Overlooking Hollywood Hills sits a Spanish Colonial Revival home, rich with history. A home like this always poses the difficult question: What stays and what needs to go? The serene European-style property met its match in up-and-coming interior designer and lifestyle coach Joshua Smith.
"Home has always been more than a pretty place to reside, it goes beyond decorating. It's about living a blissful life," says Smith. "My fiancé David Gerbitz and I fell in love with this 1930's home in the Hollywood Hills perched up the hill from Chateaux Marmont. We knew we got [the interior design] right when friends dubbed our home the 'spa house'."
As a design newcomer, Smith has a surprisingly wise philosophy when it comes to his process. He strives to create a conscious home "that nourishes your spirit, inspires your mind and enhances your connection to yourself." That manifests itself in spaces that reflect the character and lifestyle of him and his fiancé.
From the palette to the texture, every room is designed to nourish the soul and engage the senses. The living room is no exception, featuring lovingly-curated pieces like a 1960s brass and glass table, a Swedish round table from the 1800s, and a collage above the sofa made from recycled cigarette boxes.
"For this house we wanted light and ethereal, so we chose warm whites, soft colors, natural woods, a hint soft brass and comfy pillows and throws," Smith says. "We love antique pieces but we don't want our home to feel stuffy or formal, so we incorporated some graphic, modern art to keep it hip and interesting."
One of Smith's favorite rooms to decorate was the dining room, which already had great bones like the decorative plaster ceilings. The dining table is from France in the 1860s and the mirror is from the same era. But he isn't afraid to blend styles and time periods: the dining room chairs are mid-century designs from Lucca Antiques.
"The dining room was on the smaller side without many windows so I wanted to open it up and add some drama," he says. "We love to dine with lots of candlelight and the reflection from the oversized mirror of the flickering candles is divine!"
Although Smith is primarily based on the East Coast, New York City and Connecticut respectively, he's mastered the warm and eclectic feel of California design - but with his own twist. Much like this storied home, Smith's style is one-of-a-kind.
Scroll on to see the rest of the Hollywood Hills home.
