Express Yourself

Author:Abigail Stone

Ryan Saghian‘s home, a vibrant tapestry for his self-expression that morphs and changes with the times, undergoes a style update

An interior designer’s home is, not surprisingly, their lab for experimentation. Within the privacy of their own space, they can flex the ideas sparked by the endless parade of images that they encounter every day, testing color and shapes, materials and juxtapositions that their clients might be too timid to try.  Four years after completing the first pass on his dream home in West Hollywood, it was perhaps inevitable that interior designer Ryan Saghian was itching for a change. “I’d renovated the powder room and freshened up the kitchen when I moved in,” he explains “But recently, I felt the need for a more substantial transformation that would be a better reflection of who I am now.” This philosophy is at the heart of his work. “I believe design is rooted in a deep connection between individuality and space,” he says. “It should be a reflection of one’s journey, capturing the essence of who you are while allowing for growth and change.” 

He set his sights on the upstairs bathrooms and on finishing up the work he started in the kitchen where he washed a wall in his favorite black hue, added new quartzite countertop, refinished the floors and moved the refrigerator, increasing the room’s pantry space. “I’m in the kitchen more often,” he shares. Inevitably, the work spread out to encompass other rooms as well. “I updated the whole house,” he admits.

He transformed his bedroom into a moody and sexy retreat. He refreshed the dining room, swapping out the existing pieces for a new table and chairs, a new pendant and artwork. He reoriented the living room and brought in a new sectional. He updated the staircases with lucite guardrails, giving a sleek look, and added a layer of drywall over the exposed wood slat ceiling to create a more contemporary feel. “For me, designing spaces is an intimate process that brings together my love for rich, unexpected materials with my desire to create environments that are both luxurious and personal,” he notes. “Every room I design tells a story and, in my own home, that story is about embracing the balance between bold expression and timeless design.” The challenge, he admits was balancing his desire for modern updates with the integrity of the home’s original layout. “I wanted to ensure that any changes I made respected the home’s Colonial Craftsman roots while introducing contemporary elements that aligned with my personal style.” 

One of Saghian’s challenges was maximizing the functionality of the smaller upstairs bathrooms without compromising their luxury or aesthetic appeal. “Finding modern fixtures that would seamlessly blend with the home’s architectural style was essential,” Saghian stresses. Fortunately, he found what he was searching for at Brizo. “Their high-fashion, almost couture-like approach to design adds a level of sophistication that’s hard to match,” he raves. “Their finishes are exceptional and I deeply appreciate their wide range of styles.” He selected pieces from their Tresa collection; their transitional style was a good match for the home’s Colonial Craftsman exterior. “Good architecture and interior design are inseparable so I always honor the home’s style when selecting permanent construction finishes.”

To up the bedroom’s romantic, sexy vibe, he washed the walls in a deep black. “The result is a space that truly delivers,” he laughs. “It’s a luxurious and inviting sanctuary that’s both bold and intimate.” With these updates, Saghian is confident that the home is an an authentic reflection of who he is today and of his evolving style journey. “Every element, from the bold bedroom to the refined fixtures, aligns with my vision of a space that is both deeply personal and timelessly elegant,” he says. “I’m thrilled with how it all came together.” He stops and thinks for a moment. “I really needed a change.”