Decorating Los Angeles: Wattles Mansion Spring '17

The spring of 2017 marks the second year of the Wattles Mansion Designer Showcase. The 2017 theme will demonstrate through interior design how to reinterpret a historic home for today’s contemporary lifestyle. The title of this year’s showcase is Hollywood History: The New Classics.

So many of my favorite designers participated in this years showcase, so naturally I wanted to highlight some of the rooms I absolutely loved. 

The magnificent Wattles Mansion was built in 1908, and was the original home of famous financier Gurdon Wattles who bankrolled much of early Hollywood. It’s a classic Mission Revival masterpiece designed by Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, who also designed the Huntington Library, the Rose Bowl and the now gone Ambassador Hotel. Wattles Mansion features 47 acres of formal botanical gardens on a picturesque hill far above Hollywood Boulevard.

Let's take a little tour, shall we?

Front patio, design by Leslie Shapiro Joyal

Entryway by David Dalton

Living Room, design by Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design

Dining Room, designer Patrick Dragonette

Master Bedroom, designer Kym Rodger

Guest Room East, designer Ryan Saghian

Bar upstairs, designer Nicole Gordon

Ladies Lounge, designer Kelley Jackson

Private Retreat, designer Kathleen Beall

The conservatory room by Melinda Ritz and Mae Brunken on behalf of the Set Decorators Society of America -- I think this little room is my favorite, see the crystals! 

Home Tour: the glamorous bohemian home of Amelia Widel

Many of you who have been following me for years know how in love I am with my grandmother. I dedicated my book to her and pretty much everything I do is inspired by what she taught me about the art of living. My grandmother is glamorous, a Francophile who lived in Paris for years who had a love affair with New Orleans and because of that became a total eclectic bohemian. When I came across this home tour, I instantly felt like this would be the modern day apartment of my grandmother's tastes. Mostly because her favorite color is blue, her love of collected and layered art, Parisian style antiques, the bohemian light fixtures and hints of femininity. Then I found out that the owner of this home is named Amelia, which is my grandmothers mothers name and she absolutely loved her mom. Such a sign. 

Everything about this space just gives me such good vibes. Interior designer Amelia Widel decorated this space with such personality and style, I am so in love with it. What inspired me about this woman is that she left her career in interior design, to launch her own line of furniture, Melimeli. You must check her stuff out, its beautiful. 

Let's now take a look at her home. I can't help but notice the plants throughout and how they give such good Feng Shui. I am also very drawn to the layered artwork. Artwork is always going to speak to your personality, so when you choose art you want to pay attention to what it says about you. 

Colors speak as much as artwork does. This beautiful muted blue gives a certain essence to the bedroom. I don't know what it is but I believe that soft blue walls are the BEST backdrop for antiques. It just is the right color to really make the wood pop in its most beautiful way. 

My shoes never fit in my closet and I have so many so I am inspired by this display as a way to display mine. 

All the colored velvets are calling my name. . .here are a few of my favorites: 

styling by Saša Antic & photos by Andrea Papini for Elle Decoration