The Mediterranean Exterior
Joani Stewart-Georgi
With a style that originated in countries north of the Mediterranean Sea (think Spain, Greece and Italy) you may commonly hear this style referred to as Spanish modern. Any way you cut it, the results are more formal and coloring echo the sea and sky. The furnishings are generally short with ornately turned legs and feet; tiles mosaic; walls glazed; hardware heavy and often burnished; and walls are predominantly textured.
The Entry BEFORE
Passionate about a transformation and armed with excitement Joani’s first trip into this mediterranean abode looks promising but inside it was empty, cold and dreary; totally not in line with sunny Los Angeles!
The Family Room BEFORE
Granted, it was uninhabited; a single male has just moved out (go figure). The tour ensued …
The Dining Room BEFORE
Great bones indeed and characteristics in line with mediterranean style, but as she looked at one room after the next a few design challenges became apparent …
The Living Room BEFORE
There were columns everywhere!
Living Room Columns!
As she went from room to room the words “female touch” was the first notation; she did after all have a single female executive as a client!
The Master Bedroom BEFORE
Breakfast Room BEFORE
See it? Ok try again – middle window.
As zoomed in as we can!
Only in LA!! Yes that is a TREE growing THROUGH the window and out the skyligh. Leave it to the ladies to figure out that you can save the tree but amputate the arm that protrudes through your breakfast area (brilliant right?!). With the ironies table holding court and the coordinated window treatments, chair seats and rug the end result was much brighter.
Breakfast Room AFTER (Post Amputation)
The first piece selected for the new look were the painted panels on either side of the fireplace. In a design fluke, Joani discovered them in Rosemary McCafferey Antiques in Santa Monica and went back to the house and measured the space and they were the exact dimensions needed. Clearly meant to be, they purchased them immediately and painted the living room walls to match the background of the panels.
Living Room AFTER (Painted Panels to the Right)
That set the tone for the room. Recall the pillars; they created a natural seating area with beautiful French Doors to the front patio and the stone fireplace as a focal point. There was so much stone in this house, with the pillars, floor and fireplace that softening it was in order. Faux painting and covering the Mimi London sofa’s in chenille then adding Nancy Corzine pillows and Aga John rugs helped to give the space warmth.
Living Dining AFTER
What was Joani’s favorite piece in the house? The Robert Graham sculpture (above) sourced from Carl Schlosberg Fine Art (likewise the rest of the art). 
Robert Graham Sculpture
The feature that turned out far better than expected were the stained glass windows in the dining room (shown below). They needed the light in the room but had bad neighbors and could see their mess; the stained glass solved that problem and created the idea of a leaf motif in the room.
Dining Room AFTER
There is a hidden door to the basement that Joani didn’t want to see (above left), so it was faux painted it with leaves to camouflage it. The Pindler tapestry fabric on the dining chairs coordinates with the garden feel and stencils of leaves were also painted under the rooms arches.
Master Bedroom AFTER
Master Bedroom AFTER
Family Room AFTER
Custom Built TV Cabinet
Mosaic Fireplace
Mediterranean Outdoor Dining
Alcove AFTER
The Entry AFTER
A truly warm and inviting welcome to this fabulous house indeed. Major shoutout to faux painter Carol Free, Design Assistant Jumi Yang and Contractor Kane Sickner for their contributions.
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