This 1950s Los Angeles House Blends ‘Mad Men’ Style and Modern Functionality

Interior designer Kate Lester embarked on a project to redefine the perception of traditional design within a Cape Cod-style home in Manhattan Beach, CA. The common understanding of traditional interiors often includes heavy floral patterns, antique timepieces, tasseled ottomans, and elaborate window treatments, which can deter individuals from incorporating these elements. Lester's approach demonstrates how traditional components can be integrated into a contemporary setting without creating an outdated aesthetic. The design philosophy centered on using traditional elements in a novel manner, aiming to transform a conventional space into one filled with playful details and personality. Lester's methodology involved introducing comfort and clean lines, often considered divergent from traditional design principles. This was achieved through the careful selection of softer paint colors and comfortable furniture pieces. These modern touches were then contrasted with distinctive wallpaper and unique artwork, creating a balanced and visually interesting environment. The designer's work underscores the idea that "Trad is rad," advocating for a refreshed perspective on traditional decor. The project successfully blends classic architectural styles with modern interior sensibilities, providing a blueprint for homeowners looking to update their traditional residences while maintaining their inherent character. The article highlights specific elements and products that contribute to this updated traditional style. For instance, it features a Campion hanging light fixture from The Urban Electric Co., a Julia Low Profile Three Hole Deck Mounted Lavatory Faucet from Waterworks, and a Stoneware Pitcher w/ Rattan Handle from Kate Lester's own collection. Other items include Fig Leaves I artwork from Juniper Print Shop and a Marigold Metal Candle Holder, also from Kate Lester Home. These selections collectively demonstrate how individual pieces can contribute to a cohesive design that feels both classic and contemporary. The integration of such items showcases a thoughtful curation process, where each object plays a role in enhancing the overall aesthetic and functional appeal of the home. Through this project, Lester illustrates how a traditional home can be transformed into a comfortable, stylish, and personal space. The emphasis is on reimagining traditional aesthetics rather than abandoning them, proving that classic styles can indeed evolve to meet modern tastes and preferences. The design effectively challenges conventional notions of traditional decor, offering a fresh and inviting interpretation that appeals to a contemporary audience while respecting the architectural heritage of the home. This blend of old and new creates an environment that is both familiar and surprising, inviting residents to experience traditional design in an entirely new light. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #ManhattanBeach #KateLesterInteriors #TraditionalModern #CapeCodStyle #HomeRenovation #InteriorStyling

Los Angeles is experiencing a vibrant surge in its home design retail landscape, with numerous new shops and pop-ups offering a diverse array of styles and unique finds. These establishments cater to a wide range of tastes, from minimalist modern and industrial chic to coastal elegance and vintage aesthetics, attracting both celebrity clientele and design enthusiasts. Cassina, an Italian furniture manufacturer, has opened its largest store to date in Los Angeles. This three-level space, designed by art director Patricia Urquiola, showcases modular works by Virgil Abloh and features its iMastri Collection, which includes timeless pieces resulting from collaborations with significant architects and designers such as Charlotte Perriand and Gaetano Pesce. The showroom is located at 145 N. Robertson Blvd. Olive Ateliers, a shop that has gained popularity through TikTok and Instagram, has become a favorite for home accessories, even attracting celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Elsa Hosk. Co-founded by Kendall Knox, Ben Knox, and Laura Sotelo, Olive Ateliers specializes in “objects with old souls,” such as worn Turkish vases and vintage Chinese elm benches. The store is situated at 1210 Mateo St. Inner Gardens, a long-established garden emporium known for landscape designer Stephen Block’s global finds and reproduction pots, has relocated to a former bank building in Culver City. The store's unique and serendipitous inventory appeals to high-profile clients including Spago, Soho House, Kelly Wearstler, Elton John, and Ellen Pompeo. Its new address is 4444 Sepulveda Blvd. Habitat Home & Garden, a family business with its third outpost in Malibu, emphasizes unique furnishings and one-of-a-kind designs that reflect the laid-back luxury of coastal California. The store, which includes rustic wood furniture, vintage rugs, and sun-bleached accessories, counts the Duke and Duchess of Sussex among its customers. It is located at 21249 Pacific Coast Highway. LDV, an establishment co-founded by Guido Callarelli and Birta Ólafsdóttir, now has a pop-up store near the West Hollywood Design District, allowing in-person viewing