Tamarra Younis, design principal of Union of Art Interiors in L.A., recently transformed a Venice Beach loft into an airy bohemian retreat. The designer used bespoke details, luxury fixtures and a blush pink backdrop to infuse the layout with charm and personality. Younis was enthusiastic about the design refresh right from the start, she noted. “Oh gosh, the fun part of working on this project was that we got to transform pretty much every area of this home! From the front garden all the way up to the roof terrace, there was no space left untouched by the time it was completed.” She shared a behind-the-scenes look at the loft’s imaginative re-design process.
Younis embraced the idea of using a wash of pink in the loft right away. “This was probably the first big statement that happened when transforming the space,” she shares. “Our client wanted a pink accent wall, but getting the perfect shade proved quite difficult as it had to work not only on the first floor but also the second floor where the light is very different. Since it was such a large accent wall, we opted for a limewash finish to give a little more texture and depth. This is another finish that is trending at the moment, and we felt it was complimented by the smooth plaster finish of the fireplace design.”
A focal point in the living space is a curved fireplace which is a singular design statement. “The original fireplace was very boxy and asymmetrical. In its original form, we felt it made the room feel very off balance. As with everything in this design process, our client wanted it to be beautiful and bespoke. So we got out our markers and drew the idea for the curved shape directly on the wall,” Younis explained. “It’s always a fun challenge to re-envision a space in this way, however, working with existing conditions has its limitations and challenges. We embraced the asymmetrical nature of the space and decided to go bigger and curvier. Incorporating the custom vertical shelving on the left side added function and helped balance the room.”
Many of the most dramatic changes are seen in the kitchen, Younis said. “The kitchen was probably the biggest transformation and most challenging. Our client felt that the existing kitchen was rather bland and did not have the ‘wow’ factor she was looking for. We ultimately landed on a big and bold color change as the best way to get the look! We felt that the dark walnut stain would complement the pink accent wall opposite. Sometimes you have to match bold with bold to balance out the space. Once the color was set, the next question was how do we make the cabinets look different without changing the layout? That’s when we came up with the idea of introducing a mix of linear cladding with custom organic layered shapes. We wanted to bring in some of the softer curves that we were introducing through the house. We really loved how the contrast between the very linear loft architecture and the organic curves all came together to create this very unique and exciting space!”
Sumptuous outdoor living was also addressed in this loft design. “The rooftop is such a special oasis. Our client loves to entertain and sunbathe, so we wanted to maximize the seating area as much as possible. This was the one area where we did not customize the furniture so it took some hunting to find the perfect look and size that would fit the space,” the designer revealed. “By opting for an oversized comfy u-shaped lounge sectional from CB2, she has plenty of room to take in the rays and ample seating for her and her visiting friends to kick back with a nice glass of wine. We tiled the floor with a textured tile that looks like the ocean and placed large oversized tropical plants in the corners to finish the look.”
A cinematic piece of artwork is a prominent feature in the primary bedroom, Younis stated. “This is a spectacularly large 2008 chromogenic print by Alex Prager called ‘Virginia.’ Our client’s passion for artisan and unique objects became the driving force for the overall feel and design of the home. The key was to find the right balance between the laid-back Cali style that originally drew our client to the loft with a sexier and mature space that offers a little modern and worldly twist.”
Scroll through for Before and After images of this redesigned Venice Beach loft from Tamarra Younis.
Before:
After:
Photography by Madeline Tolle.
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