See the Amazing Before-and-Afters in This Stunning Bel Air Home Makeover

Artist and Girl w/ Knife founder Elicia Castaldi is at it again, this time transforming a cluttered, dilapidated LA mansion into a modern showpiece that reflects her bold, sexy and unapologetically feminine brand.

By: Meredith Rosenberg

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Shop This Look

Photo By: Christina Gandolfo

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Kris Magenheim

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: Kris Magenheim

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Kris Magenheim

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: Kris Magenheim

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Kris Magenheim

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: Kris Magenheim

Photo By: Davidé

Photo By: Christina Gandolfo

Designer Elicia Castaldi's Second Renovation Project: Welcome to Knife/House Bel Air

You may recall reading about Elicia Castaldi's sexy Palm Springs renovation in 2021. The artist and Girl w/ Knife founder is at it again, this time with a more traditional take on a grand Bel Air home in Los Angeles. In keeping with her brand, however, Elicia repeated her signature white, black, gold and blush palette in the second Knife/House location, a live/work space that's also used to showcase her art and home goods as well as entertain clients and friends.

Learn More: Tour a Stationery Designer's Sexy Palm Springs Home

Before: A Grand Bel Air Estate Way Past Its Prime

Elicia wanted to find an LA home that possessed the same grandeur as the Palm Springs abode she made over. It took a good deal of vision to see past this home's dilapidated state, but hints of its former glory remained.

The renovation was supposed to take six months, but between pandemic-related shortages and delays, the project took two years to transform 4,500 square feet into six bedrooms and six baths. Elicia and her husband, David, spent the extra time in their Palm Springs home while overseeing the massive renovation.

After: A Beautifully Renovated Estate Ready for Its Close-Up

Elicia brought the house into 2022 from the 1950s by freshening up the exterior with white paint and replacing the cypress trees framing the oversized front door. She stuck with cypress as she liked the symmetry and dramatic height the trees provided. Elicia also kept the original door handles and statement-making entry light, because timeless pieces are worth repurposing.

Although you can't tell from the image, Elicia also planted jasmine in front because she loves the smell. "That's the first thing that hits you," she observes.

Hold Onto Timeless Features When Doing a Renovation

While Elicia gut-renovated most of the house, she chose to keep a few key pieces from the original, including the staircase railing and gold lamp in the foyer. Both play nicely off of the Sending Good Vibes print from the Girl w/ Knife stationery line.

Compared to the midcentury Palm Springs space, Elicia says that this house is more reflective of her core design style, which skews modern and French with an industrial twist. But both houses "know something about one another at the same time," she says.

Before: A Couple's Lifetime of Accumulated Stuff Made This a Sentimental Project

As a bit of backstory, Elicia shares that the previous owners were the only ones to have lived in the house, where they spent about 70 of their 90-some years. Their family were the ones selling the house, which was filled with decades of the couple's possessions. "We really had to see a vision through what was just a crazy mess," Elicia recalls about this room. But the clutter also inspired her to learn more about the couple, and in the process, "I ... actually fell in love with [them]."

After: A Designer Pays Tribute to the Original Homeowners in Key Design Choices

As an homage to the previous owners, Elicia kept the bookshelf in the same spot in the revamped office/library, replacing the original with a brand-new version that sports long, deep shelves. The white shelves allow her colorful book collection to take center stage, while gold lamps add some drama. Not least, the modern black chairs in a fun print from HD Buttercup prevent the library from feeling too serious.

A Tiny Bathroom Is the Perfect Excuse for a Wet Room

Due to the small size of this bathroom near the library, Elicia decided to maximize its usefulness by creating a wet room. "The litter box may or may not be right there," Elicia quips.

She also chose to place the showerhead on the ceiling instead of the wall to make it less obtrusive.

