Discover A Soothing Los Angeles House With Beautiful Neutral Colors

The Jet-Set family in Brentwood, in Los Angeles, had a different idea for their home despite Brentwood’s glamour and glitz.

A previous owner had upgraded a classic, white-paneled, 11,000-square-foot home, but the new owners wanted to make it more comfortable and family-friendly.?For the transformation, they turned to M. Elle Design, whose portfolio of work they’d long admired.

“They wanted us to run with that fresh, coastal, indoor-outdoor feel that’s relaxed, yet elegant,”?says?Marie Turner Carson,?studio owner with Emily Turner Barker.?“We first stripped things down to make the home more contemporary and take it to more of a restrained palette.”

A gallery-like space was created for the clients’ growing art collection by removing layers of paneling, wallpaper, and paint. The designers elevated the staircase as well, with slim, clean-lined oak handrails and black, steel balusters for a more modern look.?Adding layers of design to the hallway was achieved by replacing the oak floors with marble.

It was the kitchen that saw the biggest changes despite the big changes in the hallway. There is a double island in the middle of the kitchen, a range wall in the back, and a sink wall to the side of the kitchen.?Additionally, they knocked down the wall between the kitchen and family room, creating a seamless flow between the two rooms.

Getting the balance right is all about the details, Carson explains.?“If you have the great bones of the room and you know the shape and scale of the pieces are correct, there is kind of that magical element at the end that brings in the finishing touch that makes all the pieces sing,”?she says.

Custom drapes in linen create a coastal, casual feel in the lofty family room. Custom sectionals encircle a stone coffee table in one of the sitting areas of the house, both by M. Elle Design. Two vintage stools from Lief and a Le Minotaure chair by Pierre Augustin Rose surround the monumental block.

In the adjacent sun room to the kitchen, teak dining chairs from Briggs & Co. circle a Juwel dining table from Stahl & Band, their warm tones picked up by a rose gold Oscar Pendant from RW Guild.

A bronze chandelier with asymmetrical oak branches from Cox London complements the canopy depicted by Charles Gaines in the dining room.?With their natural grain pattern, the molded oak chairs from Ruemmler continue the theme and are beautifully paired with the golden linen curtains.

As a whole, the remodeling process took about a year. With its sun-drenched rooms and deep yard, the residence provides the ideal setting for extended family gatherings.?“It’s timeless, inviting, and livable,”?Carson says.?“Anyone who comes in is impressed, but can sit down immediately and not have to walk on eggshells.”