A Television Exec's Los Angeles Family Home Gets a Sophisticated Refresh

The property

When Erik, an executive at Universal, and Michelle, a video executive for Apple, first laid eyes on this 1920s Spanish-style Los Angeles family home, they were drawn to the generous proportions and traditional features. But the property desperately needed renovating to become a modern home,  with a more relaxed and comfortable interior scheme to suit their young family.

The couple brought on interior designer Joyce Downing Pickens of JDP Interiors to help them redesign the property and modernise it to suit their family needs.

The new interior design scheme is elegant and sophisticated and honours the classic, traditional bones of the property and the history of the neighbourhood, Hancock Park, while also incorporating a more modern, comfortable interior fit for a young family, with lots of spaces to dine, entertain and relax.

Spread over 4,400 square feet, the five bedroom, five bathroom family home now features a sophisticated design and colour palette which feels layered and rich in texture, and seamlessly blends new and old-world design aesthetics – a look which JDP Interiors has become well known for.

See Also: Inside this colourful, contemporary home in the heart of San Francisco

Main living room

It is a large house, so it was important to consider the scale of the rooms. 'This house practically ate furniture and accessories, and needed more than was expected,' Joyce tells Livingetc. This long, skinny living room was particularly challenging in terms of scale, so larger scale items were chosen to prevent the space from feeling cluttered and messy. 

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

Joyce chose simple, earthy colours (warm whites with beige and brown) to ground the  scheme, then coupled this with well-crafted furniture and one of a kind vintage pieces.

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

The white living room has a very layered look, and the floral ottoman has become a family favourite (ottoman fabric by Claremont- tree of life).

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

White walls and dark wood floors serve as the backdrop for a neutral colour scheme and natural materials. The light and bright scheme works beautifully in these narrow rooms with high ceilings.

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

The project took just four months from start to finish, and the team worked flat out to get it completed in time for the Christmas holidays.

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

See Also: Explore a 1920s-era riverside home with relaxed, farmhouse interiors

Dining room

When the new owners Erik and Michelle bought the house, the floors in the dining room (and the hearth in the living room) were a previously added modern two-toned geometric tile that felt wrong in this soft historic home. So, the first thing Joyce and the team did was remove them and replace them with a beautiful limestone floor in a versaille pattern. The immediate difference was astounding and created a much softer, elevated, and timeless look and feel. 

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

A gallery wall was created using vintage oil paintings. The dining table was custom-made for this space.

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

Arched doorways throughout the home create a soft and modern look.

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

Family room

The family room is a lesson in relaxed but sophisticated comfort. 

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

The serene colour scheme feels graceful, and weaves in comfortable and natural materials including cane, leather and reclaimed wood.

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

The bookcase was made bespoke for this space, while the rustic vintage wood coffee table is a very old piece with a ton of wonderful wear and patina. 

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

Bathroom

Joyce and the homeowners are delighted with the results. Joyce's next plan is to create a product line based on all their custom furniture and lighting that they have created for their clients, and to slowly expand the interior design firm into other cities.

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

Designer: Joyce Downing Pickens of JDP Interiors

Contractor: Wolfpack Professional Builders

Prop Stylist: Styled by JDP Interiors

See Also: Inside an architect's tiny loft apartment in Brooklyn – it's full of space-saving ideas