Right at Home
Author:Lindsey ShookDesigner Andrea DeRosa, co-founder of Avenue Interior Design, opens the home she shares with her husband, David, and two children
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“Designing for yourself presents a unique challenge. Being in the industry, I am constantly immersed in trends,” says designer Andrea DeRosa, co-founder of Avenue Interior Design. “It’s exciting to live in a space that feels current, but it was important to me that the design didn’t become overly trendy. It’s imperative to give yourself the freedom to evolve your sense of style, but it’s equally imperative you never fully abandon it.”
Inside this 2,400-square-foot home she shares with her family, DeRosa’s design demonstrates her love of soft hues, classic details and dreamy vibes. “During this process, I came to the realization that I am frequently drawn to objects and environments that have surrealist undertones and inferred organic and botanical influences, like the tulip inspired Flight sculpture by Jonathan Yamakami on the fireplace mantel or the branch design of the chandelier by Made Goods in the dining room.” she notes. “Those more whimsical elements were balanced by a traditional approach to the use of materials and finishes throughout. A classic checkerboard pattern, found in the flooring of many homes in the area, has always been a favorite of mine and ultimately it ended up being a repeating motif in the residence (marble tiled flooring in the kitchen and the tiled walls of the shower in the primary bathroom).”
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Originally built in 1922, the Spanish-style structure that is located in the Larchmont/Windsor Square area of L.A. was in need of a consistent redesign. “It’s a highly sought after neighborhood but the home itself had been through a series of uninspired renovations and was left with a somewhat abandoned identity—we instantly recognized the home’s potential,” she says.
After purchasing the home in 2019, they began renovations right when the pandemic began, which stalled interior renovations. “It was then that we shifted our focus to the exterior of the home and landscaping to take advantage of the beautiful year round Southern California weather,” DeRosa says. “New wood framed windows paired with traditional casing details paid homage to the style of construction more typical of the home when originally built. A smooth, cream colored stucco façade brightened the exterior, the patio was enclosed for privacy, and ambient lighting added. The more rigid nature of the hedges were offset by looser, organic olive trees, lavender, sage and native grasses that created a more relaxed, carefree feel.”
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When their teams gained access to the inside, creating ample space for entertaining and updating finishes throughout, were the top priorities. “A center island was added to allow for uninterrupted prep, mixing and plating and for casual food and beverage set ups when entertaining,” she notes. “For the floor, Spanish and Italian marbles were mixed to create a classic checkerboard pattern often found in historical homes in the neighborhood. One a solid, cream color and the other a classic Calacatta to tie in the countertops and backsplash, ultimately creating a natural palette that blended both warm and cool tones and allowed for the use of multiple metal finishes throughout the kitchen.”
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DeRosa decided to raise the ceiling in the main living areas (living and dining rooms) nearly two feet in to create greater engagement between the two spaces. “We really embraced the living room as a room in which everyone could comfortably relax and socialize,” she recalls. “The dining room wears many hats as it was important to have a flexible space that could accommodate visiting friends and family yet cater to the daily needs of the family. In addition to a formal dining experience, built-in benches and storage were created to create café corners for each of the children. Small tables were added for casual dining, drawing or doing homework. We waffled on the wallpaper for months and ultimately selected this monochromatic cloud motif by Sanderson. Ironically, in Los Angeles, we so seldomly have clouds so there was an ethereal aspect of the wallpaper that made the entire room feel just a little dreamy. Both of my kids are big dreamers and so this motif was just what the room called for.”
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Throughout, DeRosa wrapped the home in a soft, neutral palette to create a restful environment to find respite from their everyday busy lives. “A sweet moment during the pandemic presented itself when the children decided they wanted to share a room,” she remarks. “Bunk beds were brought in to accommodate both kids and despite having very different personalities and interests, they both agreed on the dinosaur inspired wallpaper by House of Hackney which has wonderful, hand drawn, hand painted characteristics and added to the charm of the room.”
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When asked how she and her family feel about their new home DeRosa proclaims, “We love it! It is hard to imagine living in the home prior to the renovations as it’s completely changed our attitudes. We’ve all enjoyed hanging out in the relatively close proximity that the layout provides, in a wonderful way, it’s brought the family closer together.”