JAIME KING'S MID-CENTURY MAKEOVER
“Design is to tell a story within a home, and every story needs the main characters. During my research and discovery process I’ll determine who gets the role and will then compliment them with supporting actors. This also visually helps achieve balance and perspective. ”
Jaime King’s Beverly Hills home is freshly on the market, and today I want to share an inside look at what makes this property so special and full of personality! I had the pleasure of working with Jaime on this house, bringing her dream closet to life, and wanted to reach out to fellow designer Gabrielle Santiago for her favorite elements of the home as well! The house is a 1960s gem, built by Walt Disney for his daughter, which automatically puts this property for film lovers and architecture buffs alike.
The interior features a playful modern mix of color and warm natural materials! You can see more of the fashionably modern space in People.
Gabrielle recounts the kitchen makeover, offering expert designer insight for anyone looking to create a more purposeful and beautiful kitchen.
“The original cabinetry in this kitchen was free floating and barely had any uppers, so we chose to maximize functionality through storage and organization. We opted for open shelving and cabinetry above the new stove top. We chose to separate the oven and stove to allow lower storage for pots and pans and relocated the oven to be on the side with the microwave, which was an area that was underutilized previously. This also allowed more freedom and space off the countertop and more storage for all the kitchen appliances,and everyday home accessories.”
"The goal of this kitchen remodel was to breathe new energy in hopes the rest of the home and the family could be influenced from the warmth and comfort it portrays. I chose a muted but happy color palette to enhance stability, and promote a sense of loving and belonging within the space. All the materials within this space were hand selected to manifest and project specific feelings and we’re chosen to compliment the unique history and environment of the exterior.”
“I believe a well designed kitchen is tailored made to the individual and family that resides within the home. What works for you and your family may not work for someone else. That’s why the design process is so important. Not only for the obvious reasons but for functionality and organization. Hiring a designer is so lucrative particularly for this part of the home because it truly is the most complex and utilized area. A kitchen keeps you nourished and promotes health and if you invest in the space that houses these intentions you will find the investment goes deeper than just a pretty and organized space but can impact your emotional and behavior patterns from within the home. So, if there’s one space to make an investment and set you up for success, it would be here! (or the bedroom!)”
The master closet manages to marry form and function in a way that feels new, but stays true to the character of the historic house, mixing wood materials with gold accents and Jaime’s own signature style. We worked to achieve a design that would complement the master suite, and serve as a retreat for Jaime to play with mixing her pieces and feel inspired when putting together looks!
The closet does however have a modest footprint, and for Jaime, this means making sure the items that are in her closet are pieces she actually wants to wear! “I am very good at purging things,” she says. “Although, I do have a lot of important archival pieces that some of my favorite designers have given me from [when I was] 15 years old to this day.” Beyond those special items, she says “you need to purge the ones that you don’t wear.
For Gabrielle, "Organization and functionality make a successful closet. If you’re disorganized in your home, you’re disorganized in your life. A messy closet screams you could be out of control in your relationships, business, etc. Keep it all tidy and have a place for everything. No clutter!” I couldn’t agree more.