Houzz Tour: Spanish Colonial Home Gets a Colorful Makeover
A designer found on Houzz gives a Los Angeles home a cottage feel with lots of colorful patterns and decor
Bryan Anthony
September 30, 2022
Designer Alison Kandler and this homeowner have similar tastes in interior design. “She loves color and pattern as much as I do,” Kandler says. “The more whimsical and fun it is, the more we both are going to like it.” This became evident to the homeowner a few years ago when she was searching Los Angeles-area projects on Houzz and noticed that many of the photos she was saving were projects Kandler had designed. “She immediately reached out to me, and we haven’t looked back since,” the designer says.
After working together on a remodel a few years earlier, the homeowner again reached out to Kandler after buying a Spanish Colonial-style house in Los Angeles that was in the perfect location but was missing the color, pattern and cottage feel she desired. “Working together again was as easy as it gets,” Kandler says. “We have such similar taste that we can almost read each other’s mind.”
After working together on a remodel a few years earlier, the homeowner again reached out to Kandler after buying a Spanish Colonial-style house in Los Angeles that was in the perfect location but was missing the color, pattern and cottage feel she desired. “Working together again was as easy as it gets,” Kandler says. “We have such similar taste that we can almost read each other’s mind.”
Before Photo
“After” photos by Mark Lohman
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A single woman with young grandchildren
Location: Los Angeles
Size: About 2,200 square feet (204 square meters)
Designer: Alison Kandler Interior Design
Before: The former living room, like the rest of the house, had an updated Spanish Colonial style with crisp white walls and dark wood accents. “The interiors just didn’t have the color, pattern and that cottage feel the homeowner craved,” Kandler says.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A single woman with young grandchildren
Location: Los Angeles
Size: About 2,200 square feet (204 square meters)
Designer: Alison Kandler Interior Design
Before: The former living room, like the rest of the house, had an updated Spanish Colonial style with crisp white walls and dark wood accents. “The interiors just didn’t have the color, pattern and that cottage feel the homeowner craved,” Kandler says.
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After: A warmer shade of white for the walls (Whisper by Dunn-Edwards Paints) helps boost the cottage feel. The same paint also covers the former dark wood ceiling beams. In between the beams, Kandler used a citrus green wallpaper to add a whimsical touch that draws the eye upward.
A new flat-screen TV, called The Frame, lies flush against the wall above the original fireplace. “I’ve never been a big fan of placing a TV over the fireplace, but these new Frame ones make it much more appealing,” Kandler says.
New wide-plank white oak floors run throughout the house, replacing the former dark stained wood flooring.
Wallpaper: Fiorentina, Quadrille
A new flat-screen TV, called The Frame, lies flush against the wall above the original fireplace. “I’ve never been a big fan of placing a TV over the fireplace, but these new Frame ones make it much more appealing,” Kandler says.
New wide-plank white oak floors run throughout the house, replacing the former dark stained wood flooring.
Wallpaper: Fiorentina, Quadrille
The living room furniture includes two sofas and a settee that provide a lot of cozy seating options for when the homeowner hosts friends and family. “She often has her grandkids over, so she wanted a comfortable space where they could all spread out,” Kandler says.
The two sofas are covered in off-white slipcovers that can be removed for cleaning. But the rest of the furniture and decor in the room lean into bold colors and patterns. Pink and purple throw pillows on the sofas were selected to complement the colors of the area rug, which is vintage.
Curved shapes are another design feature that the homeowner adores. An ebony-stained wood coffee table and console table behind the sofa have turned legs, and wall sconces near the fireplace have a similar shape.
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The two sofas are covered in off-white slipcovers that can be removed for cleaning. But the rest of the furniture and decor in the room lean into bold colors and patterns. Pink and purple throw pillows on the sofas were selected to complement the colors of the area rug, which is vintage.
Curved shapes are another design feature that the homeowner adores. An ebony-stained wood coffee table and console table behind the sofa have turned legs, and wall sconces near the fireplace have a similar shape.
Shop for living room furniture on Houzz
Kandler added a pair of custom built-in bookcases to frame the large living room window. The backs of the shelves are painted a bold shade of pink. A task-style sconce above creates a warm glow at night.
Pink cabinet paint: Love Letter, Dunn-Edwards Paints
Pink cabinet paint: Love Letter, Dunn-Edwards Paints
The dining room includes a large wood table with legs that Kandler painted periwinkle to complement the color of the Egyptian hand-blown-glass chandelier. “The table felt too dark and heavy for the space, but simply painting the legs a fun color completely changed the look and feel,” she says.
A pair of comfy host chairs covered in a bright floral fabric pairs well with a gallery wall of floral paintings that Kandler bought at local secondhand stores. A new built-in cabinet features the same bold pink shade used in the living room.
Host chair fabric: Tango Reloaded, Chivasso
A pair of comfy host chairs covered in a bright floral fabric pairs well with a gallery wall of floral paintings that Kandler bought at local secondhand stores. A new built-in cabinet features the same bold pink shade used in the living room.
Host chair fabric: Tango Reloaded, Chivasso
The kitchen was completely remodeled and includes all-new appliances, cabinets and countertops. “We discussed either adding an island or leaving space empty for a breakfast table in the center of the room,” Kandler says. “The homeowner was all for the table.”
The glass table provides a light and airy look and pairs well with the accompanying faux-rattan French bistro chairs. “This is the table she uses most eating with her grandkids, so we selected a table and chairs that are easy to clean,” the designer says.
A chandelier above, from MacKenzie-Childs, had been previously purchased by the homeowner.
The glass table provides a light and airy look and pairs well with the accompanying faux-rattan French bistro chairs. “This is the table she uses most eating with her grandkids, so we selected a table and chairs that are easy to clean,” the designer says.
