LA State of Mind
Author:Abigail StoneLauren Schneider, Kelli Riley and Jenna Rochon of Transition State design a dream bachelorette pad for a Bumble executive.
The trio of Transition State — Lauren Schneider, Kelli Riley and Jenna Rochon — were in their element when it came to creating a dream home for a Bumble exec who’d traded in the beach for the Hollywood Hills. While the move “into town” certainly warranted a luxurious sheen, Transition State, whose philosophy is grounded in the effortlessness that is at the root of the California lifestyle, understands how to balance laid-back vibes with glamorous details for a space that combines rich, sultry layers with feminine details and mid-century idealism.
“Our firm was founded by three partners with three diverse expertise in fashion, commercial and residential design,” says Schneider, “Our design philosophy across industries is rooted in valuing an artful and artisan moments to achieve a collected style with a sense of laid back luxury.” Adds Riley, “Our spaces feel balanced, acquired and intentional.”
“We were referred to the client by an old colleague of mine,” says Rochon, “Honestly, we were fairly new in launching the company when we met her and I think she appreciated our approachability and philosophy to design.” Schneider elaborates, “We were excited to take her on as a client because her taste was a unique blend of funky and glam which we knew would result in a fun, highly individualized design that would push us outside our comfort zone as well.”
The four bedroom, three and three-quarter bath home is located in Mt. Olympus, a quiet neighborhood just off Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The client’s appreciation for Hollywood glam, mid-century artwork and strong female figures drove the trio’s vision for the open-plan space. “We collaborated on a curated selection that reflected her passion to encapsulate her vision. Key art by Slim Aarons and Miles Aldridge was the focal point that kickstarted the design, which we rounded out with additional layers and details in each space,” Rochon explains.
“Her home is a blend of genres with a combination of midcentury, vintage, and modern design elements that together, create a collected space unique to our client,” Riley interjects, “Having traveled all over the world for work, she wanted to bring in elements of those highly unique ‘artful’ moments she’d seen at different boutique hotels.” Explains Schneider, “She had great taste and knew what she was drawn to, but needed our guidance to create the full picture and bring the space to life, specifically how to balance different genres and marry a few of her existing mid-century pieces with a fresh, modern Hollywood-glam aesthetic and location. She wanted her home to serve as a fabulous space to entertain and I think we nailed it.”
The client’s collection of work by Slim Aarons also provided inspiration, acting as a jumping off point for the intersection of sleek midcentury modern shapes with the lush details of Old Hollywood. Here, that translates into clean, strong geometrics, tailored leathers, structured metals paired with voluptuous button tufting, rolled arms, jewel toned velvets and rich textures, and accentuated sculptural ceramics and bold patterns. The backdrop of the home’s floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, which frame amazing views and elide the indoors with the exterior, and its high ceilings, keeps the mood airy and modern.
But, of course, it wasn’t that simple. The space was not without its challenges. “The house was a blank slate when she purchased it and had somewhat of a spec home feel – very modern and in some ways cold,” says Schneider. “We created a super luxe moody vibe in the master bedroom by adding black grasscloth wallpaper and charcoal colored velvet draperies” explains Riley. “In regards to unusual design solutions, the house had an overkill of unnecessary wall cover plates and unused vents so we used artwork and strategically placed furniture to minimize visibility,” says Rochon, sharing the solutions that turned the house into a home. Breaking the long, narrow family room into two spaces — a living area and a reading nook — was another key to creating the home’s inviting vibe. “This was a unique process for us in that we didn’t do our typical turn key installation/big reveal,” says Schneider, “The client preferred to invest in the larger key pieces first and from there we filtered in accents to compliment those decisions.”
Rounding out each space with accessories, plants and art for the final install brought it all to life. “She was over the moon,” Rochon beams, “Overall, the process took a little over a year but it was well worth the wait.”