A CONFIDEN

Assured and bold decorating is found in every corner of this contemporary Los Angeles pad that is the epitome of cool

- Emma J Page

Walk into this Mar Vista new build and the last thing you'd expect to encounter is a 1970s-style sunken living room with an overscaled banana leaf wallpaper or a Moroccan rug in a very bold magenta colourway. But these striking interiors are owned by a well-travelled couple with an artistic eye, keen to take an unconventional approach to their home's clean lines. The house was built in 2017 by Californian architecture firm Marmol Radziner, renowned for its uncompromisingly clean-lined approach, and, according to interior designer Jen Samson, it was, 'the ultimate modern slate for us to layer with a bold palette and eclectic design'.

The challenge was marrying the distinctive tastes of this couple one a British entrepreneur with a home in London, the other an actress and artist with a home in nearby Venice Beach.

"They wanted a place that created intrigue and delivered wow moments,' says Jen, known for her global-inspired, fashionforward interiors. 'He likes antiques and collectibles but favours a more graphic approach; she is originally from the South and her sensibility is a little more free-spirited and boho." The solution was to play to the building's architecture with fuss-free floating walnut storage, natural stone and sculptural pieces, while softening it with plenty of rounded silhouettes, from warm globe lighting to relaxed floor cushions.