Before: An Outdated and Out-of-Sight Kitchen Requires a Modern Adjustment

The original kitchen was located in the current bar area. Elicia explains how it was tucked away in a corner next to the maid's quarters and laundry room, while the dining room was huge. Since she barely uses the dining room, she flipped the traditional model. "The way that we live, it's always about hanging out in the kitchen, so we wanted to make that as big as possible," Elicia elaborates, adding how it was important for the kitchen to also integrate into the living room.

After: An Enormous Kitchen Island Makes for an Inviting Hangout

The kitchen island with chairs on both sides is repeated from the Palm Springs home, and serves as a more casual dining room table since that's where guests naturally congregate.

It's impossible to ignore the island's zebra-striped, Cambria Bentley quartz. In fact, quartz is used for all of the kitchen surfaces instead of marble since it's a more durable and easier-to-clean material.

Design tip: It's actually more economical to use the remainder of an on-site slab to create other pieces for the home, often saving more than half off. In this case, the remnants were used to make coffee and side tables, and even cutting boards and coasters.

Before: Transforming a Small and Claustrophobic Breakfast Room

Since every room needed a complete overhaul, another cost-saving trick involved adjusting the window and door frames to accommodate standard-size windows and doors, versus creating custom-sized doors and windows.

The high cost of materials, supply chain shortages, high gas prices and other pandemic-related issues are reasons to work with existing infrastructure where possible.

After: A Functional and Fun Bar Area Also Provides Storage

The new bar area functions as an overflow kitchen thanks to additional counter space and a second refrigerator that's tucked out of sight. It wasn't until experiencing how much they used two fridges in the Palm Springs home that Elicia decided she had to re-create that convenience in Bel Air.

Another benefit of the hybrid wet bar/kitchen is the additional storage space, which in turn minimizes clutter. (It's not just for show — the counters really are that clean all the time.) "That also comes from our discipline of living in New York for almost a decade," Elicia relates. "You have to figure out your storage situation, or else you just live in chaos."

Another way Elicia minimized clutter? Adding shelves that extend to the ceiling, creating both storage and a dramatic effect at the same time. Speaking of drama, these sleek swivel barstools from Wayfair add just the right amount of flair.

Bigger Isn't Always Better When it Comes to Dining Rooms

Here one can see how the dining room has been downsized, yet still contains a thoughtful layout with purposeful touches. For example, look closely behind the dining table to spy the gin and bourbon decanters on the breakfront cabinet. Elicia bought those from the home's estate sale as part of her tribute to the original owners.

Before: Bright New Flooring Can Make a Big Difference

Here, a small desk and heavy mirrors eat up an entire wall. The before also illustrates the original parquet flooring found throughout, which Elicia replaced with wide-plank white oak from Garrison.

After: A Wall Devoted to Highlighting a Wine Collection Is Also a Conversation Piece

As a wine collector, Elicia repeated a variation of the wine-bottle-wall concept from the Palm Springs home. "I think the graphic element of all the things lined up is what creates that visual impact," she says, noting how much she loves the repetition.

In reality, this area serves more form than function, since a missing wine bottle throws off the intended aesthetic until it's replaced, but the wall still makes for a great conversation starter as well as a functional piece of art.

Before: Chopped Up, Small Rooms Made This a House Divided

The original design involved small rooms that were closed off and dark, including the living and dining areas. Before, the living room consisted of two separate rooms, so the dividing wall had to come down in order to open up the space.

After: Repeating Materials Throughout a Home Can Create Remarkable Flow

After opening up the living room, Elicia replaced the original nonfunctioning fireplace and used the same Nero Marquina quartz from the bar area to create the fireplace façade. You'll see this unexpected repetition of materials throughout the home as part of the overarching design goal of continuity. (Notice the coffee table is the exact pattern as the kitchen island.)

Elicia further streamlined the space by obscuring the TV above the fireplace. A button triggers a mechanical arm that extends and flips the screen around, while Elicia painted the other side with numerous layers of textured acrylic paint so that the effect didn't detract from the black quartz. "We saw it on a TV commercial [from Hidden Vision] and were like, oh my God, we need this," Elicia explains. Although in hindsight, due to a myriad of structural and code issues that made the installation more complicated and expensive than planned, she probably won't repeat the fireplace TV going forward. "We learn so much on every renovation project," Elicia reflects.

