Add some Golden State shine
Eclectic ease and comfort run through California’s varied styles
There’s no single definition of California style: The state’s design sensibilities are as varied and interesting as its geography and climate.
You can get a Cali vibe going in lots of different directions.
For instance, moody colours and a connection with the temperate, coniferous forests of northern California characterize that region’s look. Think weathered woods, leathers and boreal forest and coastal hues like indigo, dark green and stone.
Southern California’s a mix of surf-culture casual and movie-studio glamour. Channel the sun and sand with beachy retromodern hues (deep aqua, coral, sand) and reclaimed materials. Spacy midcentury modern furnishings in hot orange, white, turquoise and red add punch.
“For me, quintessential California style is laid- back, hip and happy. Our gorgeous natural light is the star, and we support it with breezy fabrics, natural textures and a relaxed vibe,” says Kim Myles, the Los Angelesbased winner of HGTV’s Design Star.
Her tips for aspiring Cali-cool decorators: “The key is to keep it casual. California style is the opposite of uptight, so step away from high-maintenance fabrics and fussy finishes. Simplicity is your friend. One large statement — a single wall of colour or a beautifully patterned rug — supported by low-key furnishings is more Cali than a room full of fussy clutter.”
For that statement hue, consider Farrow & Ball’s Yellowcake, St. Giles Blue, Arsenic and Charlotte’s Locks, as well as Benjamin Moore’s China White and Fresno. (farrow-ball.com, benjaminmoore.com)
Modernica stocks a selection of Eames-style fibreglass chairs and George Nelson lighting designs. (modernica.net)
Wicker and rattan are great materials for taking advantage of — or just evoking — the indooroutdoor lifestyle. CB2’s Nest coffee table and Fray pendant fixture bring natural textures home. (cb2.com)
One of Myles’s favourite sources is Black Hill Design, a furniture studio in Tucson, Ariz. Their hefty yet sophisticated wood lamps, and coffee tables like the lithe, muscular Catalina, have a crafted coolness. Jake Scott, Black Hill’s founder, thinks it’s the simplicity of his pieces that attracts Californians.
“The West Coast has that easy sensibility about it. Many Californians are inherently connected with nature because of the topography of the state,” he says. “I think my pieces reflect some of that. … Simple, strong materials with adherence toward a single form.” (blackhilldesign.com)
You could go more glamorous with Z Gallerie, the California-based decor retailer. Bevelled glass rectangles frame a chic mirror, while a comfy white leather chair is framed in goldplated steel. (zgallerie.com)
If you’ve ever watched an episode of Bravo’s Flipping Out, which features Los Angeles designer Jeff Lewis’s renovation projects, you’ll recognize the name HD Buttercup, a furnishings retailer that Lewis often visits with clients. They have an online store too, with pieces like the Alain walnut sideboard with hooped forged-metal legs, the channel-quilted Martin salon chair and contemporary Indian rugs. (hdbuttercup.com)
Pan-Pacific elements are part of California’s design DNA. As Menlo Park, Calif., designer Rise Krag puts it, “We’re on a coast that shares tides with Asia, and there’s always been a fusion of Eastern design elements and philosophy.”
Krag’s mother used to buy Asian rugs, trunks, cloisonne and other objects in San Francisco. Krag incorporates singular pieces like a stepped Japanese tansu chest with contemporary decor.
Also check out Spot on Square, a California- based furniture design studio, for its hip, spare Hiya toddler bed, crafted of ecofriendly birch and white MDF board. The Los Angeles design shop Bend Goods interprets a traditional captain’s chair in a new way, using powder-coated or metal plated iron. (aplusrstore.com)