This L.A. Apartment Is a Vintage Wonderland of Circus Stripes and Chrome, Plus Three Bunnies

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

This article highlights the Harlem townhouse at 1989 Madison Avenue, formerly owned by Nina Persson, lead singer of The Cardigans, and her husband, Nathan Larson. They purchased the six-bedroom, four-bath home in 2007 and resided there until 2015 before moving to Malmö, Sweden. The Cardigans' hit song "Lovefool" is noted for its enduring popularity, appearing in various films and TV shows. Known as The Harlem House, the brownstone has been meticulously updated and renovated, now functioning as a rental configured into two family units. It boasts over 4,200 square feet of interior space and an additional 700 square feet of private outdoor space. The five-level home's current layout is detailed across its various floors. The garden level features a modern open-plan kitchen and dining area, a rear bedroom, and a flagstone-paved enclosed back garden. The parlor level houses a large living room at the front and a primary bedroom suite with a private terrace at the rear. The third floor includes another bedroom and a spacious open-plan great room with dining, lounging areas, and a contemporary kitchen. The top floor offers a second primary suite, a smaller bedroom, and a media room. The basement provides a fitness area, laundry facilities, and three storage units. A notable characteristic of this townhouse, contrasting with many New York City townhomes, is its abundance of natural light, facilitated by oversized windows that illuminate the central spaces. Architectural and design elements throughout the home include three fireplaces with distinctive mantels, both exposed and painted brick walls, high ceilings, intricate moldings, extensive built-in storage, wide doorways, solid wood doors, custom kitchen cabinetry with opaque glass, and hardwood floors, some featuring an attractive herringbone pattern. The bathrooms are designed with style, incorporating clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, wainscoting, subway tiles, black-and-white tile floors, and exposed radiators. Unit 1 is a two-bedroom, two-bath duplex, easily convertible into a three-bedroom layout, with access to the basement and two private outdoor spaces. Its new kitchen is equipped with marble countertops, an island, and top-of-the-line appliances. Unit 2, accessible via its own private stoop entrance and a restored original staircase, offers three or potentially four bedrooms, an oversized primary en-suite, a washer/dryer, and a similarly renovated kitchen featuring an island, marble countertops, and premium appliances. The surrounding Harlem neighborhood has experienced significant development, now offering numerous restaurants and retail options, including a Whole Foods and a new Trader Joe’s. The home's location is convenient, being close to the 125th Street shopping corridor and equidistant from Marcus Garvey Park and Harlem River Park. Cultural attractions in the vicinity include the Apollo Theater and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. #HarlemTownhouse #LuxuryRental #HomeRenovation #HistoricHome #HarlemRealEstate #NinaPerssonHome #ArchitecturalDetails #NYCRealEstate #TownhouseLiving