Orient Living Room Furniture to Take In the View

Elicia wanted as much light as possible here, and achieved that by also adding traditional floor-to-ceiling wrought-iron French doors in the enlarged living space. Additionally, she wanted the doors to open onto the patio, thereby creating a seamless transition to the outdoors. Elicia believes the backyard should be an extension of the home, not a completely separate experience.

In fact, Elicia didn't just design the landscape to be enjoyed while outside. She created a visually interesting experience to be appreciated from all of the windows considering how much time one spends inside. Case in point, these scalloped cream chairs from Crate & kids swivel in order to fully enjoy the view. As a design tip, Elicia advises considering the view while seated and adjusting the height as needed.

Before: Clutter Was Removed and Rooms Opened Up to Create a Contemporary Footprint

It may have been tough seeing past all of the initial clutter and outdated decor, but Elicia recognized that the house had good bones and a great footprint from the early 1950s. "I'm sure in its day this was the most showstopping house," she remarks. That said, it required a good deal of structural work to open up and modernize the bedrooms and baths, including the huge primary suite.

After: A Marie Kondo-Worthy Purge Leads to a Showstopping Bedroom

Elicia reduced the primary suite's overall footprint in order to accommodate her ultra-chic walk-in closet. Beyond that, she widened the glass sliders to the original balcony to allow in more light and more room to access it.

Before: Relocating a Bathroom Closet Led to a Better Use of Space

Elicia recalls the original bathroom was large enough to contain an enormous closet, which she relocated in between the bedroom and bath. She notes how the bathroom is still huge despite shrinking the footprint.

After: Create Calm Neutrality by Sticking to a Coherent Color Palette

"I like how if you strip away all of the decor from the home, you're just essentially left with black, white, brass, etc. There really is no permanence to the color here," Elicia observes. "I'm not into doing a green bathroom or anything," she adds. Speaking of neutral colors, Elicia loved this New Venatino quartz tile so much that she used it in three of the bathrooms, including her primary one.

Don't Be Afraid to DIY and Try Simple, Inexpensive Fixes

As an artist, Elicia isn't afraid to alter anything in order to achieve her design vision. Here, she spray-painted the lamp above the tub black so that it would match the other light fixtures.

Before: Uninspiring Storage Needed a Walk-In Closet Makeover

The original closet space wasn't exactly what Elicia had in mind for her dream closet, plus it lacked the drama of a walk-in.

After: This Glamorous Walk-In Closet Is Goal-Worthy

Elicia re-created the custom closet from her former NYC loft apartment. "One of the things that I love so much about it is the impact of the shoe wall, which is a lot like a wine wall," she shares. To achieve this effect she raised the ceiling and added a bold fixture that provides ample light. Sliding pocket doors are another intentional design feature, allowing for a grand reveal.

The Guest Bedroom Is Designed for Comfort With Some On-Brand Girl w/ Knife Touches

The guest bedrooms were reconfigured to maximize the usable footprint and larger closets were also added. In keeping with the main color scheme the room sticks to the black, white, blush and gold palette and includes a few decor pieces from Elicia's Girl w/ Knife brand.

Before: A Blah and Boring Bath

Elicia worked with this guest bathroom's existing size after eliminating everything from the original space.

After: A Modern Yet Timeless White Bathroom With Gold Accents

Look familiar? The New Venatino quartz sink provides more counter space than the previous one, and the tile also works well in the shower. A contrasting floor tile in the same shade provides visual interest without competing for attention.

Less Is More in the Guest Bedroom

Elicia kept all of the guest bedrooms simple yet luxurious, with added thoughtful touches like this pillow from her line.

