The Hollywood Hills location of this home served as the ultimate jumping off point for interior designer Erin Sander. “It lends itself to a lot of creativity,” she says. “You rarely see the same style of home in this area, which allows the design to go in a lot of different directions. The original architecture of the home will always dictate the design direction, but the eclectic style of the neighborhood allowed me to step outside the box and focus on reflecting the style of my client.”
The homeowners are a vibrant, color-loving family with three young kids. They love to entertain, so it was important that the spaces feel livable but also to achieve a high level of design to match their sophisticated aesthetic. The home was in good condition overall, but in need of a few updates and a bit of cohesion. Erin and her team touched almost every inch of the space—renovating the kitchen, laundry room, bathrooms, great room, and bar, along with finishing details like painting and cabinetry hardware throughout. “From day one it was important that every space felt connected but also unique in its design,” she recalls.
This home feels classic Californian, with a relaxed and open plan, but functionality was key. To make the kitchen space more utilitarian, they removed a walk-in pantry—a space that’s normally a blessing, but in this case took up a quarter of the space. They redesigned the room to feel more spacious but without skimping on any storage. “The original kitchen had an oversized island that did not allow for ample walking space and a pantry that ate up one side of the room,” Erin tells us. “To solve these issues, we adjusted our island to a more appropriate size, created a pass-through pantry that gave the same of amount of storage without being a focal point, and added a window by the new breakfast nook to let in light and make the space feel larger. Shifting the layout and focusing on correct proportions often make the biggest impact. Finishing details then become the icing on the cake.”
They also selected a beautiful Lacanche range and high-end plumbing (a Waterstone Pulldown Faucet and Rohl Farmhouse Sink). Erin says, “We did not skimp on natural stone or hand-crafted Park Studio hardware, but also wanted to ensure the breakfast table could be used for snacks and homework. The goal was to maintain an elevated sense of style throughout the house and carry that into the kitchen, all while tactfully designing hidden storage and functionality behind custom cabinetry.”
The home feels quite colorful overall, but in a relaxed and tranquil way. It took just over a year from start to finish, a feat considering the continued challenges of the pandemic. “Everyone buckled down and finished on schedule,” the designer shares. “If our clients were going to be stuck at home, at least it would be in their gorgeous, new house! They could not have been more excited to finally spend the night in their carefully crafted dream home and most importantly, utilize the new built-in Miele coffee maker. Three kids at home during a lockdown calls for a lot of caffeine!”
