We’d Hit the Golden Buzzer for This America’s Got Talent Producer’s Patio-to-Pool Flow

Sam Donnelly, an executive producer for *America's Got Talent*, embarked on a significant home renovation in Los Angeles to create a more functional and family-friendly living space. After residing in a Spanish-style house in the Laurel Canyon hills, she recognized the impracticality of its landscape for her growing son. In 2019, Donnelly decided to move to a flatter area, settling on a property in Studio City. Her previous experience in the UK and her initial move to LA highlighted the need for a home that better suited her family's lifestyle. The renovation project, overseen by architect Ryan Perella, involved a near-complete rebuild of the existing structure, retaining only three walls. Perella, having worked on Donnelly's previous home, understood her aesthetic and the family's needs. The new design focused on creating an open and connected environment, particularly emphasizing the indoor-outdoor flow. A key feature is an enormous accordion door off the living room, which remains open throughout the day when Donnelly is not traveling for work. This design choice facilitates easy access to the tile-lined swimming pool, allowing her teenage son and his friends to transition effortlessly between the house and the pool. The kitchen was designed around a splurge-worthy French-designed range, which required a two-year waiting period. To complement this central appliance, Perella incorporated simple dolomite countertops along the perimeter and dove gray walls. The kitchen also features a custom white oak and Negresco quartzite island with dainty legs, giving it the appearance of a piece of furniture. Another notable design element is the woven pendant lamp in the living room, a handcrafted piece from Kenya made from recycled plastic fibers. Donnelly's passion for design extends beyond her own home; she has also started a property development and interior design company called Mercantile and Merchant, leading to collaborative and creative decisions with Perella, such as leaving an awkward niche by the fireplace and filling it with firewood. Custom design elements are evident throughout the home. In the powder room, a flying ducks wallpaper inspired a custom-colored sconce from Urban Electric, matching the birds' heads. The primary bathroom features a wall-to-wall wood vanity designed to look like a piece of furniture, with some drawers disguising plumbing. A skylight was incorporated into this room to address privacy concerns due to the proximity of a neighbor's house, offering natural light without compromising seclusion. The outdoor space was also a critical component of the renovation. Donnelly prioritized creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing backyard, moving away from the challenges of her previous home. The yard was lined with gravel and drought-tolerant plants, contributing to a sense of flow and defining different zones, such as the pool area and a firepit zone. Donnelly envisions these outdoor areas as extensions of the indoor living space, with plans for more landscaping to enhance the experience as plants mature. The overall renovation successfully transformed the property into a cohesive and inviting home that reflects Donnelly's style and accommodates her family's active lifestyle. #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #OutdoorLiving #LAHomes #ModernFarmhouse #KitchenDesign #BathroomDesign #CustomCabinetry #ProducerHome #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #OutdoorLiving #LAHomes #ModernFarmhouse #KitchenDesign #BathroomDesign #CustomCabinetry #ProducerHome