{"id":593460,"date":"2026-04-19T10:34:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/593460\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T10:34:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:34:35","slug":"a-reinvention-so-personal-you-wouldnt-even-know-an-interior-designer-touched-this-california-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/593460\/","title":{"rendered":"A Reinvention So Personal, You Wouldn\u2019t Even Know an Interior Designer Touched This California Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Living<\/p>\n

A Hyper-Personal California Family HomeMichael Clifford<\/p>\n

When designer Julia Chasman\u2019s<\/a> dear friends asked her to give their family home a cosmetic refresh, the founder of her eponymous design firm was only meant to touch the soft furnishings and window treatments on the ground level. However, ask any designer, and they\u2019ll agree that it\u2019s not uncommon for a small project to snowball into a large-scale makeover quickly. Next thing Chasman knew, three years had gone by, and she had touched every living space in their Santa Monica, California, home.<\/p>\n

The homeowners had moved into the single-story house in 1987, choosing to expand it a decade later to accommodate their growing family and taking it from 1,600 square feet to around 4,000 square feet by adding a whole other floor. Chasman came into the picture in 2022, when their three children were all grown and living on their own, and the empty nesters realized the function of their house needed to change.<\/p>\n

The easy part? There was plenty of potential. \u201cThe couple had a strong collection of paintings and other kinds of art, including vintage posters, classic photography, and sculptures and pottery, with an emphasis on folk art and whimsical, hand-painted pieces,\u201d Chasman tells House Beautiful. The wife, Jesse, is also a part-time artist who blows up vintage photographs and hand colors them, so many of her pieces are featured throughout the home as well. With all of that to work with, the designer couldn\u2019t help but grow her vision of what their home could look like with fresh paint, new upholstery, and replacing some older items. It wasn\u2019t easy getting her friends and clients on board with all these changes\u2014it seemed like more than they wanted to do, Chasman adds\u2014but a breakthrough occurred about midway through one of her presentations. \u201cAt a certain point, Jesse said to me, \u2018We\u2019re on the journey now\u2014we trust you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Thankfully, there was no need for demolition in any part of the house. \u201cThere was no one big change that was asked for by my clients; they just knew that their home could reflect them better and make them happier,\u201d Chasman says. She kept the redesign mostly cosmetic, just at a much larger scale. Her clients had a plethora of high-quality furnishings, and there was no need to get rid of them. Instead, she updated most of them with beautiful fabrics and integrated classic vintage pieces, both traditional and midcentury, to create a complex, layered look. Upscale light fixtures, custom window treatments, and rich wallpaper contribute to the elevated look, taking a tired interior and transforming it into something that better fits the homeowners\u2019 personalities.<\/p>\n

Some of the more substantial changes can be found in the entry hall and kitchen. Walking into the home, the staircase is straight ahead on the far back wall, and doorways to the dining room and living room are on either side. Chasman made the staircase the focal point, adding a center table and a large pendant light in the space by the stairs to draw attention to it.<\/p>\n

She infused the kitchen\u2014which she initially wasn\u2019t going to touch\u2014with personal touches to make it feel lived-in but still elegant, and refinished the green marble countertops to make the 20-year-old features look brand new. \u201cThe biggest change we made was removing the counter seating on the large butcher block island, and trimming off more than a foot of the overhang where the stools sat,\u201d she says. \u201cThis gave us extra room in the kitchen to add a family breakfast nook that didn\u2019t exist before.\u201d The kitchen now looks like an entirely different room.<\/p>\n

The entire home reflects the lives of her clients and longtime friends, highlighting their travels, their interests, and their family. \u201cTo me, this is the house I\u2019m always happy to revisit with a small new find, or to talk about the things we didn\u2019t get around to,\u201d Chasman says. \u201cI hope I\u2019ll be working on this house for the rest of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n

FAST FACTS<\/p>\n

Designer: Julia Chasman of Julia Chasman Design<\/a><\/p>\n

Stylist: Danielle Armstrong<\/a><\/p>\n

Location: Santa Monica, California<\/p>\n

The Space: A 4,000-square-foot traditional-style home with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a powder room.<\/p>\n

ENTRYWAYA vignette of artwork, books, and flowers serves as the welcome party.\"A<\/p>\n

Wall paint: Wimborne White, Farrow & Ball. Rugs: Blue Parakeet Rugs.Michael Clifford<\/p>\n

This lively front entrance wasn\u2019t always as colorful and exciting as it is now. When Chasman first started on the project, the space lacked purpose, and furniture was placed along the walls without intention. \u201cIt serves as the main connecting space for all the downstairs rooms, with large casement openings to the living room on one side and the dining room on the other,\u201d the designer explains. It deserved more than simply being a place to pass through.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe front door is at one end, and the back concludes with the impressive double-height staircase,\u201d Chasman says of the feature, which wraps around and leads to the upstairs bedrooms.<\/p>\n