A chandelier above, from MacKenzie-Childs, had been previously purchased by the homeowner.
The aqua blue Lacanche gas range seen here was a must-have for the homeowner and helped set the tone for the kitchen. “After she selected the range, I knew we wanted to go with white countertops and cabinets to help balance out the look,” Kandler says.
The range hood, which is custom, has a scallop detail that the designer has in her own kitchen. The homeowner “saw it in my own home and fell in love with it, so we created something quite similar here.”
Kandler installed a window instead of a backsplash behind the range, something she has done in other projects. She likes how it brings natural light into the cooking area.
The range hood, which is custom, has a scallop detail that the designer has in her own kitchen. The homeowner “saw it in my own home and fell in love with it, so we created something quite similar here.”
Kandler installed a window instead of a backsplash behind the range, something she has done in other projects. She likes how it brings natural light into the cooking area.
The cabinets, which also are custom, are white and have tapered legs that add a furniture-style look. The hardware pulls are black glass and chrome.
The upper cabinets have glass doors, and the backs are painted a bold lime green (Fluorescent Lime by Dunn-Edwards Paints).
Countertop material: engineered quartz, Qortstone
The upper cabinets have glass doors, and the backs are painted a bold lime green (Fluorescent Lime by Dunn-Edwards Paints).
Countertop material: engineered quartz, Qortstone
The homeowner spends much of her time in a small den off the kitchen. There’s a TV (not pictured) across from the teal suede tufted sofa seen here.
The homeowner loves dogs, so Kandler created a gallery wall with vintage dog paintings she purchased from secondhand shops. A coffee table with a fun black-and-white zigzag pattern is another MacKenzie-Childs piece the homeowner had previously purchased.
The homeowner loves dogs, so Kandler created a gallery wall with vintage dog paintings she purchased from secondhand shops. A coffee table with a fun black-and-white zigzag pattern is another MacKenzie-Childs piece the homeowner had previously purchased.
The powder room includes a bold green custom vanity with intricate details and acrylic-and-brass pulls. The countertop and scalloped vessel sink are stone.
Off-white wallpaper features a blue floral motif, and shaded wall sconces have a blue tape detail. “The powder room has no windows, so we wanted to keep it light, bright and fun,” Kandler says.
Vanity paint: Palm Tree, Dunn-Edwards Paints; wallpaper: Persian Garden, Galbraith & Paul
Off-white wallpaper features a blue floral motif, and shaded wall sconces have a blue tape detail. “The powder room has no windows, so we wanted to keep it light, bright and fun,” Kandler says.
Vanity paint: Palm Tree, Dunn-Edwards Paints; wallpaper: Persian Garden, Galbraith & Paul
A custom headboard featuring a print of lemon trees demands attention in the primary bedroom. A light blue wall color plays off the blues of the headboard fabric. Kandler used pink as an accent color via the bedding and the print on custom Roman shades.
Wall paint: Rolling Waves, Dunn-Edwards Paints; headboard fabric: Citrus Garden, Schumacher; window shade fabric: Paniola, Anna Spiro Textiles
Wall paint: Rolling Waves, Dunn-Edwards Paints; headboard fabric: Citrus Garden, Schumacher; window shade fabric: Paniola, Anna Spiro Textiles
The primary bathroom includes a new vanity with a sink and a makeup area. A pair of recessed vanity mirrors and multiple drawers with glass pulls provide a lot of storage.
The walls are clad in a wallpaper that complements the blue walls in the adjacent bedroom and provides a classic look.
Wallpaper: Lattice, Galbraith & Paul
The walls are clad in a wallpaper that complements the blue walls in the adjacent bedroom and provides a classic look.
Wallpaper: Lattice, Galbraith & Paul
Kandler had an arched niche custom-built into the wall next to a freestanding tub. “It has a recessed light that shines down through the glass shelves that creates a warm glow in the evening,” the designer says.
A light fixture above the tub features more of the rounded design details that the homeowner adores.
Light fixture: Stray Dog Designs
A light fixture above the tub features more of the rounded design details that the homeowner adores.
Light fixture: Stray Dog Designs
One of the guest bedrooms features a subtle safari theme with lots of animal-inspired prints and designs, including via bird-shaped table lamps and fabric on the throw pillows.
The walls are a soothing pale yellow, and the headboard is made of dark-stained rattan.
Wall paint: Wax Wing, Dunn-Edwards Paints
The walls are a soothing pale yellow, and the headboard is made of dark-stained rattan.
Wall paint: Wax Wing, Dunn-Edwards Paints
Across from the bed in the same guest bedroom is a wood crib painted a brass shade. The wallpaper is fabric and features a print of various animals in bright, playful colors. A sculptural black wall sconce is made of papier-mâché.
Wallpaper: Clarence House
Wallpaper: Clarence House
The laundry room features a glass-paneled door with a frame painted lime green. “Wherever we could add a touch of color or whimsy to this house, we did,” Kandler says. “It was such a fun project, because wherever you look there’s something that brings a smile to your face.”
Door paint: Fluorescent Lime, Dunn-Edwards Paints
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Door paint: Fluorescent Lime, Dunn-Edwards Paints
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I adore everything about this house!!!
Beautiful choices. I love the antiques, fixtures, and colors. What a wonderful eye! I just wonder if the wooden beams in the living room could have been kept. I find it a shame to paint over natural wood, especially an architectural feature like that.
I love Spanish homes, particularly Spanish Colonial. I would have kept more of the original features like the dark ceiling beams and wood floors. I personally find the colors competing rather than complimenting the home's beautiful architecture. I'm sure the updates makes the owner smile and happy and that is really all that matters. :)