Room of the Day: A Perfect Marriage of Styles
Homeowners with differing design tastes turn to their talented interior designer to find a happy balance
This 1920s Spanish-style house in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles had the perfect bones and layout for a young couple and their two kids. They just needed a little guidance on how to make it reflect both of their tastes and support their growing family.
The couple were eager to display some of their books and have them readily available in the living room. Therefore, two wood bookcases anchor both sides of the arched window against the back wall. The height of the bookcases was determined by the height of the sconces. “We didn’t want to cover the lights. They line the entire room at the same level and create a warm glow throughout the space,” Strickland says.
Bookcases: One Kings Lane; end table: Serena & Lily; sconces: Circa Lighting
Bookcases: One Kings Lane; end table: Serena & Lily; sconces: Circa Lighting
The turquoise table lamp from Jayson Home in Chicago was selected for its deep jewel-like tone. “The purple area rug is such a strong focal point of color, it was important to add another powerful color to balance out the space,” Strickland says.
10 Ways to Get Your Lighting Right
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Strickland says that even though the architecture of the living room is Spanish, she didn’t want to limit the design to a specific country. A French-inspired gilt mirror above an English-inspired turned-leg console table helps add international flair.
Sconces: Circa Lighting; ladder-back chair: vintage Gio Ponti; French gilt mirror: Wisteria; statue: Restoration Hardware; console table: Wayfair
More:
Discover how to make the most of a console table
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Sconces: Circa Lighting; ladder-back chair: vintage Gio Ponti; French gilt mirror: Wisteria; statue: Restoration Hardware; console table: Wayfair
More:
Discover how to make the most of a console table
Browse more Rooms of the Day
Who lives here: A young family of 4
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 300 square feet (27.9 square meters)
Designer: Kate Stickland of West Haddon Hall
Designer Kate Strickland says her clients have different tastes: The husband prefers midcentury furniture and rustic materials, and the wife embraces a softer look with more color and texture. “It was my task to marry these two preferences together into one cohesive design,” Strickland says. A good example of this marriage is the purple jewel-toned silk area rug topped by the sleek and sturdy travertine coffee table.
Sectional: custom; coffee table: Spanish travertine, Wisteria; pouf: custom, upholstered in John Robshaw fabric; rug: Turkish, Cisco Home