London Luxury Meets California Cool in This Pastel-Packed Pad

When Los Angeles-based interior designer Kate Lester was approached by a client moving from London to California to design the interior in their new-construction home, she put her design magic on full display.

“Our clients lived in England for a time, and really loved the way European design embraces color. I also love color, so it was a real treat for me to be able to infuse a chic palette throughout this project,” notes Kate. From the moment you approach the bold, blue front door sitting against the coordinated patterned wall, you begin to get a sense of the treat Kate is referring to.

From the delicate and whimsical chandelier to the tightly tufted blue sofas, the formal living room is a well-balanced display of European elegance and cozy Californian charm. Upon entry, the space is perfectly outfitted to give you an immediate idea of its contrasting casual grandeur.

Kate’s decision to install woven wood shades rather than a more traditional treatment also enhances the room's cozy coastal vibe. With the below-window built-ins and elegant millwork, conventional curtains, blinds or wood shutters would’ve resulted in the space feeling stiff.

One way Kate achieves a cozy aesthetic in the formal living room is her formulaic implementation of throw pillows. Her rule? “Skip the matchy-match! Mix in stripes, large and small patterns, and don’t be afraid to mix and match. Most of the time we only use one ‘pair’ of pillows in a room, and then add in singles with contrasting patterns.”

“I want the homes we design to feel personal, curated and welcoming. That’s more important to me than following any trend,” says Kate. Decor choices like this leaned oil painting and unusual vintage mirror exemplify this attitude perfectly. Though every room looks magazine-ready, each has a cozy informality that makes everyone feel right at home.

This familiar feeling isn’t just happenstance. Kate is very intentional to design spaces that are true to her client and a place they can live, even down to what she puts on the coffee table. “Really interesting books and decorative objects that are conversation starters. Also, a good candle and tray to hold all of the essentials (like coasters and remotes) are key. If you create systems that will set your clients up for success, they will use them, and the home will always look good because it’s also functional!” says Kate.

“Some of my favorite ways to add character are in the millwork details. Door and window trim, custom-designed wall paneling and ceiling details,” says Kate when asked how she likes to add character to a new build. She outfitted the home’s family room with a bespoke paneled accent wall, built-in cabinetry and bench seating as well as a ceiling-hugging statement light, resulting in an abundance of character in an oft-overlooked space.

Centered beneath the sophisticated coffered ceilings that stretch from the kitchen to the living room is a stylish sunken dining room. Here, Kate plays with patterns in the chairs as well as the curtains she selected to help set the room apart from the rest of the open-concept space. The dining area’s daring decor makes it feel like a distinguished moment in the home.

The natural wood table becomes a mirror beneath the gleam of the dining room’s three windows, lighting up the space from below. This effective use of a subtle, light wood allows the details of the items surrounding the table to tell the space’s story.

A couple of steps up from the dining room is the home’s extraordinary eat-in kitchen. From top to bottom and side to side, the space is filled with stunning details – both architectural and decorative – including glossy coffered ceilings with tongue-and-groove paneling, a luxurious black and gold range as well as hidden storage beneath the island’s bar top.

Viewed from the kitchen table, the space’s symmetry is on full display. When asked how she combats stiffness while designing sleek, symmetrical spaces, Kate advises, “Symmetry is absolutely important, but even more important is making the space feel warm, welcoming and unique. When we are styling, we often step back and say, ‘Okay, this feels a little flat – what is our weird thing?’ Perfect spaces are boring, so I always encourage people to take risks. When it feels perfect, mix it up a little.” Find out what this kitchen's unexpected touch is in the next image.

This kitchen's unexpected touch? A stately set of warm oak cabinets housing the refrigerator and freezer to the right of the bright white space. Though there is nothing weird about them, this choice is just enough to keep the space from feeling too stiff or symmetrical.

“If you are going with a white kitchen then be sure to take a chance somewhere else!” says Kate in regard to making a white kitchen unique with details like statement lighting.

“The developers of this home did such a great job adding the brass island legs and oak bar wall in the kitchen. All we had to do was take it one step further with the custom colored pendant lights,” says Kate. The colorful gold-trimmed pendants are the perfect lively addition to match the home’s overall personality.