Before: An Accidentally Demoed Marble Sink Led to Positive Design Results

Elicia intended to keep this original sink in the hallway bathroom, except it was accidentally demoed during the renovation. "It was just a beautiful piece of white marble," she laments, "so then I changed it to black because I just didn't have the heart to replace it to what it was."

But then again, deviating from the original design goal can still yield positive results. Elicia figured, "Let me just change it altogether so that I don't feel bad."

After: A Sexy and Sophisticated Black Bathroom

There's certainly no reason to feel bad about this final result. Although not pictured, the black Nero Marquina quartz countertop matches the shower, creating a sophisticated, elevated environment.

Before: A Maid's Room Becomes a Multitasking Laundry and Yoga Studio

This was the former maid's quarters and laundry area, complete with stairs that led down to the basement. In order to create a wellness room for yoga that included an en suite bath, Elicia gutted the existing space and covered up the stairs. "I did that because the bathroom was so teeny-tiny," Elicia explains, and that move allowed her to enlarge the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Elicia opted to hide a stacked washer and dryer in a large closet, while concealing other laundry necessities in a closet across from it. This way, "you're not wasting a room on laundry," she advises.

After: A Pretty-in-Pink Yoga and Wellness Retreat

Behold the wellness/yoga room. Elicia is a big believer in setting aside a separate space to practice a wellness routine, whatever that looks like. She chose the smallest bedroom since the size didn't matter, as long as she had a dedicated space. Although Elicia had another reason for the location. "I picked an area where my cat wouldn't know where I am so she wouldn't scratch at the door."

A Small Black-and-White Bathroom Demands Strategic Placement

The zebra-esque Cambria quartz used in the kitchen pops up again in the wellness room's bathroom. Here, Elicia chose to extend it down to the floor to hide plumbing. It also created a more substantial sink in the process, considering the small footprint required a shallow sink.

Before: A Garden Pergola Turns Out to Be a Light Blocker

Elicia put just as much effort into the outside spaces of the home as she did the inside. She overhauled the overgrown landscape that had seen better days. While she acknowledges this pergola provided needed shade in the middle of summer, she decided to get rid of it because it also blocked too much light.

After: Keep Your Outdoor Design Scheme Consistent With Your Indoor One

Eliminating the pergola means the patio now receives all the sunlight. The intentional arrangement of the patio furniture and black-and-white-striped pillows continues the home's symmetry and repetition.

Elicia believes in sticking with the same themes and colors for the backyard since the outside is an extension of the home.

More than 300 Trees and Plenty of Bougainvillea Create a Backyard Oasis

Elicia transformed the once-forlorn backyard into a lush English garden by choosing more than 300 trees and flowering plants for the property, with an emphasis on white roses, boxwood hedges, ficus and bougainvillea. "We fell in love with the bougainvillea out here in Palm Springs," Elicia shares. "It's one of the few plants that do really well in the high heat."

A Well-Placed Fire Pit Reflects Into the Nearby Pool

Elicia knew she had to have a fire pit at the Bel Air home since they used the one at the Palm Springs pad so much. "California gets so cold at night that you really do need something like that," Elicia advises. She specifically wanted it next to the pool for the cool reflective effect. Also, note the symmetrical cypress trees in the background.

A Simply Elegant, Pared-Back Pool Area

The white roses are on full display in the vastly improved pool area, framed by a simple black-and-white color scheme in keeping with the home's palette.

Before: A Small Bathroom Revamp Is a Very Tight Fit

Back inside, the original bathroom next to the office required a complete revamp while staying within the tight parameters.

After: A Too-Tight Bathroom Is Turned Into a Bright and Roomy Space

Here again is the New Venatino quartz counter. "I wanted to give it a big moment in this bathroom," Elicia says, referring to her office bath. She decided to have fun by using a huge slab of it, figuring she didn't need cabinets or drawers since it's not an en suite bathroom, plus there's a closet right next door.

