Nestled in the coveted Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills, a plot with sweeping vistas and a legendary former owner received a fresh jolt of life thanks to the trust its new homeowners placed in interior designer Maya Williams. For their pied-à-terre with a view, the clients wanted a space where they could relax and entertain, highlight their growing art collection, and be enveloped in a variety of green hues that would complement the remarkable views of the surrounding landscape and enrich the home—and their enjoyment of it—overall.
“They wanted a house here in LA that was really opposite of what they live in day to day,” the designer explains, noting the couple’s primary home is much more traditional in style. “They come here often and have a lot of soirées. They wanted a more contemporary home that would be fun for entertaining, a little flirty and sexy but still modern, and a little bit glamorous. That all played into my approach to the design.”
As did the couple’s desire to maintain that sense of modernity while also honoring the Hollywood history of their Beverly Hills address, which legendary musician Ray Charles called home for nearly 30 years. Williams noted the home itself had previously been taken “essentially down to the studs” but that she and the new owners were so pleased with how the home had been re-envisioned by architect Paul Brant Willigerand Taconic Builders, who created a striking midcentury modern structure that both respected the property’s past and served as a canvas for its future.
Excited for the invitation to incorporate her own trademark color throughout the home, Williams wove a verdant palette ranging from chartreuse to palm throughout the sunlit spaces. Still, while many shades of green do help to define the home—from the malachite console in the entry to the curvaceous Vladimir Kagan sofa in Rubelli emerald green velvet in the lounge area, and the showstopping custom green glass dining table crafted in Milan—the interiors are much more than an exercise in color theory. Around every bend, the lifestyle and vision of the homeowners meets with the creativity and acuity of the designer resulting in a home perfectly suited for entertaining and simply for personal enjoyment as well.
The wide-open floor plan and full walls of glass lend an elevated sense of specialness to the art that earned wall space. And the setting created opportunities for furnishings to function as sculptural art pieces—albeit perfectly comfortable ones. “The spaces flow from one to another,” Williams explains, noting without walls to separate items, “everything had to do a really beautiful, coordinated dance. I thought it was very important for these to be significant pieces, unique pieces. The clients have a love for art and I wanted the furniture pieces to be like pieces of art as well.” Throughout, natural materials and artisan pieces add texture and intrigue while modern lines in the furnishings contribute sophistication and even a sense of play, as with the Hanging Hoop Chair that serves triple duty as art piece, conversation starter, and fun, functional seating.
The end result is a home to be both admired and enjoyed—an experiential setting that allows the homeowners and their family and guests to be immersed in approachable, appreciated beauty. “One of the cornerstones in my approach to design is creating spaces that contribute to the well being of my clients and how their home affects their daily lives,” Williams says. “It was very important to me to create a space that always made my clients feel good, happy, relaxed—to create positive feelings in the home that played into their senses.”
Photography by Todd Goldman.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.