ABOUT THE PROJECT

Located in the upscale Los Angeles community of Westchester, this 5000 s.f. red shingle house was purchased by a family with two young children right at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. With a plan to renovate the house gradually rather than undertaking an entire home renovation, the owners hired Danielle to remodel the kitchen and decorate the adjacent family room. The clients wanted a home that would welcome friends and family while accommodating their two young boys. They gravitated towards “Santa Barbara” design, a style derived from Mediterranean and Spanish Revival architecture that is defined by deep jewel tones, exposed beam ceilings and polished wood textures contrasted with white stucco walls.

The first order of business was to “undo” the home’s dated design: built in the early 2000s, it needed to be modernized. The kitchen was completely gutted and the fireplace in the family room was redone. Curvaceous details and rich, dark tones were selected to give the home a warmer and more contemporary colonial Santa Barbara vibe.

Danielle removed the kitchen’s original island, replacing it with a larger one. She used Moroccan tiles for the backsplash and hand-painted marble tiles by Stone Impressions behind the range to create a splash of fun. She installed a Venetian plaster hood with a rustic texture, tying it into the family room by using the same material around the fireplace. For the custom inset face frame cabinets, she chose a mushroom-colored paint with taupe-gray undertones instead of plain white for a richer look. She specified Quartzite for the countertops because of its sophisticated look as well as its durability, and Circa Lighting pendants to make a strong statement, offset by similar but more traditional wall sconces.

The adjacent family room was designed to function as a large, multi-use lounge area, suitable for both adults and kids. Daniele designed a sitting area for the children to enjoy on one side, and a space with a conveniently-located bar for entertaining adult friends on the other. The new fireplace wall was designed to be roomier, with enough space to insert a large television screen to be enjoyed by everyone. Arches were added to match the ones in the kitchen, a decorative feature that helped evoke a Spanish feel. Vintage rugs, chosen for their durability, and a custom sectional that was as functional and durable as it was beautiful, finished off the space.

Before…