Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Elegant and Eclectic Femininity
Designers transform an Orange County apartment with customized finds
For a lot of homeowners, it's easy to get lost in the limitations of retail. Starting off, you have the perfect vision of how your home should look, but when you start shopping nothing seems quite right. For Amanda Malson and Jolene Ballard of Domicile Interior Design, this ever-present problem has a remarkably easy solution. While doing the interior for Ballard's apartment, they customized the furniture to get the look they wanted. When they couldn't find what they're looking for on the store floor, they scour flea markets and Craigslist. Their finds are almost always reupholstered, refinished, or repainted.
Malson and Ballard have a look that can only be described as eclectic. Both were hotel designers at a Los Angeles-based hospitality firm, and decided to open Domicile Interior Design after becoming friends. With their impeccable style and smart customizations, they were able to transform Ballard's Orange County apartment from a cookie-cutter '90s abode to a unique and stylish combination of vintage, contemporary and classic designs.
Malson and Ballard have a look that can only be described as eclectic. Both were hotel designers at a Los Angeles-based hospitality firm, and decided to open Domicile Interior Design after becoming friends. With their impeccable style and smart customizations, they were able to transform Ballard's Orange County apartment from a cookie-cutter '90s abode to a unique and stylish combination of vintage, contemporary and classic designs.
Shimmering knickknacks and tchotchkes adding personal flair to the already diversely decorated apartment. The dining table-turned-desk doesn't have drawers, so boxes from IKEA and trays from the flea market act as elegant storage solutions.
A clever little monkey (another fun flea market find) accents a sparkling gold tray, emphasizing the feminine warmth of the room. While Malson and Ballard pride themselves on being able to translate their design into any appropriate look for the clients, this home is a true representation of their style. "Being your own designer allows you to have the freedom to express your own personal design style and tastes," says Malson.
A jaw-dropping piece of vintage wall art found on Craigslist instantly commands attention in the office. The delicate brass construction catches the light — just so — and casts soft shadows on the wall. The quirky tasseled table lamps are restored vintage finds. The console was found at a flea market, and Malson and Ballard topped it with Ballard's own milk glass collection.
The living room is Ballard and Malson's favorite room in the apartment. "It's sort of classic modern meets traditional contemporary," says Malson. The decor was inspired by some of Ballard's mid-century furniture, so they opted for simple, structured furniture, reupholstered in natural linen fabrics. The ottoman was found on Craigslist. They put a cute tray on top and voila! A new coffee table.
Custom coral-colored curtains let warm light filter into the cozy space. "This space definitely leans towards a more feminine approach," says Malson. "The use of soft neutrals blended with turquoise and pinks in the art all work with the soft and muted colors. It has a wonderful feel."
Mid-century chairs found on Craigslist were refinished and reupholstered to match the soft cream of the sofa. A sisal rug grounds the living room with an organic texture and works beautifully with the room's bright and bold accessories.
The table lamps were another miracle Craigslist find, and the side tables were picked up at the flea market and refinished with glass tops and gold paint. "The majority of our furniture is custom made for the room — based on many inspiration images," says Malson. "The rest of the items are lucky finds that we just enhanced to fit with our design."
A framed Latvian textile adds a slightly austere touch to the dining room. A modern CB2 dining table is flanked by chairs from Craigslist, reupholstered in fabric by Maharam.
Gold accents can be found all throughout the room — from the finish on the light fixture, to the accessories on the table, to the stripes in the rug. The subtle golden splashes both complement and warm up the icy blue upholstery on the chairs.
Gold accents can be found all throughout the room — from the finish on the light fixture, to the accessories on the table, to the stripes in the rug. The subtle golden splashes both complement and warm up the icy blue upholstery on the chairs.
While the home is done in a very clear palette — neutral background with bold pops of color — the master bedroom is the one exception. "We wanted the room to feel intimate," says Malson. "So we decided to go with a dark navy blue for all the walls and ceiling. It made the room cozy, as a bedroom should be." Since the walls are such a statement on their own, they opted for simpler bedroom textiles with subtle details. A custom designed linen headboard with nailheads offsets crisp white bedding and white pillows with custom lace accents.
Mirrors from Home Goods reflect light from vintage table lamps around the room, helping the room to feel cozy, rather than stifling. Clean, refinished side tables look crisp and clean against the navy wall.
Vignettes throughout the home make it clear how much Malson and Ballard pay attention to the little things. Each detail helps tie the space together in a completely natural way. For example, the framed antique lace next to the bed echoes the lace pillows on the bedspread, adding something authentic and meaningful to the room.
The apartment is chock full of sweet details that make the difference between a house and a home. A zebra striped copy of I Married Adventure by Osa Johnson is one of those personal touches. Although its a well-known design prop, the author is a native of Malson's Kansas hometown, and she carefully collects photos of the book used in design shoots.
More ideas:
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More ideas:
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Simply Luxurious: Girly Modern Style
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The brilliant ochre desk chair is one of their favorite pieces. Found on Craigslist, they had it reupholstered in a bold golden velvet. The desk is actually an IKEA dining table — a spot of simplicity in the middle of eye-catching decor — and the charming blue linen stool was found at a flea market and reupholstered in fabric from Scalamandre.