For interior designer Stefani Stein, this recently renovated Los Angeles abode — a four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom house originally built in 1939 — posed a welcome challenge. With freshly painted white walls and gleaming hardwood floors, the home was essentially a 2400-square-foot blank slate just begging to be imbued with texture-rich details.
“Architecturally, everything was so new and crisp, the space was longing for a little imperfection,” says Stein, who was tasked with transforming the space by the home’s new owners, a young couple who recently relocated to L.A. from the Bay Area. "My challenge was to impart soul, add depth, and create an inviting atmosphere while working with the rather austere architectural foundation.”
The result is exactly what we'd expect from the accomplished interior designer: Vintage finds abound, natural textures impart a relaxed yet refined vibe, and works of art add welcome pops of color. But the standout feature, without a doubt, is a hand-troweled Roman clay accent wall that adds some much-needed depth to the living room.
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What were the main items on your client’s wish list for the redesign of their home?
This was one of those projects that started as a kitchen renovation and each time I met with the clients, they added more to the scope of work. Eventually we had plans for gutting and renovating the entire space.
The primary focus was tailoring the limited space to maximize functionality surrounding how they lived. This included a lot of customizations and specificity within the cabinetry design. Drawers were designed to store paper towels and we even added a slot to feed the towels through for easy access. Cabinets were made specific to the size of their cookware and dinnerware. One of the client’s was an avid chef and had a preferred set of knives he used in each of their homes. We measured his knives and then created custom slots in the butcher block for storage and easy access.
Read MoreDepartures
“Trays are a quintessential accessorizing element,” says Los Angeles-based interior designer Stefani Stein. “I love incorporating them in a contrasting material from the table top.”
A stylish serving tray is a multifunctional décor piece that you can use for a lot more than what its name suggests. “They are also perfectly suited to highlight negative space for an uncluttered, yet layered approach. With the exception of trays incorporated into bar styling, I like to keep the tray rather open and emphasize only an item or two. I typically pair them with a small vase or statement accessory,” suggests Stein.
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CA Home + Design
How did you get your start in design?
I loved interior design from a young age and would design floor plans “for fun” as a child. Interior Design was actually my first major in college, however, my parents didn’t feel it was practical and steered me in a different direction. I regretted not following my passion and when I was nearing 30, I realized life was too short for regrets and decided to pursue what I loved. So, I left my well-paid corporate gig and started over. This was definitely a bit scary. Fortunately, after attending the UCLA Interior Architecture program, I landed a position working with a very talented interior designer. Her attention to every minute detail was inspiring and she opened up my eyes to elements of traditional design that I hadn’t previously appreciated. I feel very fortunate for those couple of years of mentorship.
2. What inspired you to launch your own firm, and what have you learned in the process?In a way, I stumbled into launching my own firm. I had outgrown the role with my mentor and a few friends had asked for interior design assistance all around the same time. It was more than I could take on as a side hustle without my day-job suffering, so I thought, why not give it a try on my own?
The autonomy and creative freedom has been truly rewarding. Although admittedly I wasn’t initially prepared for all of the administrative elements. I hadn’t considered the amount of work that went into details, such as sales tax and payroll and whether or not to incorporate, I was just thrilled to be doing my own projects. I hired a bookkeeper straight away to ensure everything was being handled correctly on the business end. This enabled me to focus my energy on designing.
Each project is different so you learn something new with every client. On one hand, that can be challenging, but I love the variety and uniqueness of each project. There is never a dull day!
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Domino
It didn’t take Stefani Stein much more than one step into her clients’ condo to know that it would need a head-to-toe makeover. “It was so dark and so dated,” the designer says. “The colors were intense throughout. It was just too much.”
And though her clients had reached out to her primarily to renovate the kitchen of the 1,430-square-foot condo, located in Marina Del Rey, California, Stein was soon enlisted to overhaul the entire home. The result was a complete transformation from an ultra-traditional, heavy color palette, and ornate everything to one that embodied a simplified, modern, and classic take.
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TRANQUIL PARADISE
A minimalist kitchen by Stefani Stein Inc.lets the materials—marble, tile, and oak—speak for themselves.
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ORGANIC DESIGN
Against a leaf-printed wallcovering, this lacquered lilac bar cabinet pops in a room designed by Stefani Stein Inc.
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People
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NEWLYWEDS SAMIRA WILEY AND LAUREN MORELLI TAKE AD INSIDE THEIR FIRST HOME TOGETHER
When Lauren Morelli first hired Stefani Stein, Morelli's girlfriend Samira Wiley had yet to move into her Los Angeles home with her. But according to Morelli, Wiley was "always a consideration" in her design process. Actress Wiley backs up her wife of just seven months, saying: "I always knew I was going to move in."
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