Room of the Day: California Living Room With a Twist of Lemon
The citrus-inspired heart of this home is saturated in lemon yellow and Swedish blue
Jennifer Blaise Kramer
August 24, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Lifestyle Writer + Editor. www.jenniferblaisekramer.com
Houzz Contributor. Lifestyle Writer + Editor. More
About a block from the ocean in Manhattan Beach, California, this cheery yellow living room is home to a prominent regional restaurateur, whose business is fittingly named Lemonade. In an effort to adopt the same citrusy, fresh interior here as in his restaurants, the homeowner enlisted designer Emily Maynard to energize the living room with a lively color palette.
Photos by Manolo Langis
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A restaurateur and his family
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Designer: Emily Maynard of George Interior Design
Keeping a contemporary and beachy vibe, Maynard put together a palette of whites, cool grays, grapefruit pinks, yellows and aquas.
“My client is particularly fond of yellow and had a few outstanding Swedish pieces in his collection,” says Maynard, adding that they had met just as she was getting into Gustavian design, which echoes her client’s aesthetic.
Artwork: Luc Leestemaker
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A restaurateur and his family
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Designer: Emily Maynard of George Interior Design
Keeping a contemporary and beachy vibe, Maynard put together a palette of whites, cool grays, grapefruit pinks, yellows and aquas.
“My client is particularly fond of yellow and had a few outstanding Swedish pieces in his collection,” says Maynard, adding that they had met just as she was getting into Gustavian design, which echoes her client’s aesthetic.
Artwork: Luc Leestemaker
Maynard played with scale in the room from the ceiling to the floor. She used subtler hues up top in paint, wallcoverings and window treatments (white Roman shades with a double row of coordinating inset trims), keeping the space feeling open and airy. Punchier colors, such as the bright yellow rug, are kept low; along with more intricate detailing on pillows, lampshades, wall art and accessories, they add what she calls a sense of intimacy.
Triangle lantern: Julian Chichester; ottoman fabric: Quadrille; rug: Madeline Weinrib
Triangle lantern: Julian Chichester; ottoman fabric: Quadrille; rug: Madeline Weinrib
Maynard clad the stairwell in white shiplap and installed a rope banister to the wall using custom hardware. This and the seaside decor (shells, oars) keep an easy, beachy feel for the family.
The entire house underwent a yearlong remodel, and some of the interior details, such as lighting, took six months to arrive. “We live in an instantaneous culture, but some things are worth the wait in design,” Maynard says.
Sofa pillows: Lulu DK
Browse more stories about living room design
The entire house underwent a yearlong remodel, and some of the interior details, such as lighting, took six months to arrive. “We live in an instantaneous culture, but some things are worth the wait in design,” Maynard says.
Sofa pillows: Lulu DK
Browse more stories about living room design
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Very nice. I am so over grey and white interiors....
absolutely stunning!!! the painting over the mantle looks like an abstract view of the ocean and is incredibly fitting for this home! love your use of yellow and blue everywhere - the scale of everything is perfect; work that can only be done by a talented designer!! I want those cane chairs for my own home, but I am certain they must be vintage!!! Well done, George Interiors!!!