Thoughtfully toeing the line between trendy and timeless, Jaclyn’s home (that she shares with her husband and two dogs) mixes colorful finishes, textures, and shapes against the home’s Spanish-style bones and beautiful city views. The end result is a super-fun vibe that’s full of personality (and basically what quarantine dreams are made of).

Working hand in hand with designer Ginny Macdonald, Jaclyn selected Industry West pieces for her home’s main bedroom that would, in Jaclyn’s words, make it feel like a hotel room (a welcome escape during a year when most vacations and fun travels have been put on hold).

We asked Jaclyn and Ginny a few quick questions to learn more about the project (and what it was like taking on a renovation in the middle of a pandemic)—to see the rest of her home, be sure to check out the feature in Architectural Digest and video tour.

Photos courtesy of Jessica Bordner and Sara Tramp, and styling by CJ Sandgren.

IW: Your home is a beautiful Spanish style in Los Angeles—what drew you and your husband to this house in particular?

JJ: Spanish Style homes never go out of style. While I love some of the trendier houses like farmhouse style or even more modern, I think they can sometimes not retain their value long-term, but Spanish style is classic!
 
IW: Your home’s main bedroom perfectly toes the line between contemporary and classic—what was the goal behind its design?

JJ: I wanted it to feel like a hotel room! That was my number one goal! Creating a really sleek but functional look that still felt cozy.

IW: This bedroom is super fun—what made Industry West pieces a good fit for the space?

JJ: To say I am obsessed with Industry West would be an understatement! I had been stalking the Cane Bed for a while, it’s definitely the piece I get the most messages about. The modern silhouettes of the chair and the poufs were a perfect complement to the bed plus they have really beautiful rich colors.

IW: If you had to pick just one, what’s your favorite furniture piece in the bedroom?

JJ: I love the black sideboard—it’s both artful and functional and such a great bold piece to tie the room together!

IW: You and Jaclyn tackled a renovation/redesign in the middle of a pandemic—how did the general craziness of 2020 affect the design process and installation?

GM: With construction considered essential, we were still able to work and we just made sure everyone followed the CDC guidelines. The main thing that we battled against was lead times for products. Since a lot of manufacturers had to close their locations or reduce their staff to make it a safe working environment, it meant there were delays in shipping. A small thing to deal with considering everything else going on around us.

IW: What were your goals/guiding concept for the main bedroom, and how did it tie into the fun vibe of Jaclyn’s home as a whole?

GM: We went for a monochromatic vibe in here with some pops of color. The cane bed really is the highlight with the black rounded edges, it’s one of my fave pieces. We used two long ottomans as the end of the bed bench and really drew on that for the linens. The rich pinky reds bring in such warmth and fun personality but feel sophisticated.

IW: Do you have any tips to share for someone who’s looking to make their bedroom a more cozy and welcoming space (especially since we’re all spending so much more time at home these days)?

GM: I personally love to layer in patterns, tones of color, and different materials. Like with Jaclyn’s bedroom, we used a linen duvet cover with a very fine pinstripe and a pale pink quilt on top. We then added 2 more cozy layers with the patterned mustard blanket and the fluffy red blanket. To bring it together we added the wine-red pillowcases. Granted, this was way more ‘styled’ than real life, but the elements are there.

Low lighting is another way to add a cozy feel. I hate overly bright artificial light, especially the blue LED that is out there. Light needs to be soft and warm and can be done with sconces or table lamps. Ditch the recessed I say, or at least get a dimmer 🙂

We hope you enjoy this guest post by interior designer Brendan Flanigan of Brendan Flanigan Interiors, a residential and commercial design firm based in New York. We’ve partnered with him on the 2020 Hampton Designer Showhouse (which we’ll be sharing about soon), but in the meantime here are Brendan’s top five tips to change the feel of your home quickly and affordably!

With people spending more time at home than ever, it’s no surprise that many are looking for ways to make their home work better for them. Whether it’s improving function, traffic flow, or refreshing aesthetics, there’s never been a better time for a quick home update. Here are five quick and easy tips to change the feel of your home without breaking the bank!

I’ve found that every client, in every market, needs more storage. It helps a room look composed and neat, and gives the necessary function for any given activity in close proximity—from crafting to research to kids’ toys to your six remotes—keeping a room clean allows you to see the beauty of elements you have, the clean lines, and the colors. Storage is always a good thing.

Look around—is your furniture pushed up against all the perimeter walls? Pull at least one piece in for a quaint conversational feel. It will define the space, bring your eye to an inviting focal point, and create some negative space behind the piece you’ve pulled away from the wall. 

Every room needs negative space to feel grounded, and natural and give the eye a place to rest, so one can fully take in the attractive elements in the room.

Think about your space—do you start with two colors or three? And continue to shop with them? Try this: Keep your original color palette for most of the project, but ditch them toward the end. Add inventive color, or even neutrals (remember, neutrals are grey, greige, light muslin, parchment tones, white and black. Yes, black is a neutral!).

In unexpected places, these “un-colors” can add as much to a space as their more saturated counterparts, like turquoise, navy, and chartreuse. If you go with powerful colors, limit their quantity for impact, so they stand alone.

You’ll be surprised how something unexpected can work. A designer can envision this, but you can emulate it with trial and error, too.

I grew up with six siblings, three of whom are girls. After a childhood tenure in giving my opinion on their retail finds, I learned that you must try something on you’d never think would look good, or you’ll always be wearing the same thing. That goes for your interiors and furnishings picks as well. Step outside your comfort zone to find your mojo; a little trial and error won’t hurt and if you get stuck you can always get interior insight from a professional. But trying a color or texture or size you never would, can help you find what works in a space.

Put your artwork on surfaces, and sideboards, and cluster it for character and juxtaposition. Also, use smaller art on some walls to add drama, and use larger art on other walls. Artwork is like wall covering you can keep—and take with you. Invest in pieces you love, and if it’s over your budget, ask a gallery or artist to lay one away.

You’d be surprised how often an emerging artist will work with you. A favorite hack of mine is to put art on the floor, leaning against the wall. It covers outlets and cords, and brings the eye down, which can actually give a gallery feel and adds to the perceived dimension of the room.