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Houzz Tour: A Sleek Prefab Warms Up
Asian touches, furniture and finishes turn a showhouse into a home
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
What in the world can one do with an empty pre-fab house that's full of beautiful and eco-friendly finishes but no furnishings? Turns out, a lot. It all begins with a welcoming Buddha, and gets rolling after trips to some favorite vintage haunts, art galleries, classic mid-century providers like Vitra and IKEA of course! Oh, and if you're an interior designer with a passion for designing your own furniture, you design some of the pieces yourself. This is how Venice Beach-based interior designer, furniture designer, and budding candle king Jordan Cappella approached the project.
When Jordan stumbled upon this intriguing structure, he admired its sleek design, but knew it needed his touch to make it feel like a home. While strolling through, he was invited to the opening party a few nights later. His thoughts were confirmed when he heard most of the attendees saying "I love the style of this place but it’s too cold; I cannot imagine living here." Soon after, Jordan received another invitation, this time from the architect to complete the interior design and styling of the space and warm it up.
When Jordan stumbled upon this intriguing structure, he admired its sleek design, but knew it needed his touch to make it feel like a home. While strolling through, he was invited to the opening party a few nights later. His thoughts were confirmed when he heard most of the attendees saying "I love the style of this place but it’s too cold; I cannot imagine living here." Soon after, Jordan received another invitation, this time from the architect to complete the interior design and styling of the space and warm it up.
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by Jordan Cappella
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| This 12' x 60' prefabricated, eco-friendly showhouse by Office of Mobile Design (o-md) had literally been carried on a semi truck and plopped right down along Abbot-Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach. Though the bones of the home were beautiful, it was not very inviting. “I always throw Asian style into my designs; I find it adds so much warmth,” Jordan says. Placing a Buddha by the entryway is a signature move of his, as it is inviting and gives visitors a hint of what’s inside.
Because the house was perched in this spot temporarily, nothing else had been done to the surrounding area, though Jordan added decals by Venice Beach-based Blik to the gate. The modern glass and steel doors are by Neoporte. |
by Jordan Cappella
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Here’s a peek at Jordan entering his freshly designed space. He bought the rug you see draped over the couch to use on the floor, but he decided to stay true to the sleek design of the house and leave the coconut husk floor unadorned. It still adds the warmth he intended on the sofa.
The cocktail table, leather ottoman and tray atop it are all Jordan Cappella original pieces. “I love to incorporate lucite. Because of its transparency it takes on the life of any room and goes with any design style. I love the floating effect it creates ... the way it catches light reminds me of diamonds; it’s light and rich at once.”
The cocktail table, leather ottoman and tray atop it are all Jordan Cappella original pieces. “I love to incorporate lucite. Because of its transparency it takes on the life of any room and goes with any design style. I love the floating effect it creates ... the way it catches light reminds me of diamonds; it’s light and rich at once.”
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by Jordan Cappella
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| The pillow was crafted from three separate cushions. The fabric on the front was taken from a vintage Japanese obi, while the back was covered in “really cheap Chinatown orange shiny fabric. I loved the contrast between the very traditional front and the funky back.” The stool is a vintage hand-carved Balinesian piece. The orange chair was very inexpensive and because it's armless it takes up less space and keeps things looking contemporary. |
by Jordan Cappella
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“I always set the table in a showhouse, it makes a house feel like a home, and it makes it magazine-ready for anyone coming through who wants to snap a photo.” The table setting is a great example of how Jordan likes to mix materials and price points; the placemats are black slate with Asian bamboo images carved into them, the chopsticks are stainless steel, and the green glass bowl filled with floating orchids in the middle of the table is from IKEA. The table and chairs are mid-century classic pieces by Jean Prouvé (manufactured today by Vitra).
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by Jordan Cappella
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| This is a vintage Asian blanket chest on a stand that Jordan acquired from the shop of his best friend Vanessa De Vargas, Turquoise. The side table is another Jordan Capella creation, composed of a lucite base and a smoked bronze tray. Mixing materials in unexpected ways is another one of his signature moves. The base is completely put together with tongue-and-groove construction. The statue is a hand-carved Balinesian piece.
