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Houzz Tour: Freshening Up a Modern California Box
Geometric Fabrics, Soft Rugs and Photographs Add Personal Style
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 »
When a single mother hired interior designer Vanessa De Vargas, her monotone, white-walled, cement-floored home in Mar Vista, California needed some zhush. While she had a collection of furniture, she needed help softening all of those modern lines, choosing fabrics, adding layers, arranging furniture and accessorizing. "Everything was very streamlined and we needed to add some fun; we needed to add pattern but we didn't want it to look busy," De Vargas explains. With her knack for mixing items, De Vargas left no stone unturned when sourcing eye-catching fabrics, soft rugs, unique eBay items and even a "crazy gaudy mirror." She means that in a good way — you'll see.
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The photograph belonged to the owner and De Vargas decided to mount it on the glass block. "It is framed in light plexiglass, so we were able to attach it to the window with a bunch of sticky stuff," De Vargas explains.
The classic mid-century modern Nelson Pendant Lamp is counterbalanced by a vintage pie crust table found on eBay. A black lacquer tray and crisp chevron patterned pillows in black and white keep some of the lines clean, in balance with all of the new softer lines De Vargas added.
The classic mid-century modern Nelson Pendant Lamp is counterbalanced by a vintage pie crust table found on eBay. A black lacquer tray and crisp chevron patterned pillows in black and white keep some of the lines clean, in balance with all of the new softer lines De Vargas added.
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| As we zoom out, more exuberant colors are revealed, through a rich raspberry fabric on the armchairs and the mustard leather of the poufs. De Vargas found a diamond print dhurrie and a sheepskin throw to add soft layers to the floor. "Most of the fabric prints we found were bold and geometric, not frilly" she says. Note that most of the patterns in the room play off diamonds and zigzags at different scales. |
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| In the dining room, a pair of Eames shell chairs, a pair of Bertoia side chairs and a tufted leather and chrome bench flank the glass and chrome table. "I told my client, 'Trust me, you have enough art, you need a really gaudy mirror in here to mix things up,'" De Vargas admits. This ornate mirror does the trick, breaking away from the chrome and adding lots of curves. It also reflects the light and adds depth to the space.
"The horse in the photograph was a family racehorse of my client's, and the picture was taken at Del Mar while it was winning." De Vargas had the photograph blown up, and in case you were wondering, the horse won that day. |
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| More sharp modern edges and materials were softened with sheepskin throws tossed over the wire chairs, and gray and black chevron drapes. "The room was so streamlined and clean, we went for big drama on the walls through the window treatments," De Vargas explains. Speaking of window treatments, her favorite source for drapery hardware is none other than J.C. Penny. "They have the best selection! It was the only place where I could find a rod that navigated the corner and it's all very inexpensive," she gushed about the department store's offerings. |
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| This corner of the kitchen gets a pop of color from a set of Jonathan Adler plates the client scored on gilt.com, a few yellow printed throw pillows, and a metal bamboo chandelier De Vargas found on eBay and had painted yellow. The benches were custom made; De Vargas had them covered in a faux-alligator vinyl to withstand any spills. The rest of the seating is covered by a pair of Bertoia wire chairs. |
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The owner already had the barstools; De Vargas simply had them recovered in this kelly green and white exotic geometric print. The sconces were scored at a neighborhood furniture store, Surfing Cowboys.
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| Acrylic shelves in lieu of upper cabinets keep the kitchen bright and open. De Vargas found the photograph of the client's children cooking waffles and had it blown up, adding a personal touch that looks like it came from an art gallery. Design moves like this personalized the house, and turned it into a home.
More: More by Vanessa De Vargas Houzz Tour: A Family-Friendly Mid-Century Home Houzz Tour: Urban Jewel Box |
Ideabook updated on Aug. 13, 2011.
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I am in South Africa do you know where I can get the Bertoia wire chairs.
and table table on attachment.