Houzz Tour: A Marriage of Styles in Hollywood
A modern L.A. townhouse makes a stylish statement and a loving connection
Jess McBride
October 12, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Custom decorating professional and content creator for the home design industry with a lifelong passion for color, pattern, and texture of every "stripe"
Houzz Contributor. Custom decorating professional and content creator for the home... More
After spending the first 30 years of their marriage in a rural home that leaned toward the wife’s eclectic tastes, the couple decided it was time for a change. A move to a three-story townhouse in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles provided a chance for the husband to live in the modern space he always desired. Finding a compromise between styles and incorporating a collection of vintage furniture was the task for design team and partners-in-life Hector Romero and Chris Obeji. “A lot of people would change their spouse before they change their design style,” says Romero, joking. He thinks that the greatest success of this project is not in any one decorative detail, but rather in the way the home reflects the spirit of selflessness and compromise.
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: A married couple
Location: Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: 4,200 square feet (390 square meters)
Designers: Hector Romero and Chris Obeji of romero + obeji interior design
The couple spend most of their time in the second-floor great room, which is composed of a living area, dining area and kitchen. Having the main living area on the second floor provides great natural light and unobstructed city views. The modern living room is anchored by a custom poured-concrete fireplace surround. A low, extra-deep sectional faces a pair of vintage leather swivel chairs and a large brass coffee table. Ceramic spheres in the firebox are a wonderful alternative to glass pebbles.
Who lives here: A married couple
Location: Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: 4,200 square feet (390 square meters)
Designers: Hector Romero and Chris Obeji of romero + obeji interior design
The couple spend most of their time in the second-floor great room, which is composed of a living area, dining area and kitchen. Having the main living area on the second floor provides great natural light and unobstructed city views. The modern living room is anchored by a custom poured-concrete fireplace surround. A low, extra-deep sectional faces a pair of vintage leather swivel chairs and a large brass coffee table. Ceramic spheres in the firebox are a wonderful alternative to glass pebbles.
Toward the end of a design project, Romero, who’s also an accomplished artist, often creates a piece of custom art for his clients based on what he’s learned about them. He used the couple’s love of walking in the park and playing golf as inspiration for the fresco painting above the sofa. When the artwork was installed and the homeowners recognized it immediately as an aerial view of a golf course, the designer knew it was a hit.
In deference to the new modern lifestyle the homeowners were seeking, the dining area was designed to function as a casual place to sit down and read a book, have coffee, work on a laptop, play games or just kick back and relax. “And, oh, by the way, you can eat there too,” Romero says.
A custom banquette of upholstered solid walnut is a clean-lined seating solution that allows the sculptural dining table to take center stage. The chandelier is handblown glass with brass accents. Romero and Obeji painted the barn doors, which feature a subtle pair of angel wings.
A custom banquette of upholstered solid walnut is a clean-lined seating solution that allows the sculptural dining table to take center stage. The chandelier is handblown glass with brass accents. Romero and Obeji painted the barn doors, which feature a subtle pair of angel wings.
Though the homeowners say they no longer are the avid cooks they once were, they still enjoy coffee and juice, so a bar area was added. In keeping with the minimalist design, most of the small appliances are tucked behind cabinets and easily closed off so that plugs and cords aren’t visible. Romero says he opted for white rather than stainless steel appliances because “white is timeless and always chic.”
The lamps in the master bedroom were found gathering dust in the corner of a vintage collectibles shop — the heavy iron-and-glass fixtures had spent their heyday illuminating the big top at a traveling circus in the early 1900s. “The tops were originally red but have faded into this beautiful pink,” Obeji says.
On the opposite side of the bed is a cast-stone feature wall with a corner fireplace. A vintage 1970s credenza of burled wood trimmed in brass anchors the stone wall. “In modern spaces, it’s essential to have something that isn’t brand-new,” Romero says.
Earlier in their careers, Romero and Obeji operated a factory making custom home furnishings, and cast stone was a division. Tapping into their expertise in stonework, Romero and Obeji hand-poured the concrete slabs for the feature wall, embedding crystals and semiprecious stones in the slabs as a personal touch for the wife who collects gems.
