Bedroom Styling: Colour Pop!

It was a meeting of the minds when interior designer Vanessa De Vargas began working with her client on this Venice, California home. Renowned for mixing old and new pieces, Vanessa was fortunate that her client had the same aesthetic and penchant for pretty things. The house, originally a four-unit building built in the 1950s, was gutted inside, with more walls coming down than going up. The architects designed soaring ceilings complete with wooden beams (the originals from the house are used upstairs) which gives the house an airy, loft-like feel. The design also has an industrial edge, evident in the kitchen and in the staircase, which features exposed nuts and bolts and reclaimed beams.

Far from making the home feel sterile, however, these modern features were softened through Vanessa's interior decoration as she injected color, pattern, and a touch of quirk. From the moment you lay eyes on the brightly patterned wallpaper in the powder room, to the surprising pop of bubblegum pink in the bookcase, it's evident that this is a color-loving home. "My client loves color so we used it in a small dose in the house," says Vanessa. "I don't want to overdo it, so I used colors that made an impact without being too much."

Reclaimed and vintage objects feature prominently in the house as Vanessa's affection for the charm of these pieces is obvious. "My style is a mix of vintage and modern. I feel it's important to have vintage pieces in a home. It feels lived in" she says. Her client felt the same way and was open to making over some of her own pieces to complement the new design. The mix of eras in the furniture results in a home that feels comfortable and personal. A global influence also flows throughout with Asian-inspired pieces as the green campaign dresser and Persian rugs blending seamlessly with ikat patterns and Moroccan tiles and lamps. The artwork, all pieces that belonged to the owner, provides more hits of color and adds to the overall eclectic feeling.

Vanessa's favorite space is the dining room that looks over the backyard to the sublime pool and patio area. "This room, with its large accordion-style Nano doors, is the epitome of indoor/outdoor living," she says. The pool area didn't escape the color injection either with the vibrant blue base of the patio furniture and Adirondack chairs perfectly and playing off the sparkling blue pool.