of its impeccably restored Art Deco and 1970s-era furniture. Previously, its inventory was available exclusively through an invite-only online platform. The pop-up is at 156 S. Robertson Blvd. Pop-Up Home, a furniture shop previously known for its roving nature, has found a permanent location in Melrose Hill. Founder Tricia Benitez Beanum curates a diverse collection that includes sculptural vintage furniture, 1970s studio pottery, and contemporary art from UNREPD, a gallery co-founded by Beanum that focuses on emerging artists. The store is located at 642 N. Western Ave. NB Shop, run by interior designer Natasha Baradaran, offers an experiential retail space that reflects her tactile approach to home and life, appealing to clients such as Heather and Christopher McQuarrie, Luis Miguel, and Kate Hudson. The shop, located at 725 N. La Cienega Blvd., features her Persian Garden textile collection, inspired by her Iranian heritage. The Expert, a design consultation platform co-founded by John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's interior designer Jake Arnold, has expanded with an e-commerce arm, Showroom, and a by-appointment warehouse in West Adams. The Showroom offers vintage pieces alongside Arnold's made-to-order furniture line. Appointments can be made via email. Flora Grubb Gardens, a well-regarded San Francisco garden shop known for its focus on sustainability and drought-tolerant plants, has opened a new location in Los Angeles, taking over the Marina Del Rey Garden Center at 13198 Mindanao Way. The Future Perfect, led by David Alhadeff, continues to elevate the concept of blending residence and retail with its fourth Los Angeles iteration. Now housed in a historic Beaux-Arts neoclassical home, newly landscaped by Art Luna, the space offers collectible contemporary design by appointment. House of Leon and Tappan Collective, run by siblings Jordan, Steven, and Chelse Neman Nassib, occupy adjacent shops on Melrose Avenue. House of Leon provides stylish and accessible furniture, while Tappan Collective showcases art from emerging talent, demonstrating how to integrate furniture and art seamlessly into residential spaces. They are located at 8200 Melrose Ave. Kalon Studios, known for its minimalist wood furniture favored by Kylie Jenner and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, has opened its first space at 3559½ Casitas Ave., Atwater Village, featuring a landscaped roof deck designed by Teremoto. Pierce & Ward, the interior design duo behind homes for celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Dakota Johnson, has opened their first shop at 1956 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, featuring their maximalist aesthetic softened by sage green walls. Maquette, a collective formed by interior designers Caitlin Scanlon, Abby Wolf-Weiss, and Julie Goldman, has transformed a bungalow into a retail and co-working space. Located at 507 N. Larchmont Blvd., the shop attracts clients like UTA’s Blair Kohan and CAA’s Risa Gertner. Cooper Reynolds Gross has partnered with Fred Segal to launch his first commercial furniture collection, “Feels Right, Feels Good,” at Fred Segal on 8500 Sunset Boulevard. Coup D’Etat, a San Francisco-based gallery, is opening a new location on Robertson Boulevard. It will offer high-end furniture, exclusive artist collaborations, curated vintage pieces, and a dynamic visual program, attracting renowned designers. Gilded Owl, a decorative arts gallery from Hudson Valley, has established a presence on Beverly Boulevard at 7282 Beverly Blvd., showcasing mid-century Italian furniture and collaborations like “The Pool Table Series,” appealing to patrons such as Kirsten Dunst. Seventh House LA, located at 7001 Melrose Ave. in a building designed by Frank Gehry, presents a collection of early 20th-century Art Deco, postmodern, and contemporary art furniture. Albertz Benda | Friedman Benda, a New York gallery, has an L.A. outpost at 8260 Marmont Lane, aiming to broaden the concept of art and design by incorporating craft, architecture, and technology. This addition is significant for the L.A. design scene, as noted by interior designer Oliver M. Furth. Studio Balestra, Adriano Balestra’s shop at 767 N. La Cienega Blvd., blends his Italian heritage with Japanese antiquities to create a unique wabi-sabi aesthetic. This compilation provides an overview of the burgeoning home design scene in Los Angeles, highlighting various styles, celebrity endorsements, and key figures driving the industry. #LosAngeles #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #LuxuryFurniture #VintageDecor #Lifestyle #Retail #ArtAndDesign #CelebrityStyle