Before: A Home Office Needs to Be Updated for Better Function and Storage

The original home office may have had the space, but that's about all it had going for it. As evidenced in the next image, to make it work Elicia added two storage closets at each end to store art supplies, provide symmetry and frame her desk nook. Though not seen, she chose a larger window for more light and added shelving to display her product line. Her office equipment is intentionally not seen, and she specifically added outlets in the closets to hide cords.

After: A Stationery Designer With a Taste for Dramatic Renovations

"Both of these houses ... are really the backdrop for my artwork," Elicia explains. "So it was really fun at the end to finally hang all my artwork and have that make the space come to life even more." Here, Elicia sits in front of one of her greeting cards that she enlarged to about six feet wide, and the print nicely complements the crushed velvet rose chair that Elicia found on Wayfair.

One would guess Elicia might be ready for a break after completing a massive two-year renovation, but she's actually gearing up for another major LA project starting in January 2023. "I'm quite addicted to this process," she acknowledges. "I love the transformation ... it feels very spiritual when it all comes together."

See the Amazing Before-and-Afters in This Stunning Bel Air Home Makeover

Related To:

Shop This Look

Designer Elicia Castaldi's Second Renovation Project: Welcome to Knife/House Bel Air

Before: A Grand Bel Air Estate Way Past Its Prime

After: A Beautifully Renovated Estate Ready for Its Close-Up

Hold Onto Timeless Features When Doing a Renovation

Before: A Couple's Lifetime of Accumulated Stuff Made This a Sentimental Project

After: A Designer Pays Tribute to the Original Homeowners in Key Design Choices

A Tiny Bathroom Is the Perfect Excuse for a Wet Room

Before: An Outdated and Out-of-Sight Kitchen Requires a Modern Adjustment

After: An Enormous Kitchen Island Makes for an Inviting Hangout

Before: Transforming a Small and Claustrophobic Breakfast Room

After: A Functional and Fun Bar Area Also Provides Storage

Bigger Isn't Always Better When it Comes to Dining Rooms

Before: Bright New Flooring Can Make a Big Difference

After: A Wall Devoted to Highlighting a Wine Collection Is Also a Conversation Piece

Before: Chopped Up, Small Rooms Made This a House Divided

After: Repeating Materials Throughout a Home Can Create Remarkable Flow

Orient Living Room Furniture to Take In the View

Before: Clutter Was Removed and Rooms Opened Up to Create a Contemporary Footprint

After: A Marie Kondo-Worthy Purge Leads to a Showstopping Bedroom

Before: Relocating a Bathroom Closet Led to a Better Use of Space

After: Create Calm Neutrality by Sticking to a Coherent Color Palette

Don't Be Afraid to DIY and Try Simple, Inexpensive Fixes

Before: Uninspiring Storage Needed a Walk-In Closet Makeover

After: This Glamorous Walk-In Closet Is Goal-Worthy

The Guest Bedroom Is Designed for Comfort With Some On-Brand Girl w/ Knife Touches

Before: A Blah and Boring Bath

After: A Modern Yet Timeless White Bathroom With Gold Accents

Less Is More in the Guest Bedroom

Before: An Accidentally Demoed Marble Sink Led to Positive Design Results

After: A Sexy and Sophisticated Black Bathroom

Before: A Maid's Room Becomes a Multitasking Laundry and Yoga Studio

After: A Pretty-in-Pink Yoga and Wellness Retreat

A Small Black-and-White Bathroom Demands Strategic Placement

Before: A Garden Pergola Turns Out to Be a Light Blocker

After: Keep Your Outdoor Design Scheme Consistent With Your Indoor One

More than 300 Trees and Plenty of Bougainvillea Create a Backyard Oasis

A Well-Placed Fire Pit Reflects Into the Nearby Pool

A Simply Elegant, Pared-Back Pool Area

Before: A Small Bathroom Revamp Is a Very Tight Fit

After: A Too-Tight Bathroom Is Turned Into a Bright and Roomy Space

Before: A Home Office Needs to Be Updated for Better Function and Storage

After: A Stationery Designer With a Taste for Dramatic Renovations

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