A quaint breakfast nook opposite the kitchen island features an abundance of bench seating as well as three warm wooden chairs that tie in with the nearby oak bar wall. The eat-in kitchen’s design including the cozy banquette certainly adds to the home’s overall familial atmosphere.

Staying true to her “weird thing” rule, Kate takes a risk with a splash of blue paneling in the hallway off the kitchen. Elegant white millwork effortlessly ties the two spaces together, making the blue moment feel one with the kitchen and a separate statement all at once.

The soft blue paneling continues into the main floor’s powder room, emphasizing the home’s European flair. “I think a little bit of color in every room makes a home more unique, but I would say most people feel comfortable pushing the envelope in a powder room or a guest room. Anywhere that is used less frequently is a great place to try your hand at incorporating color and getting used to it,” notes Kate.

Kate continually returns to this color throughout the home, implementing it in spots that emphasize her signature architectural additions. These gorgeous blue built-ins garner just enough pop from the soft pastel, allowing the beautiful decorative pieces to draw a wonderful contrast.

Kate makes equally impactful statements in the small decorative details as she does in the larger architectural details. For built-ins like these, she advises, “Start with the larger items first. Anchor a few shelves, then add books. Always make sure to add in greenery, a leaned piece of art (if you can), and some really interesting decorative objects. Bookcases are a great place to showcase the stories and interests of the people who live there.”

Undoubtedly, soft blues are an important element of this European-inspired California charmer. However, Kate introduces pale pinks time and time again to impart a chic balance of color on the space, without breaking away from the pastels. This casual and cozy bedroom goes all-in on pink while working blues back in with lamps, pillows and a seafoam ceiling fan.

Rather than settle on a boring upstairs hallway, Kate opted to fill the space with charming design elements. Detailed floor-to-ceiling millwork, colorful, large-format art pieces and a bold black and gold pendant saturate the space with eye candy.

The Manhattan Beach home's main bedroom is as calm and cozy as it is indulgent and sophisticated. Vaulted, shiplap ceilings with stylish molding frame the cascading chandelier as if it’s a work of art, elevating and refining the space.

The calming sophistication of the main bedroom continues right into the main bathroom. High-contrast Carrara marble on the sink is mirrored on the shower walls, creating a unique visual in the vanity mirror. Warm baskets beneath the sink cozy up the space, making it feel like a relaxing retreat.

A freestanding tub with a wall-mounted faucet furthers that relaxing feeling, adding a spa-like aesthetic to the spacious bathroom. Woven-wood shades, a rustic wooden stool and a vintage rug are the perfect homey additions to top off the space’s cozy vibe.

When asked about her bedroom design staples, Kate responds, “An oversized or unique mirror. I consider mirrors another opportunity to create depth and dimension in a space, just like a piece of art!”

Art is a cornerstone of Kate’s work in this home. Vintage pieces lean casually against walls, and quirky drawings and vibrant oversized paintings are sprinkled throughout the home. Some offer a refreshing break in color and texture to the room they reside in while others simply take a backseat and blend in.

"I love art! It’s one of the most important parts of designing a space, and I think when you curate the right pieces for a space it really elevates the whole look!" gushes Kate. Her pick for this beautiful bedroom perfectly embodies her point. Its color and texture, even down to the frame it’s in, are the cherry on top of the space.

Kate has a knack for using smaller pieces of artwork that make major statements, especially above a bed. As she says, “When it comes to scale and art, I say there are no rules. Put a huge piece on a small wall or a small one on a large wall, sometimes the juxtaposition is striking and makes a really huge impact.”

Gorgeous art isn't the only way to beautify a space. To make a big impact in a space without blowing your budget, Kate recommends, “Replacing ‘standard’ or boring cabinet hardware! Mixing metals and investing in interesting and impactful cabinet hardware is a game changer! Coordinate your cabinet hardware with the finish of your light fixtures in the space to create a balance. If you have the budget (and patience) painting your built-in cabinetry is also hugely impactful!”

Kate’s approach to outdoor spaces isn’t far from her indoor approach. Function is just as important as beauty. Comfy places to sit and spots for enjoying food and drink are a top priority. She says, “If there is a fireplace or a view, take advantage of it! Outdoor furniture is notoriously uncomfortable, so make sure you try the pieces before buying or buy from vendors you already love.”