The article details the renovation of a 1975 home in the Santa Barbara hills by furniture designer Glenn Lawson and his husband, Nima Dabestani. The couple, known for their aligned personal and design philosophies, sought to honor the home's original 1970s aesthetic. Lawson, co-founder of Lawson-Fenning, an L.A. home goods company, describes himself as a purist rooted in Southern California architecture and design history. Their decision to purchase a second home in Santa Barbara was driven by a desire to have its interiors reflect its vintage, specifically aiming for a 1975 feel for the three-floor, 2,200-square-foot redwood post-and-beam house overlooking the Santa Ynez mountains. Initially planning minor updates, the couple expanded their vision to a full renovation as they spent more time in the property. They enlisted their long-time friend, Christos Prevezanos of Studio Preveza, for the project, valuing his familiarity with their style and his future role as a guest in the home. Prevezanos, known for pushing Lawson's typically neutral palette, introduced blues, oranges, and ochers, resulting in a more vibrant interior than Lawson usually prefers. Key changes included transforming a second-floor bedroom into an expansive 1,100-square-foot open-plan lounge, dining space, and kitchen. This decision reflected the 1970s shift away from formal living rooms towards more practical and open layouts, especially in California. Floor-to-ceiling windows in this area provide panoramic views, creating a dynamic backdrop for the interior. Lawson designed a custom L-shaped white wool bouclé sectional, complemented by a vintage '70s Dutch tile-top coffee table and a cubic lava rock side table, emphasizing durable, non-precious surfaces. The kitchen features a durable Caesarstone countertop and oak push cabinets. The adjoining dining area, also paneled in oak, is brightened by art pieces, including a chromogenic photograph by David Benjamin Sherry and a figurative painting by J. Carino. The oak, sourced from Lawson's native Wisconsin, connects to a vintage Danish dining table. A notable design element is the upholstered window seat, perfect for comfortable lounging post-dinner. Upstairs, the former living room became a primary bedroom with an Akari pendant lamp, a wooden Lawson-Fenning Chilsehurst bed, and Ceramicah lamps. An exterior wall was extended to create a light-filled bathroom lined with sand-hued Clé tiles and an Allied Maker fixture. The lowest level is dedicated to guest accommodation, inspired by Prevezanos's childhood experiences in 1970s and '80s New Jersey homes. The two guest bedrooms feature cobalt blue wool wall-to-wall carpeting, stained oak paneling, and retro plaid curtains, with visual references including 'E.T.', 'Poltergeist', 'Big', and 'The Smurfs'. The wall-to-wall carpeting, initially a new experience for Lawson, ultimately contributed to the desired 70s ambiance, adding depth and comfort. The entire renovation was a conscious effort to restore the home's original character and do justice to its heritage. #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #MidCenturyModern #SantaBarbaraHomes #GlennLawson #LawsonFenning #ChristosPrevezanos #SeventiesStyle #CaliforniaDesign

Amanda Leigh and Taylor Hahn of House of Rolison have introduced their latest renovated property to the market, a Beverly Hills Post Office neighborhood residence priced just under $6 million. This follows their successful revamping of two other notable homes late last year: a Spanish-Mediterranean property in Coldwater Canyon, currently listed at $4 million, and a 1930s Hollywood Hills house that was quickly acquired by Sabrina Carpenter for approximately $4.4 million. The current listing is a transitional, character-filled residence that exemplifies the design/build duo’s innovative approach, featuring a new dark gray facade and several hidden doorways. Originally constructed in the early 1950s, the property was acquired by the design team seven months prior for $3.2 million. The meticulously re-imagined showpiece now comprises a main house spanning over 3,800 square feet across multiple levels, offering four bedrooms and five bathrooms. The interior design emphasizes creamy tones complemented by hardwood floors, wood-paneled accent walls, elevated ceilings, and custom designer lighting throughout. Additionally, there is a detached two-car garage with a guesthouse above it, which includes one bedroom, one bathroom, a living/dining area, a kitchenette, and a private balcony. Key features on the main level include an open-concept great room that seamlessly integrates a formal dining area with a living room. The living room is distinguished by a red brick fireplace and a vaulted wood-beam ceiling with a skylight. An adjacent family room, featuring French doors that open to an outdoor entertaining terrace, connects to a marble-clad kitchen. This kitchen is equipped with bespoke cabinetry, an eat-in island furnished with carved wood stools, high-end stainless steel appliances, and an adjoining breakfast nook. The upper level houses a luxurious master suite, which includes a fireplace, a private balcony, and two showroom-style closets. The en-suite bathroom is designed as a spa-like retreat, offering dual vanities, an oval soaking tub set within a marble platform, and a spacious two-person shower. The residence also features a lower-level entertainment area and a wine cellar. Outdoors, the nearly quarter-acre grounds are landscaped with a built-in barbecue area and an irregularly shaped swimming pool, providing expansive views of the city lights and surrounding canyons. Claire O’Connor and Sam O’Connor of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties share the listing. #BeverlyHills #LuxuryRealEstate #HomeRenovation #HouseOfRolison #ModernDesign #CaliforniaHomes #InteriorDesign #RealEstateMarket