ride the line between remodelling, while thoughtfully improving details and aspects of the house. I do not wish to compromise its original identity.

“I love spending time in my bedroom because it seems to be the only place I can actually start thinking of new ideas. I always get struck with my ideas in bed laying down for some reason. I just draw on my phone all night.

“I believe the first item I made and placed in the home was my larger Mushroom Lamp. The funny thing is the lamp has now been changed more than 5 times, due to selling it right off the floor. The most recent thing I have made for the house is my wall clock. I have been really interested in producing time pieces recently.”

“I was a very active skateboarder who was curious with essentially any process of building something. I started teaching myself, via the internet, how to woodwork and began making projects for fun. One day I decided to build a guitar and was put off by the price of lumber at the local stores. My solution was to recycle my old skateboards into a guitar. This way it would not only be free and sustainable, but I would add a value of nostalgia and sentiment to the piece for myself.

“As soon as I finished the guitar, someone asked to buy one. Fast forward, Now I have been featured in largest magazines in the guitar industry and built around 350 guitars shipped around the world.

“Furniture and lighting has always existed as a passion for me and I have made my own designs since I was in college. I think I eventually realised that these concepts were also good, and I needed to focus on showing them to the world. Some of my best selling designs existed for 4 or 5 years before I shared them with anyone.”

Nicholas' dogs Guapo & Thurgood recline on a combination of our Dove Grey Sheet & Duvet Set & Khaki Pillowslip Set.

“I think restoring an architecturally significant home as a designer presents a lot of challenges. I do not want my ideas to overpower the late architect's ideas at all. I also want the house to visually read and feel as my own identity. There are so many things I want to do here, that I feel like I can’t because it changes the feeling too much from the original. That being said, I think that is what being a problem solver and designer is at its core- finding that sweet spot.”

“I love Escondido! I grew up attached to a horse ranch in the middle of strawberry fields, so I think this is one of the last areas of San Diego left that has retained any amount of that rural feeling. I have so much space and yard. I would say if anything has captured most of my time and interest since moving here, it is working on the yard. I spend about 2 hours before and after work every day there.

“I love driving into San Diego to frequent Lang books, a local art and photo book store and eating at my favorite local Laotian restaurant called Mekong Cuisine.”

“Near my house there is a sculpture garden by Niki de Saint Phalle. The last project she ever did. It is larger than life and so beautiful that I can visit it weekly.”

I would say if anything has captured most of my time and interest since moving here, it is working on the yard.

“This year I am excited to get into some more experimental concepts and ideas I have had recently! There are many new processes and materials I am interested in and haven’t had the time to explore them.”