As self-confessed color obsessives, we spend a lot of time deliberating on what paint color will make our walls sing and our decor dreams come true. So it’s not every day that we stumble across a space so awe-inspiring that it makes us reconsider our stance on all-white walls. Homepolish designer Daniela Malca Benloulou‘s light and airy Los Angeles abode has done just that. While there isn’t much color to be found on the walls, Benloulou more than makes up for it with bright and beautiful accessories and furnishings that really pack a punch. Consider us converted.
“We had found a 1967 home without much of an architectural style. I suppose the outside could be labeled Hollywood Regency Revival wannabe,” jokes Benloulou. “Because there were no moldings or details inside, I decided the interior should be kept clean, with a very slight nod to the mid-century.” Her first step before moving into the house, amidst a whirlwind of guests and wedding planning activities, was to paint everything white. Benloulou kept the furniture light and low-profile to make the home feel open and spacious. Then she began layering in bold objects and accents.
Benloulou’s family history was a huge influence on her design decisions, especially in the kitchen. “As a special tribute to our Moroccan heritage, the backsplash is a white mosaic of mother-of-pearl and white Thassos marble, and the cement floor tile is in a brilliant blue floral pattern. I was really set on choosing materials that weren’t in everyone else’s remodel,” she says. The mixture of Moroccan and mid-century styles here is seriously stunning.
The blue and white floor is truly the crown jewel of the space, lending a playful contrast to the sleek white finishes. On-trend metallic drawer pulls add some glamour to the cabinets: “I literally had a heavy gold cabinet knob in my purse for months while walking into various cabinetry places!” confesses Benloulou.
Treasured objects from Benloulou’s travels liven up the neutral living room. “When it came to accessories, we are an international family,” she explains. “I wanted the home to reflect our global perspective without being too kitschy. For example, the wall plates in the living room are actually from wooden table bases, one from Morocco and the other from Algeria. I figured they would get more love up on the wall.”
Mid-century furniture pieces echo the lines of the home but are punched up with pops of color and high-shine metallic touches. We love how the eclectic woven motif on the Hans Wegener-style armchair embodies the two unique design sensibilities that coexist in the space.
Though you’d never guess it from the finished product, practicality and durability were major requirements for this remodel. “Everything here is pet-friendly,” confesses Benloulou. “All upholstery is ‘cat-proof’ microfiber or velvet, and all rugs are ‘accident-proof’ Flor tiles, or just inexpensive enough to toss if needed,” she says.
“The overall aesthetic goal was to create a warm, inviting home while keeping clean lines with happy pops of color and pattern. And, of course, keeping it functional,” explains Benloulou. We think the final result is stunning, and she agrees that it fits her family’s needs to a T. “All in all, it’s a home perfectly made for us,” she says.
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(Images via Amy Bartlam)
