Decorator Leanne Ford designed this artful home in Huntington Beach, California, for a young family. It wasn’t until the moldings were lacquered in white gloss and the parquet floors were installed that they finally landed on the concept for the stairway in the entrance, a paint spill created by artist Carolyn Kelly. Ford credits the homeowners for being risk takers.
In the living room, the homeowners commissioned Teresa Mafara at Monarch Finishing to paint exaggerated layers of black over the crown molding, a quirky counterpoint to the grand chandelier from Cleveland Art. Below, an oversized antique cocktail table from Big Daddy’s Antiques in Los Angeles sits in front of a pair of leather chesterfield chairs.
Early in the design process, Ford found this assymetrical lighting fixture at Big Daddy’s Antiques and knew that she wanted it in the library. It hangs above custom shelving by Cooks Finish Carpentry. To retain a casual feel, Ford mixed-and-matched throw pillows from Lawson Fenning and Anthropologie on the bench.
The kitchen was the only room left partially intact during the renovation. Ford painted the existing bottom cabinets black, then brought in modern rustic elements like the Giron leather barstools from ABC Carpet & Home. Rejuvenation’s flush mount pendants with copper shades hang above the island.
White-washed brick lends subtle texture to the breakfast nook. Ford reinforced the space’s farmhouse vibe with a reclaimed wood table, copper Tolix-style chairs layered with sheepskins, and piles of handmade pillows (mixed with a few from West Elm). The glamour factor gets amped up with copper pendants by Tom Dixon.
The second floor hallway’s French doors were another lucky find from Big Daddy’s Antiques, as were the pendant lights and trunk. The parquet flooring is noticeably darker here; according to Ford, it’s a visual cue that separates the more casual living upstairs from the more sophisticated sensibility downstairs.
Finding the perfect floor-to-ceiling mirror for the master bedroom was a “treasure hunt,” says Ford. “We knew we wanted to find something authentically old.” She finally happened upon an 1840s Louis Phillipe oak mirror on 1stdibs. A metal pendant by Arteriors is suspended above a cloud platform bed by RH, made all the more cozy with vintage cotton bedding from Matteo.
