Small Changes, Big Impact (continued)
An interior designer maximizes his cozy 1920s L.A. home with inspired choices
After patching the aforementioned hole, Andrews flipped the 13½ x 11½-foot kitchen's layout to create a sunny breakfast area where the sink once stood. A vintage Wedgewood range sets a nostalgic tone, abetted by contemporary cabinets topped with butcher block and open shelves brimming with Bauer bowls. "I get a lot of my design muscles flexed with other people's homes," Andrews says, "so when it comes to my own home, I like to keep things simple."
When Andrews bought the house, the walls were painted white and covered with textured plaster. "It was a little too rustic for me, especially for such a small space," he says. He smoothed out the walls with a skim coat of plaster, then painted the living room a rich, deep mahogany. "I've found that a really dark color in a low-sheen finish has no boundaries to it; it's less space-defining, which makes a room appear larger," Andrews says. Newly installed wall sconces reflect light off the paint's satiny surface, adding to the sense of spaciousness.
The long and narrow (27x15-foot) room proved challenging to furnish. Andrews floated a seating group in the center of the space in front of the fireplace, and set the dining table at the far end. The vintage Danish piece doubles as a desk. "I spend a lot of time here," he says. "I can sit and see the whole house, and I have a great view out the side window."
The home's two bedrooms share a common landing a few steps above the living room. "The space is not exactly symmetrical," observes Andrews, who offset the imbalance by placing a 6-foot mirror in front of the blank wall between the rooms. "It opens up the space completely because it reflects the natural light, creating the illusion of a window," he says.
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