have crafted a soulful home in from the mantras of “California ease” and “modernised old glamour”.
Before it was Hollywood and Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills or “90210” as it’s famously called, this home was one of many Spanish ranches in the California region. Come the early 20th century and the “Golden Age” of American film and television, the area entered an architectural awakening of sorts, now referred to as the Spanish Colonial Revival. Actors, producers and directors alike were putting up homes in the hills with terracotta tile roofs, white stucco walls, soft arches and carved wooden doors.
Interior designers of the 21st century are constantly finding ways to reform these Spanish Colonial homes without poking holes in history. Los Angeles-based practice KES Studio joins the ranks of these interior designers, rewriting a home in Beverly Hills owned by a high-profile businesswoman. Together they share a keen eye for elegant details and sanctuary-like spaces, endorsing a home that is both sensibly crafted and deeply personal.
KES Studio director Kara Smith explains how she drew inspiration for the home’s “soulful spirit” and from the client’s style – a style that she strongly aligned with. “Many of our personal tastes aligned, so I was given latitude to explore and bring design elements that really spoke to me,” she says while citing the home’s organic curves, warm neutrals and high-quality materials. “I particularly love playing with neutrals, which make up most of the home’s material palette.” Materials like the taupe-coloured stone in the bar area, the cream-coloured sofas in the living space and the natural timber in the kitchen impart an understated and highly-resolved interior.
What’s significant about Beverly Hills Residence is that while KES Studio did drift substantially from the home’s “dated Spanish look”, they have approached it in a way that still pays homage to the original architecture. “We decided to embrace the locale and create a look and feel with a strong sense of place,” Kara says. From the onset, the home’s design scheme revolved around the mantras of “California ease” and “modernised old glamour”; postage stamps of 90210 and the Spanish Colonial Revival.
With a renewed focus on contemporary living and personal expression, KES Studio have written another chapter in California’s rich design story.
The bar has a speakeasy essence, all the while reflecting the client’s stylish personality and love for entertaining. Here, a sense of indoor-outdoor connection is achieved through steel-framed doors.
“We decided to embrace the locale and create a look and feel with a strong sense of place.”
– KES Studio director Kara Smith
The home’s original Spanish floors have been relaid with hardwood floors, responding to the client’s penchant for soft, neutral tones.
Organic curves – a design element both Kara and the client are fond of – bring a sense of playfulness to the interiors.
“The warmth of the colours gives the home a calming and welcoming feel but also accentuates the client’s extensive art collection,” Kara says.
The sculptural plaster staircase forms a focal point of the home.
Artwork by James Nares
The private spaces stand as moments for quiet repose.
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