When Sarah and Stephen Whitney moved to Toluca Lake in 2018, they were drawn to the neighborhood by its beauty and strong sense of community. “There is so much incredible charm and rich history here,” Sarah says. Both qualities were epitomized by the home they chose, a single-story 1941 classic cottage on a Clybourn Avenue corner lot with an enchanting entryway and front-yard fountain that immediately set it apart from other houses they’d looked at. Not only was it lovely and a good match for their needs at the time, but they also learned it had a notable past. In the 1940s, the home had belonged to Roy O. Disney — Walt’s older brother, who served as co-founder and first CEO of the Walt Disney Company — his wife, Edna, and their young son, Roy Edward (who grew up to be a longtime Disney Company executive and Toluca Lake homeowner as well). Since Sarah is not only a lifelong fan but also works for the company, the discovery felt like kismet: “We were thrilled to own a small piece of Disney history.”
As they settled into the neighborhood over the next few years, the Whitneys became even more certain they’d found an enduring home. They revel in the area’s walkability — especially after adopting their dog, Sofie — and the vibrant local business community, enjoying cocktails at Forman’s, wine at Spin the Bottle, dinner at Hungry Crowd or Broken Compass Tiki and shopping for treasures at Pergolina. They also love Toluca Lake’s lavish seasonal celebrations, especially the over-the-top Halloween festivities. The couple leaped right into the annual spooky spectacle, even winning best in show in the 2020 Halloween House-Decorating Contest.
By then, Sarah says, “we knew we didn’t ever want to leave.” But, like so many others, their plans were upended by the COVID pandemic. As the Whitneys, both entertainment executives, suddenly found themselves working from home, their space limitations quickly became apparent and vague thoughts of eventual future expansion grew more urgent. “What started as a five- to 10-year plan was quickly accelerated, and we decided that the time was right to begin discussions about what could be possible for the one-story home we had grown to love so dearly,” Sarah explains.
The Whitneys set out on a quest to increase their living space by adding a second story, moving their primary bedroom upstairs, opening up the kitchen to allow for greater flow and creating new areas for working and entertaining. In embarking on this renovation, however, they were clear that they wanted to preserve the house’s architectural integrity and some of its traditional elements, blending them with more modern touches. “Our goal was to breathe new life into this special property and ensure it endures for many years to come,” Sarah says.
To make their vision a reality, the couple selected Kurt Krueger, founder and principal of Krueger Architects, an expert in historically relevant restoration and renovations. With his vision of wrapping the stairwell around the existing living-room fireplace and vaulting the ceiling, he was able to fit the second-story addition within the existing roofline to maintain the home’s classic cottage proportions. “The roofs are already sloped enough and high enough that we didn’t change the elevation — the second story just came out of it in a way, as opposed to adding a new level of height, which actually made the permitting process easier,” Stephen explains.
The Whitneys were fortunate to know a contractor who is also a neighborhood resident, Steve Srour of AJS Construction. “Steve moved mountains to make our home possible, and was truly instrumental in getting us through many hurdles along the way,” Sarah notes. “Kurt’s visionary design, paired with Steve’s execution of the project, allowed for our dream team to be complete.” Sarah’s father even stepped in as project manager to help navigate the complex process, which took about two and a half years from initial concepts through construction. The Whitneys were extremely involved and hands-on with every detail of the renovation, their complementary skills allowing them to work together effectively and equitably. “She’s a visionary and I’m an executer,” Stephen declares. Sarah took the lead on interior design, including sourcing custom tiles for the floors, backsplashes, bathrooms and walk-in pantry, as well as selecting all the hardware and fixtures. Stephen utilized his extensive professional project management and operations experience to communicate their ideas and harness the team’s expertise to implement them.
Even with a clear vision and a talented team, the process was not without its difficulties. “The rain we encountered in 2022 was one of our biggest obstacles — we had many days where no work could be done, and many sleepless nights worrying about our home being exposed to the elements during various stages of construction,” Sarah recalls. All they could do was maintain their focus, meet frequently with their team to identify potential threats to the schedule and brainstorm creative solutions to the many challenges that arose. Sarah says that through it all, perseverance and keeping the finished project in mind were key to their success. “The outcome truly does outweigh the challenges,” she assures. “There were many times throughout construction when we were growing weary and couldn’t wait to be home again. It was worth it.”
After all the time and hard work, the Whitneys are “absolutely in love with this home” and finally savoring the space they poured so much thought and energy into. “It feels like the perfect blend of our styles and fits our functional needs perfectly,” Sarah says. “I love the cohesion between old and new.” Favorite features include the custom pantry, the his-and-hers closets in the primary bedroom, the 20-foot skylight over the staircase and the cozy yet state-of-the-art media room that opens to the backyard patio for indoor–outdoor entertaining. Nods to history abound, from the original octagonal stained-glass window by the front door to the original living-room fireplace chimney resurfaced in brick removed from the home’s exterior. A Mickey Mouse silhouette made by a friend from the house’s original hardwood flooring hangs on the wall near a framed copy of a deed signed by Roy and Edna Disney, and items from Sarah’s collection of vintage Disney memorabilia are scattered throughout the house.
Such details are part of the couple’s larger mission to preserve a sense of continuity in the renovation. “People who had been here before come in now and say, ‘Oh, it’s different, but it feels the same,’” Stephen shares. “That was comforting, because we didn’t want to just build a new house. We wanted to add to what we had, the life that we had, the home that we had.” Above all, the Whitneys are thrilled to have not only preserved the spirit of the property’s past, but also created a space where they can remain in Toluca Lake, “the most spectacular place to live,” for the foreseeable future.
Asked what lessons they learned from their experience and would pass along to fellow residents considering a similar undertaking, Sarah advises, “Surround yourself with the right team of like-minded people ready to get the job done, and do it right. Don’t skimp on the details. Your home is your sanctuary, and we won’t ever regret investing in making this house our long-term home.”