Setting the scene Le Corbusier’s Modernist colour palette makes a splash in a 1960s high-rise in Hollywood. Cue fresh blues, coral pinks and cloudy greys

Le Corbusier’s Modernist colour palette is given a big-budget Hollywood makeover in this Californian apartment by LA design firm Commune

Mid-century made modern, this Santa Monica apartment, conceived by design studio Commune, is Californian cool at its high-end best. The home was created in collaboration with its owner, talent manager Evelyn O’Neill, who was introduced to Commune’s co-founder, Roman Alonso, by their mutual friend, actress Julianne Moore. ‘She’s my design guru,’ says Evelyn of Moore. ‘She has an impeccable eye.’

A key Hollywood power broker, with clients including actors Greta Gerwig, Salma Hayek, Chadwick Boseman and Daniel Kaluuya, Evelyn has owned the two-bedroom apartment since 2004. ‘The minute I walked in, I knew I wanted to live here,’ she says. ‘The view is spectacular, facing away from the city and looking out across the natural curve of the coastline. You can see all the way to Malibu.’

While the location was heavenly, the condition of the apartment wasn’t quite so perfect. Housed in an iconic mid-1960s high-rise, it suffered from serious water damage. The renovation, led by Commune, involved stripping the space back to its bare bones and re-configuring the layout. ‘For the first and only time in my life, I wiped my entire environment clean and started over,’ says Evelyn.

The overall look was inspired by the Le Corbusier-designed Maison La Roche, which Evelyn visited during a work trip to Paris in 2015. In fact, the paint used throughout her home is made by Drikolor, the company that holds the licence for Le Corbusier’s original colours. The fresh blues, coral pinks and cloudy greys that decorate her rooms are light and airy, linking the interior to the scenery outside. ‘My mantra was Zen beach house. I wanted to bring the palette of the hills and the sea inside, but with the ease and liveability that is Commune’s hallmark,’ explains Evelyn. ‘The colours really helped,’ adds Roman. ‘For example, painting the exterior door and the window frames a beautiful blue enlarged the views.’

‘The apartment has a typically Californian, laid-back feel, but there’s nothing casual about the attention that has gone into how the interiors are finished,’ Roman continues. ‘All of the details were highly considered and Evelyn really invested in the very best. Ultimately it’s texture, colour and light that make a space feel good. Add to that the personal – collections, books, loved objects and art – and you can make a house feel like a home.’ communedesign.com

Living room A mural by Louis Eisner, created using Drikolor paints, is the stylish backdrop to the ‘D1 Elisabeth’ sofa by Lazzarini & Pickering for Marta Sala Editions, daybed by Kevin Walz for Ralph Pucci and ‘Clam’ chairs by Philip Arctander for Paustian. The rug is a bespoke design by Christopher Farr Stockist details on p188 ➤

Dining room The table and large sideboard are bespoke pieces, while the ‘Grass-Seated’ chairs are by George Nakashima Woodworkers. Lindsey Adelman designed the sculptural ‘Cherrybomb’ wall sconce, and the rug isbyHechizoo.Commune created the bespoke bar and stools Stockist details on p188

Kitchen The custom-made cabinets have a mid-century feel that is accented by a modern stainless-steel worksurface, copper splashback and hood, and brass tap from Waterworks Breakfast area Both the bench and the stool are custom-made, by Commune and Classic Design respectively Stockist details on p188

Balcony Two ‘Landi’ chairs by Hans Coray for Vitra flank a ‘Tulip’ table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. It’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the ocean view Stockist details on p188 ‘The VIEW is spectacular, facing away from the city and LOOKING OUT across the natural curve of the COASTLINE’

Bathroom In a homage to the Maison de Verre in Paris, the floor is covered in Pirelli rubber, topped with a rug by Marian Pepler for Christopher Farr. The taps are all from Waterworks and the full-length triptych mirror is a design by Commune Stockist details on p188

Bedroom Miguel Rojas designed the bespoke bed made of black walnut. The bedding includes pieces by Adam Pogue for Commune and Pat McGann. The ‘Contour’ chair and stool are by Vladimir Kagan and the one-of-a-kind pendant light is by Stephen White Stockist details on p188 ‘My mantra was ZEN beach house. I wanted to bring the PALETTE of the HILLS and the SEA inside’