Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Eclectic, Artistic Florida House
Mehndi art, thrift finds and splashes of color energize a Zen-like South Florida home
When Dori Guedj and her family moved into their South Florida home nine years ago, all the walls were white and the landscaping was the original builder's. "Ever since our first day in the house, the artist in me has touched every inch of the walls. I even designed my own landscape," says Guedj. The result? An eclectic but peaceful home that feels like a relaxing resort, in earth tones with splashes of color. "It's quite calm inside. There's that Zen, meditative feeling," says Guedj.
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: A couple and their 3 children
Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida
Size: 3,200 square feet
That's Interesting: All the painted artwork in the house is by Guedj and her daughters.
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: A couple and their 3 children
Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida
Size: 3,200 square feet
That's Interesting: All the painted artwork in the house is by Guedj and her daughters.
Guedj's house is a mix of influences and sources. "I don't know why I gravitate to teak woods, wild patterns and Oriental details, but I do," Guedj says. "I find my furniture and accessories in import boutiques in Miami and, believe it or not, on Craigslist." In this setup with Cesar, the king of the house, the animal-print side chairs and hide rug are the stars of a mostly neutral brown living room.
The entryway showcases Guedj's original artwork, eclectic design taste and love of bringing the outdoors inside through plants.
Rug: Anthropologie; gold frames: Pier 1 Imports; lamp: Home Goods; plant basket: West Elm
Rug: Anthropologie; gold frames: Pier 1 Imports; lamp: Home Goods; plant basket: West Elm
Guedj's daughter's room has a favorite Craigslist buy: a teak headboard purchased for under $25. It now sells on Etsy for much higher.
The retro decoupaged chair is always a talking point for guests. "Everyone comments on the chair when they see it in my daughter's room. It really shows my love of decoupage," says Guedj. She even decoupaged her daughter's old ballet pointe shoes and hung them on the wall.
Authentic Moroccan lanterns hang in front of mehndi wall art in Guedj's daughter's room.
Lanterns: Berber Trading
Lanterns: Berber Trading
Guedj gave their porch wall an antique finish. "My daughter wrote the poem for me, and we both did the stenciling," says Guedj, who bonds with her daughters through art projects.
"My daughters and I do mehndi on hands and feet with henna. One day it occurred to me how beautiful it would look on the walls. So we started painting our home's surfaces, mostly ceilings and walls," says Guedj.
Guedj's teenage son is a throwback rocker and guitar player. She says that his room is "a reflection of himself, with the guitars and vintage rock posters and record albums," adding that her eldest daughter's art pieces (blown glass and murals) are also in his room.
In addition to painting, landscaping is Guedj's other passion. "I love working with plants and garden design. My landscaping involved a tremendous amount of labor with rocks," she says. The Buddhas and Eastern influences throughout her home show her love of Asian motifs and her belief in feng shui.
"The weather in South Florida is amazing. We spend most of our time outside and eat most of our meals in our pergola almost every day," says Guedj.
More:
Under the Pergola
So Your Style Is: Eclectic
Houzz Tour: Treasures from Thailand
More:
Under the Pergola
So Your Style Is: Eclectic
Houzz Tour: Treasures from Thailand