Chasman wanted the staircase to be the focal point of the house, so she and her design assistant, Beck Samuels, chose to paint the feature in a dark green to demand attention. They coated the window in a lighter shade and installed a massive paper lantern at the center of the stairwell space.<\/p>\n

LIVING ROOMFrench doors look out to the English country garden.\"Bright<\/p>\n

Wall paint: Wimborne White, Farrow & Ball. Rug: Lemieux et Cie. Couch: client\u2019s own, in Kravet fabric. Rattan chairs: vintage, Brighton Pavilion.Michael Clifford<\/p>\n

A mix of vintage and existing reupholstered furniture fills the living room with character. The green leather slipper chair, trimmed out in brass, a pair of black rattan chairs, and other inky accents keep the otherwise bright room grounded.<\/p>\n

Chasman had custom curtains made in a Michael Smith print from Jasper Showroom and chose to create a matching valence to overlook the French doors. \u201cThe owners’ art and photo collections are hung on the walls, and we sourced a wonderful oversized French poster for them with whimsical mermaids circling champagne coupes,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

The family regularly sits down in this elegant space to hang out around the working fireplace, which was rebuilt with a better design and custom moldings before being painted in Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball. Above the new extended wood mantel are two brass sconces, which tie in the tones of the gorgeous chandelier; below, the clients\u2019 collection of folk art and candlesticks finds purpose.<\/p>\n

FAMILY ROOMWarm, sandy tones ground a plethora of patterns.\"Cozy<\/p>\n

Wallpaper: Serena & Lily. Sectional: Shabby Chic, in Kravet fabric. Chair: Shabby Chic, in Serena & Lily fabric. Roman shade: The Shade Store.Michael Clifford<\/p>\n

Located off the kitchen, this cozy den is the family\u2019s go-to spot for watching TV. Chasman didn\u2019t want to replace the furniture her clients had since the bones were still so sturdy; instead, she had custom slipcovers made from the sectional, chair, and ottomans, using the extra bits for throw pillows.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pattern mix is grounded by the warm sand-toned grasscloth we used to cover the walls, the nubby ochre and ivory patterned carpeting, and the woven wood window shades, all creating a soft neutral backdrop,\u201d Chasman says. \u201cThe owners\u2019 collection of vintage international movie posters fit right into the room\u2019s main purpose\u2014watching movies together.\u201d<\/p>\n

DINING ROOMFruit motifs mirror the fruit trees outside in the garden.\"Dining<\/p>\n

Buffet, chairs: client\u2019s own. Dining table: vintage. Rug: Blue Parakeet Rugs. Chandelier: Visual Comfort & Co.Michael Clifford<\/p>\n

Not only is this the place where formal meals happen, but it\u2019s also a pass-through area to the kitchen and family room. Simply put, it needed to be exciting. To achieve a bold outlook, Chasman covered the walls in a bold fruit pattern and changed out the old lighting choices with a white plaster chandelier and matching sconces. Vintage cocktail lamps on the credenza and a cordless one from Pooky on the mantel create layers of light.<\/p>\n

Like the fireplace in the living room, this one also got fitted with a new, larger mantel. It\u2019s framed by the natural light that streams in through the unadorned French doors on either side of the hearth. Just outside is an alfresco dining area.<\/p>\n

\"Interior<\/p>\n

Paint: Calke Green, Farrow & Ball. Wallpaper: John Derian for Designers Guild.Michael Clifford<\/p>\n

This dining room boasts so much color and pattern, down to the smallest corners of the room. Though CHasman kept the clients\u2019 original antique French dining table, vintage chairs, and hand-painted credenza, she brought in a freshness through the bright green paint on the wainscoting.<\/p>\n

KITCHEN & BREAKFAST NOOKNew lighting changed the ambiance, making the room feel softer.\"Bright,<\/p>\n

Cabinet paint: Eddy, Farrow & Ball. Pendant lights: Visual Comfort & Co. Roman shades: The Shade Store. Rugs: Blue Parakeet Rugs.Michael Clifford<\/p>\n

Touching the kitchen was not in Chasman\u2019s or her clients\u2019 original plans, but all good plans evolve. Though it still didn\u2019t receive any major changes, it looks vastly different from when they first started on the project.<\/p>\n

