Architectural Digest: January 2017
Written by: Miranda Agee | Photography by: Daniel Collopy
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Step Inside a Modern, Eclectic Mediterranean Home in Los Angeles
Good design tells a story. Every curtain panel, midcentury sofa, or vintage chandelier creates a visual narrative inspired by the homeowner, and each room functions as one juicy chapter after the next. Such is the case in one Los Angeles home inhabited by a pair of decor-minded raconteurs (she is an actress; he is a director and producer). To spin a yarn that culminated in a deeply personal aesthetic, the newly married couple hired designer Christos Prevezanos of Studio Preveza for his elevated sense of form, function, and flow.
This being their first home together, the homeowners brought their own distinct styles to the table. He liked masculine furniture and hard, contemporary lines, while her tastes ran more on the bohemian side, with her favoring eclectic accessories and curvaceous furniture. But the job wasn’t as cookie-cutter as Prevezanos had thought. “I tried to keep the design process loose and casual in order to let their separate styles mix freely,” he says of the elegant yet edgy feeling that prevailed in the newly rehabbed 1926 Mediterranean Revival house. “It’s all about having an open mind.” It’s also about conveying a sense of place. Describing the surrounding Hancock Park neighborhood as “charming and magical,” Prevezanos wasted no time wading through the homeowners’ blend of furnishings and art to create a cohesive look that had the same qualities as their new Los Angeles hideaway.
First Prevezanos used symmetry to create a sense of balance among the disparate elements. Side-by-side Moorish mirrors from RH flank the fireplace in the sitting room and are echoed by matching Lawson Fenning loveseats and vintage cane-backed barrel chairs. “Most of the furniture is boxy and midcentury, so we added layers of curved pieces, patterns, and soft textiles to please both of my clients’ tastes,” he says. The balancing act continued in the dining room, where he softened the hard lines of the sculptural chandelier with delicate glass sconces. The artwork in the space, framed floral wallpaper samples by Ellie Cashman, was another deliberate act to counteract the hard lines and appeal to the feminine qualities of the home.
In a Los Angeles home designed by Christos Prevezanos of Studio Preveza, the foyer retains its original terra-cotta floor tiles despite the house’s recent renovation by Newman and Wolen Design Architects. The Moroccan pendant sets off an unintentional yet welcome star theme throughout the home.
The living room exhibits Prevezanos’s ethos of symmetry. Here, almost everything in the space, right down to the pillows on the matching loveseats, has a twin. The balance creates ease in a room full of different furniture styles, Prevezanos says. The mirrors are by RH, and the sofas are by Lawson Fenning.
Chairs by Dana John covered Moore & Giles leather line up under a custom oak dining table with brass inlay. Prevezanos designed the table to accommodate a crowd for large dinner parties while still keeping it simple enough for the homeowners to have a meal for two without overwhelming the space. Above, an L7 brass chandelier lends a soft glow for every occasion. The framed Ellie Cashman wallpaper serves not only as an infusion of color but also as a positive sign that elevated florals do in fact exist.
The music room doubles as a space for private rehearsals and, thanks to enough seating for a small crowd, an impromptu jam session. The custom Lawson Fenning shelving unit stylishly displays guitars and sheet music. Another hide rug anchors a baby grand piano.
“Thanks to the original wood panels, the room instantly feels rich,” says Prevezanos of the office. “We wanted to capitalize on the dark tones, but the pop of green helps to keep it lively.” Here, the curtains are by Zak + Fox, and the two vintage chairs are upholstered in a green velvet by Pindler.
In the master bedroom, the bench at the foot of the bed is by Oly Studio, and the bedding is from John Robshaw.
In the homeowner’s personal study, pattern is meant to energize the space. The malachite print wallpaper is by Cole & Son, and the sunburst mirror was found on Wisteria.