Earlier in their careers, Romero and Obeji operated a factory making custom home furnishings, and cast stone was a division. Tapping into their expertise in stonework, Romero and Obeji hand-poured the concrete slabs for the feature wall, embedding crystals and semiprecious stones in the slabs as a personal touch for the wife who collects gems.
Sheets of matte tumbled-marble tile add an organic element to the back wall of the master bathroom. The countertops are engineered quartz with flecks of quartz mineral and a mitered edge.
To add color to the cream-toned space, a brightly hued acrylic painting hangs above the free-standing tub. The durable painting can easily be wiped clean with a rag.
To add color to the cream-toned space, a brightly hued acrylic painting hangs above the free-standing tub. The durable painting can easily be wiped clean with a rag.
The architectural bookshelf on the third-floor landing is actually an overflow area for the wife’s extensive collection of books. This design was conceived toward the end of the project when they realized they still didn’t have enough room for all the books she wanted to keep. The bookcase actually spins, so she can easily access her volume of choice.
Design Debate: Should You Use Books for Decoration?
Design Debate: Should You Use Books for Decoration?
The top floor of the townhome is dedicated to a study for the wife. Since so much of the home represents her husband’s modern taste, the designers saw fit to carve out a meditation room that would ignite her creativity. The designers hired a company in England to create a wall mural out of a collection of photographs she shot through a car’s sunroof while driving through California’s Sequoia National Forest.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Dream Baths is a complete design-build-remodel firm located in the Historical German Village area of downtown... Read More
Related Products
Related Stories
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Boston Pied-à-Terre Designed for Evenings
By Becky Harris
A designer found on Houzz infuses a condo with a sultry vibe inspired by supper clubs and luxe boutique hotels
Full Story
Guesthouses
Houzz Tour: Light-Filled 704-Square-Foot Modern Cottage
By Becky Harris
An architect and a designer create a light and airy feel, cozied up by layers of textures
Full Story
Outbuildings
Family Gatherings in Argentina Inspire a Pavilion and Guesthouse
By Becky Harris
A new yard adds room for hosting, swimming and bringing part of one homeowner’s culture to her family’s Seattle home
Full Story
Transitional Homes
Houzz Tour: Organic Style on an Avocado Ranch
By Becky Harris
A designer uses a soft neutral palette, handmade tile and reclaimed wood to update a 1980s contemporary home
Full Story
Transitional Homes
Houzz Tour: Elegant, Earthy Ranch House for an Empty-Nest Couple
Design styles, warm neutral colors and special details blend in a Minnesota ranch-style house with a finished basement
Full Story
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Colorado Forever Home Is a Family Affair
By Becky Harris
The mountain home was designed for gatherings and to make the most of views of Pikes Peak and surroundings
Full Story
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Open and Inviting Mountain Home Near Lake Tahoe
By Becky Harris
A designer creates a warmly minimalist California getaway that can stand up to snow and mud
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: Period Home Gains Color and Character
By Kate Burt
Before-and-after photos show how a bold palette and restored features bring warmth and personality to this English house
Full Story
Modern Homes
Houzz Tour: New Home Gets a Midcentury Modern Makeover
By Julie Sheer
A designer in Boston reworks the kitchen and primary suite and adds style with furnishings, lighting and more
Full Story
Barn Homes
Houzz Tour: Old Barns Become an Airy, Modern-Rustic Home
A barn home in Devon, England, sits lightly on the land and offers simple, relaxing spaces for an extended family
Full Story
Hi ital mover, Thank you your comments! This fabric is a chenille that has
been washed prior installation to enhance the softness and enhance the texture.
We specified this fabric on the main body of the sofa and on the return section
we specified a different tone on tone fabric for a subtle contrast. This same
fabric was used to cover the bolstered pillows.
www.hectorromerodesign.com
Love the fabric on the sofa! Who is that available from?