The wall is made of Kirei, which is reeds turned into plywood. |
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by Jordan Cappella
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| The kitchen is composed of pieces by Boffi. “I always insist on making kitchens white. Colored kitchens can be really fun, but white keeps a kitchen clean, modern, sleek and timeless. I’d tire of a colored kitchen within a month.” The stainless steel backsplash, exposed pipes, counter legs and portable utensil cabinet (underneath the counter) add sleek industrial touches to the space.
All of the stunning photographs in the kitchen are of Vietnam, and Jordan is still heartbroken that he lost the artist’s information, as they are some of his favorite works. |
by Jordan Cappella
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Is this the first time you are seeing recycled toilet paper in black? It was for me! It’s also the first time I’ve seen a bathroom floor made from recycled rubber. Jordan added the Vitra tables and the statue, which he found at a favorite Venice Beach gallery, Salon Oblique.
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by Jordan Cappella
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| The back of the house was staged as an office, where Jordan mixes IKEA (the tulip table and task chairs) with Vitra (all of the furniture in the back corner, including the cork stools) and striking art. The photograph and the statue also came from Salon Oblique. Also, the beauty of the coconut husk floors really stands out in this image. |
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After warming up spaces with his furniture making and interior design skills, Jordan has fallen into his latest passion project, improving the ambiance through floral and citrus scented eco-friendly coconut wax candles. Thanks so much to Jordan for sharing this project with us!
More home tours:
A Design in Harmony with the Land
A Modern Renovation in Seattle
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More home tours:
A Design in Harmony with the Land
A Modern Renovation in Seattle
See More Homes
Comments
ellie48 This space has very nicely decorated. Warm. Inviting.
2 years ago · Like
sadie1jane I can go for some of this...but the smaller windows? They look like those used in travel trailers. Couldnt live with that!
2 years ago · Like
Becky Harris Hi Sadie! Most of the place gets all of that great light from the huge living room windows and glass doors. If this were a home, the study area would be the bedroom. Personally, I like my bedroom to be a total cave! I do think the materials used lighten things up and counteract some of those smaller windows, but I see your point. This house literally can be moved like a trailer on the back of a semi truck. In fact, it's moved on from this spot since these pictures were taken.
2 years ago · Like
Gaetano Jones Mr. Cappella really gets it right... a home is not to be a showroom but a living showplace. I love the harmonious mix of custom designer pieces, plebeian ikea functional must haves, and vintage finds... the way living in your home is meant to be.
2 years ago · Like
Jordan Cappella @ellie48 thank you. @Sadie1jane the space was really very bright, all the photos are taken with natural light, but I do understand what you are saying. @Gaetanojones thank you for the kind words I may not understand them all but i am sure they are nice. LOL!
2 years ago · Like
Kelly Porter This is such a cool home! I love the touches of red, especially the bathroom flooring. Great feature, Becky.
2 years ago · Like
Nat I also love the touches of red and you have inspired me to add either red or a splash of lime green to my similar toned home for some oompf!
2 years ago · Like
Jordan Cappella @Nactus Orange is alway another favorite of mine to add as a splash of color to a neutral palette.
2 years ago · Like
jools Beautiful! What are his sources for those Buddhas?
2 years ago · Like
blondiebowen Please move the Buddha at the front door to a right hand angle, not facing away from door. Bad Feng Shui.
2 years ago · Like
Jordan Cappella @jools the location closed down they were in Venice. @blondiebowen thanks for letting me know. It is taken care of!
2 years ago · Like
2vagabond24 Are there hooks in the portable utensil cabinet or are the items stacked? Would you please post a picture of the inside of the cabinet? I will be moving into a very poorly designed kitchen with no storage for pots and pans, cutlery, cooking utensils, etc. I am thinking I will need to do something similar under my work table that I will be putting in the kitchen. Thanks
2 years ago · Like
dorazia ....a little chilly,no?
2 years ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Oct. 16, 2012.
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