My Houzz: Designer's Eclectic Pink California Adobe
Pink walls, red floors and colorful textiles blend with local artwork in an Ojai designer's charmingly eclectic home
Neva Williams desperately wanted to peek over and see what was hidden behind this home's imposing wall. After repeatedly passing by, she finally had her chance when an open-house sign appeared out front. Although Williams, a builder and designer, wasn't in the market for a new home at the time, the beautiful adobe house grabbed her. She walked in and said to herself, "This is it — this is my house." While still holding true to the original California adobe design, Williams has added her own personal twists to create a home reflecting her timeless yet eclectic style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Neva Williams
Location: Ojai, California
Size: 3,300 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
That's interesting: Almost all of the art in the home is by local artists.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Neva Williams
Location: Ojai, California
Size: 3,300 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
That's interesting: Almost all of the art in the home is by local artists.
Williams' love of bold colors is seen both inside and outside the house, with its cheery pink walls and blue windows and doors. When it came to the color palette, Williams didn't need to make very many changes. "Everything was perfect for me," she says. "This house found me."
The outside walls of the home are 22 inches thick (two adobe bricks), and the interior walls are 12 inches thick (one adobe brick). The original beams throughout the home are all redwood. "The open beam structure is awesome. You just can't rebuild that today," Williams says.
The home is full of bold color — a blend of Craftsman, Southwestern and various other styles. "Design should be timeless," Williams says. "Don't follow trends."
The pew in this room is from an Ojai church. A striped Navajo rug was thrown over it for a dash of color. The dining table and chairs were passed down from her parents.
The pew in this room is from an Ojai church. A striped Navajo rug was thrown over it for a dash of color. The dining table and chairs were passed down from her parents.
Although Williams doesn't define her style as Southwestern, the influence can be found throughout the home's colorful coral walls, textiles and pottery — including this antique lawyer bookcase filled with multicolored dinnerware.
Williams' ex-husband, Bruce Williams, crafted many of the furniture pieces, including this hutch in the dining room. Williams found this collection of pottery in the Southwest and complemented the display with framed local artwork.
Williams uses thick curtains rich with texture as an alternative to doors in several rooms.
This spacious room normally functions as a home office, but Williams was preparing to host a wedding when this photo was taken and was using this space for additional guest sleeping.
Over the years Williams has acquired many pieces of furniture from show sets and retail spaces she designed over her 30-year design career. This ottoman is from a Guess retail store she worked on.
The previous homeowners installed the bright red kitchen floors. Although it's a bold choice, Williams loves them. "There is no such thing as an ugly color," she says. "It all depends on how it is used."
Williams did not make any changes to the kitchen since the classic design and bold colors matched her personal style. All of the cabinets in the kitchen have earthquake latches to accommodate Southern California's notorious quakes.
The patio is one of the few places where Williams made significant structural changes. In adobe homes, outside spaces and patios often lead to different sections of the house. Williams wanted access from the inside, so she enclosed the patio, creating an additional interior space for a guest bed.
With its chandelier, floral textiles and soft colors, the master bedroom is a perfect reflection of Williams' timeless style.
The master bathroom is warm and welcoming with its soft pink hues.
When Williams bought the house, there was a lawn in the backyard but little other landscaping. She planted a luscious garden with everything from roses to orange trees, adding much-needed life and color to the outdoor space. "Being from Pasadena, I have to have roses. I love them," she says.
Williams wanted to create a pool long enough for laps, but nothing too large or wide. She calls the result "the goddess pool." She designed and built the pool and spa in 2003, using tile from RTK Studios in Ojai.
Williams always wanted a red barn, and built what she calls the "Barn House." The barn loft is fully equipped with a kitchen and bathroom, and is currently occupied by a renting tenant.
Williams' love of adobe houses stems from time spent in New Mexico learning to build them with her ex-husband. Although the house wasn't on record until the 1950s, Williams thinks it was built in the late 1920s. "I've had people who used to live here a long time ago stop by and ask to see the home," she says.