The cabinetry got a fresh coat of paint\u2014a pale green to complement the green marble countertops, which they refinished\u2014and Chasman took out most of the recessed lighting, replacing it with twin pendant lights above the island. The homeowners\u2019 appliances gave out as Chasman was working on this room (one could say it was an almost convenient mishap), so they replaced the old range, fridge, and dishwasher with beautiful matte white and brushed brass ones from GE\u2019s Caf\u00e9 Appliances line. The hood got an upgrade, too\u2014a new custom wood design is swathed in the same pale green as the cabinets.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rest of the magic came from decorative accessories, like the set of bold yellow Italian ceramic chargers we mounted on the walls all around the room, and the vintage fish print we hung on the oven hood,\u201d Chasman explains. \u201cVintage French kitchen canisters and Moroccan baskets complete the layered look.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dining<\/p>\n

Wall paint: Wimborne White, Farrow & Ball. Bench paint: Sudbury Yellow, Farrow & Ball. Table: vintage, eBay. Chairs: vintage. Pillows, pendant light: Serena & Lily. Pendant light: Serena & Lily.Michael Clifford<\/p>\n

This breakfast nook was created without expanding the kitchen at all\u2014Chasman\u2019s choice to trim down the existing center island gave them the square footage needed to carve out this cozy sit-down spot. \u201cWe custom-built a bench, painted it a yummy ochre shade, and completed the casual daytime eating area with a vintage farm table, vintage wicker chairs, and a Serena & Lily rattan pendant light,\u201d she says. The yellow gingham check fabric on the pillows is the same one covering the armchair in the family room, creating a connection between the spaces.<\/p>\n

The cherry on top is the oversized Italian culinary poster looking over the space and surrounded by vintage Deruta plates and Navajo baskets.<\/p>\n

LIBRARYThe color scheme stems from the moody wallpaper.\"Cozy<\/p>\n

Ceiling paint: Eddy, Farrow & Ball. Wallpaper: House of Hackney. Cabinet paint: Beverly, Farrow & Ball. Armchairs: vintage, Nickey Kehoe. Side tables: vintage, The Mart Collective. Picture lights: Visual Comfort & Co.Michael Clifford<\/p>\n

The shelves in the library\u2014which received the biggest transformation of any of the common gathering spaces\u2014were already there, but Chasman painted them a dark forest green and enclosed the top shelf with an upper wall to make them appear completely built-in.<\/p>\n

Chasman pulled out colors from the House of Hackney wallpaper, relying on it as inspiration for reupholstering the sofa in a green chenille velvet. However, the choice that made the room, in Chasman\u2019s opinion, is the pair of vintage French velvet armchairs she sourced at Nickey Kehoe. They bring in a softer shade of green without feeling out of place.<\/p>\n

The owners\u2019 Chinese Art Deco rug brings in warmer tones, tying back again to the wallpaper. Though the beloved rug was initially in the living room, it was too small for the space, so Chasman designed this reading room with it in mind. However, when the time came for installation, the rug was too large. Instead of finding a new place for it, the designer went to her friend Sheba of Blue Parakeet Rugs, whose team of expert rug menders cut several inches off the rug and rebounded the original borders to the smaller body. You can\u2019t even tell they touched it.<\/p>\n

PRIMARY BEDROOMDecorated in soft, creamy tones, this serene space is an oasis.<\/p>\n

This large primary bedroom is crowned with a tall vaulted ceiling, making it easy to feel empty and cavernous. Chasman\u2019s solution was to coat it in a warm creamy tone, one that doesn\u2019t weigh it down but gives it a sense of comfort. The wall-to-wall carpeting is a thick wool ivory with pale blue threads in the weave, and the custom headboard is wrapped in a soft floral linen, which was also used for the window treatments.<\/p>\n

The armchair and chaise lounge were both recovered in new fabrics, all in soothing neutral tones, making this an ideal spot to slowly wake up and enjoy a coffee by the fireplace.<\/p>\n

GUEST BEDROOMStriped wallpaper emphasizes the height of the vaulted ceiling.<\/p>\n

This bedroom has seen two generations: what was once one of their children\u2019s rooms is now designed for the owners\u2019 grandchildren when they visit. The two darling bobbin-style beds give the room a bit of a European vibe, which is accentuated by the bedding from UK supplier Piglet in Bed.<\/p>\n

When picking out the Roman shade pattern, John Derian\u2019s Parrot & Palm, Chasman happened on a theme for the room: parrots! There\u2019s a parrot lamp perched on the nightstand and two vintage parrot finials resting on the side chest right next to a parrot plate from Anthropologie. Jesse, one of the homeowners, painted the art piece that\u2019s hung above the beds.<\/p>\n

\"Portrait<\/p>\n

Hearst Owned<\/p>\n

About the Designer<\/p>\n

After a career as a film producer, Julia Chasman decided to pursue her private passion of restoring older homes and reviving them with a unique flair. She started with thoughtful flips, which were so coveted that she was able to open her own interior firm in 2018, Julia Chasman Design.<\/p>\n

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