DEMYSTIFYING DESIGN
Three designers focus on comfort, simplicity and style
LOS ANGELES HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE MECCA OF EVERYTHING
glamorous.Whether it’s fashion, cars, or even lunch, LA has always set the standards for what’s hot. So it’s
no surprise that homes and, more specifically, interior design, has always been big business in Tinseltown.
In a place where styles seem to go out faster than they come in, finding what you want can be a confusing
endeavor. In this day and age, more and more Angelenos are scaling back as the lessismore attitude
saturates the marketplace. The area’s top designers agree that comfort and simplicity are what the
public demands.The overly decorated has given way tospaces and understated functionality.
Countless design magazines jam the shelves and entire
television networks push styles ranging from ultramodern to
shabby chic. With all this information, deciding on a look can be
extremely overwhelming. Thankfully, California’s hottest
designers give us inside tips on how to make your house a lively,
exciting place that reflects the look of the moment: understated
simplicity that’s driven by your personality.
Creating your perfect sanctuary begins with a simple question:
If the interior of your home were a window into your inner self,
what would it say about you? Do you consider yourself an adventurous
traveler, stylish maven, or laidback homebody?
Understanding who you are gives designers crucial insight into
what look will make your space livable. “The furniture is really the
last part of the job; it’s the result of your research,” stresses LAbased
designer Chris Barrett of Chris Barrett Design. Whether you’re
going for complete renovation or just making a few simple
changes, the most important rule of thumb is to infuse parts of your
personality into the design of each room.
Barrett, a California native and a favorite of stars like Charlize
Theron and Matthew Lillard, says her highend clients are request
ing downtoearth elegance. “People want a place that is about
comfort.They want something friendly, imaginative, and unpretentious.”
Barrett believes this look is easy to achieve with just a few
important pieces. “I would have a coffee table that you could put
your feet on. I would have really neat, comfortable sofas. I tend to
use a lot of antique rugs….even though they’re incredibly expensive,
they invite you to walk on them. I like to insert a little bit of
history in every room. If you have old pieces mixed with new
pieces, somehow that feels more comfortable.”
With almost 30 years of interior design experience, Sue
Firestone is proud to say she doesn’t have a signature look — her
style is more about “listening to her clients.” Firestone caters to the
rich and famous, with clients ranging from Donald Trump to John
Fogerty. The CEO of SFA Design finds a common thread woven
throughout her eclectic clientele.“People want their own style, not
what’s been seen in somebody else’s home,” Says Firestone.
Firestone incorporates psychology tactics to uncover her
highend clients’ unique individuality. Using a “concept book,”
she compiles up to 150 interior images to serve as a sort of
designing Rorschach test. From something as simple as a facial
reaction, Firestone can gauge people’s likes and dislikes. Armed
with this vital information, only then can she proceed to develop
a tailormade floor plan.
Firestone’s elite clientele are also returning from stays at fivestar
hotels with their own ideas. Travelers are asking for tony hotel
comforts like luxury steam
showers, glass faucets, and light
fixtures to be emulated in their
homes. Next time you check
in, check out your suite.You
just might get some interior
inspiration.
Another name to look out
for is Jay Jeffers, of Jeffers
Design Group. Jeffers has been
delighting our neighbors to
the north, but come this fall,
he’ll bring his brand of “funky
sophistication” to Los Angeles.
The San Franciscobased
interior designer has his eye on
LA because “Angelenos are
more willing to take risks:
They’re a little bit more interested in what’s going now.”
Jeffers contends that a wellstyled abode should be 100 percent
personalitydriven. This rule holds true for clients interested in
 making complete renovations, or just a few simple changes. “If
you do a wonderful home that has wonderful architecture and put
some furniture in it and don’t really take time to finish it all up,
it’s not really a welldesigned home,” he says.
The key to unlocking your inner personality is easy with the
right accessories and art. A perfect time to collect interesting
pieces for the home is during your travels. Look for oneofakind
items like painted landscapes, small end tables, or other distinctive
knickknacks that can fit nicely on bookshelves and mantles.
These small treasures can, at least for a moment, whisk you back
to your getaway and serve as
great conversation starters.
Jeffers also advises people
to go for a timeless look rather
than one that’s trendy, trendy
being a “dirty” word in the
world of interior design. “My
clients definitely don’t like to
hear it...they immediately
think ‘what’s it going to be in
a year?’” The young designer
opts for highquality pieces
made from good craftsmanship
and then adds his own
brand of whimsical accents.
He also suggests using a mix of
color to bring new life to a
room. This fall and winter,
he’ll be painting walls warm tones like chocolate brown, tan, and
tomato red, then accenting the look with shocking colors like
electric pink or bright tangerine.
Living in highpressure LA, it may seem hard to keep up with
everchanging interior styles. But take advice from the pros and
look inside yourself to find the design that’s perfect for you: one
that’ll always be “in”…until you decide otherwise.
— Heather David
|
