A Bright Bungalow

This beautiful Los Angeles Bungalow caught my eye from the minute I spotted that bright tangerine door. Who could live behind it, I thought, such a bright and bold statement for such a small little house. Then - as pictures allowed me to tour the beauty that rested behind that tangerine door - I found myself coveting, hoping, dreaming, wishing - that someday, this day, TODAY, I'd find myself cozy in a cute California Bungalow with a bright tangerine door. Care to join me for a second look? Let's go!

The entry way sports interesting, ethnic, antique furniture with a silk cushion in yes, tangerine. The art, primitive actually, but beautiful - unique. All of this simplicity leaves the eye wondering, what's going on in here? Is this one of those minimalist Californian vegan's, who happened upon a great dumpster find when on their way to the dendro-activist meeting? But then, as you turn the corner and happen upon the living room ...

It's not minimalist at all! No, in fact, the house is lived in, furnished, and accessorised, styled and for the lack of a better word - LIVING! Check out those plants! And, what's this? A worn down Persian rug? So comforting to know that a beautiful room can exist without sea grass. (Sorry Joni!) I swoon over the rolled arm sofa with bronze nail head trim, the hyacinth reed chairs and the tufted ottoman stacked and stuffed with books, books, and more books!

The sofa boasts a suzani, very popular today - so not at all a surprise - but lets take a closer look at some of the accessories, shall we? A silver tea tray is oh so perfect for that royal blue velvet ottoman, and the clay elephant side table/stool - interesting and, remarkably, not nearly as tacky as I thought it'd look! A smart solution to color coordination in the room - remove the dust jackets from your hardbound books! Look at how they pop here!

And when we remove the palm tree, and replace with an interesting lamp - you see the room really take new form - this time, with an eclecticism that really rings true to my style! Love those Ikat pillows too, and throwing blue into that mix of cream, orange, purple and black, assures us that the owner of this beautiful home has no qualms with color! But just when we were taken with this room there seems to be another in the distance calling our nosy names ...

A second living room? A great idea! More entertaining space - and so convenient for dual use. Here we see more Ikat mixed with pattern and another great eclectic mix of old and new, interesting and blue?

That's right! This room leads right outside to the patio, that sports a beautiful blue fence. We'll get to that, next. For now - lets just marinate in the tranquility of this space.

Styled slightly differently, you really get the idea of how a lazy afternoon could be spent reading your favorite design book, or shelter magazine from the built in settee of this great space. Table space with enough room for your favorite drink, books, and even a toasted pepper and brie on oven roasted focaccia. Mmmm.

By the way - loving these Asian themed pillows! Aren't you? This really is a lesson in mixing interesting fabrics and patterns. Here you can see that even though the choices are bold, the overall look is cohesive. A tip for this, make sure that you keep at least one of your patterned choices neutral - that is mostly one color, with a color in the pattern to coordinate with a color in your secondary pillows. Enough talk about pillows - I'm ready for the outside, aren't you! I mean - with the weather so lovely in California, who wouldn't spend the bulk of their time outside?

And especially with an outdoor space this lovely!? I am in love with this space - its openness, and its styling. Note the copper framed mirror hanging on the side of the house and the sunbrella covered stools in you guessed it, tangerine stripe! This, my friends, is the perfect place to have a party ... until

now! Turning from one area to the next in this place is like a treat in and of itself! What a glorious escape this is, complete with a dining table for 6, and daybed for one, or two if you're sharing that focaccia! I sure wish it came complete with food ...

Ah ha! Ask and you shall receive! Not only food, but drinks and Pottery Barn lanterns, to boot! I'm really starting to like this place.

And in case you're feeling like a rest by the pool - here's a space made just perfect! Not a detail missed. Feel free to lounge about.

I'll be resting here, on the lushly cushioned daybed, covered in beautifully patterned pillows, beneath the boughs of bamboo and lantern light with a cold Corona and lime. Cheers!