For interior designer Alex Yeske, finding this home in Los Angeles was like striking gold. “We were initially drawn to the house for the light renovation work that had been done previously, as opposed to all the flips we were finding in L.A.,” she recalls—listing off the new flooring, new kitchen appliances, and fresh coats of white paint. “We fell in love with all of its natural light and that we could put our stamp on the house and have it grow with us over the years.”
Located in Westchester—a charming pocket in West L.A.—and was the perfect place to land after years in New York. They made a few essential changes, including some electrical, a new HVAC system, and skim coating the walls. Then came the fun part. “We sold most of our furniture when we moved from New York to L.A., so we were really starting with a blank slate in this home,” Alex says. “We brought a few special pieces that belonged to family members and the rest we acquired slowly over time through estate sales, flea markets, auctions and working with local workrooms here in L.A.”
Starting in the entry, Alex furnished the living room with a mix of custom, antique, and secondhand pieces. “The chairs in this space are very special to me,” she shares. “They belonged to my paternal grandmother and were designed by Jerry Johnson. They still make the same creaking sound I remember hearing in my childhood. The antique hutch is another favorite piece. I looked for months for the right piece that had all of the features I was looking for, and it makes me so happy every time I walk by it. I love that it’s the focal point of the room, showing off our collection of art and design books and decorative objects.”
There’s a small dining nook that opens to this living room, offering a nice flow between the spaces. It houses many of Alex’s favorite finds, including a mirror found for $25 at the Long Beach Flea Market, and handmade ceramic plates she scored at an estate sale. They did minimal work in the kitchen. “We painted the cabinets an icy blue and changed out the hardware for wood knobs and rattan pulls,” she explains. “We also added the woven wood shades and a light fixture to bring some warmth to the space.”
The guest room doubles as an office, thanks to a chocolate brown sofa that pulls out into a queen bed. “I’ve always wanted a brown velvet sofa and when a designer friend was getting rid of it in her move, I jumped at the chance—it’s perfect for the room and makes me so happy,” Alex says. “The glossy olive-green ceiling was a fun design detail to add some interest to the room, and I love how the Noguchi-inspired lantern pops off of it.” She’s also quick to mention the rattan desk. “This special piece was found via Instagram and shipped cross country. I loved the design details and added a glass top for functionality. I have since sold this piece but replaced it with another equally charming rattan desk!”
The primary bedroom features an iron canopy bed, and Alex flexed her design skills with the choice of textiles—mixing different patterns and styles but connecting through the neutral color palette. For nightstands, she selected a vintage William & Mary-style dresser found through auction, and a rattan chest of drawers.
The couple plans to do a larger renovation in a few years, so like the kitchen, the bathroom only received minimal updates. She kept the home’s original 1950 tile, painted, changed the fixtures, and added a tailored sink skirt to soften the space and hide the plumbing.
Due to the home’s petite size, guests can catch a glimpse of the hallway from nearly every room. “I wanted to make it feel special and create a pretty moment that connects from room to room,” the designer recalls. “I came across this wallpaper from Lake August and fell in love with it. The blue is really subtle, and the pattern is the perfect scale for the small space. We have hints of blue in nearly every room so it’s nice to have this space connect them all together.”
Alex admits that designing for herself can be both easier and more challenging than typical client work. “As a designer, it’s harder to narrow down options for yourself because you know all the possibilities. But for a client, it’s far easier to be decisive. I love that our home is ever-changing, and I can play around with new ideas or move pieces from room to room when I find something new. I think one of my favorite parts of designing homes is that they are never done and always evolving. And as a designer, it is fun to use your own home as your laboratory.”