The article showcases three distinct home renovation projects in the DC area that integrate aging-in-place features with stylish design, demonstrating that accessibility can be both practical and aesthetically pleasing. These projects challenge the traditional notion that aging-in-place updates must be clinical or compromise on flair. The first featured home is a 1958 midcentury-modern house in Chevy Chase, which underwent a comprehensive interior overhaul led by TeassWarren Architects. The primary goal was to make the house more easily navigable for its owners as they age. This involved creating a spacious primary suite on the main level, widening hallways, and redesigning the primary bathroom. The bathroom now boasts a zero-threshold shower, allowing for wheelchair access, and is accented with blue subway tiles that extend behind a wood double vanity, reflecting the home's midcentury aesthetic. This design choice ensures that the accessible features blend seamlessly with the overall modern design, avoiding a sterile, institutional feel. Additional modifications include an ADA-compliant toilet and a smart shower system controllable via an app. The architect emphasizes that simple, anticipatory measures like installing lever handles and wood blocking for future grab bars can be implemented with minimal cost and effort, highlighting that universal design elements can be easily incorporated into any home renovation. The second project focuses on a traditional-style house in Northwest DC's Kent neighborhood, where the homeowners embraced a vibrant and whimsical approach to their aging-in-place renovations. Due to the husband's balance issues, an elevator became a necessity to ensure safe movement between floors and for transporting groceries and luggage. InSite Builders & Remodeling designed a two-story expansion at the back of the house to accommodate the elevator shaft, which needed to be at least 30 feet tall. This addition also created a new entrance hall for the existing upstairs suite and a main-level office. Interior designer Adele McDonald infused the new office with character, using cranberry-hued furniture and bold red walls. The walnut desk in the office is designed to allow for eventual wheelchair access. The elevator itself features a playful touch with Spoonflower wallpaper adorned with colorful dog illustrations, transforming a functional space into an engaging and cheerful experience. The third example details the transformation of a Bethesda property. An older couple, deeply attached to their neighborhood, faced challenges with their previous 1960s center-hall Colonial, which had a dramatic hillside grade, a steep driveway that became dangerous in winter, and multiple steps both inside and outside, along with a second-floor primary bedroom. Instead of moving, they opted to raze the old structure and build a new contemporary-style home tailored to their evolving needs and tastes. Kube Architecture, led by principal Janet Bloomberg, designed a streamlined residence featuring an open floor plan and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, particularly on the rear facade. This modern design not only aligns with contemporary aesthetics but also enhances accessibility and provides peace of mind through clear sightlines throughout the home. Physical adjustments included regrading the property around the garage, entryway, and backyard, and widening all interior pathways. The design also incorporated framing for a future elevator and integrated automation systems for controlling temperature, stereo, shades, and lights. Crucially, the owners' suite was placed on the main level, reserving the second floor for guests, ensuring long-term comfort and convenience. #AgingInPlace #AccessibleDesign #HomeRenovation #MidcenturyModern #ContemporaryHome #UniversalDesign #DCRealEstate #InteriorDesign #HomeAutomation

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

A luxury oceanfront condo in Miami has incorporated a unique design feature: an 800-pound, $1.5 million black Pagani Zonda R racecar installed directly inside the living space. This unprecedented installation serves as a central design element and room divider within the 4,232-square-foot open-concept residence. The homeowner, a car enthusiast, sought an original design statement that would distinguish his $8 million condo, which offers uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean. The project was undertaken by Artefacto, a Miami-based design firm, which collaborated with Finish My Condo (FMC), a contractor specializing in complex installations. The Pagani Zonda R was not part of the client's existing collection but was custom-made by Horacio Pagani, the Italian brand's founder. Only 15 examples of this particular model exist, adding to its exclusivity and the project's significance. The core idea was to treat the supercar as a piece of art, integrating it seamlessly into the living environment. Overcoming significant logistical and engineering challenges was central to the project's success. The first hurdle involved obtaining necessary permits and determining the feasibility of suspending the Pagani vertically. The engine was removed from the Zonda R to reduce its weight to 800 pounds, making the installation possible. Close coordination between local engineers, Pagani's Italian engineers, and building department experts was essential due to the lack of precedent for such a project in the United States. A custom aluminum and carbon fiber stand was engineered to support the car's weight, securely bolted to both the ceiling and floor of the unit. This solution required extensive structural calculations and rigorous x-ray inspections to ensure accurate placement and compliance with various city, county, and building codes. The design of the stand itself was critical; it needed to be robust enough for safety yet aesthetically subtle to avoid detracting from the car's beauty, adhering to strict Italian design principles. The installation process was meticulously planned and executed. It involved navigating a substantial amount of paperwork to gain approval for a task that had never been performed before in the country. The physical movement of the car into the condo unit was equally challenging, requiring a team of 25 people from Pagani, Artefacto Home Staging, and FMC Construction. The Zonda R was carefully wrapped for protection, then lifted approximately 90 feet to the condo's balcony. The final installation inside the unit took three full days to complete, requiring precise coordination to avoid damaging the carbon fiber exterior. Paulo Bacchi, founder of Artefacto, describes the Pagani Zonda R as the primary design focus and inspiration for the residence, emphasizing that the entire floor plan and living experience revolve around it. The supercar creates a dominant presence, reflecting the owner's appreciation for excellence, motion, and fluidity, with Artefacto furnishings chosen to complement this spirit. The installation transformed the car into a high-octane room divider and a captivating piece of art, showcasing a fusion of automotive passion and luxury interior design. #MiamiCondo #PaganiZondaR #SupercarDesign #LuxuryRealEstate #InteriorDesign #ArchitecturalInnovation #HomeDecor #AutomotiveArt