Building and styling a house means something different for everyone. For supermodel Alessandro Ambrosio, home is a sunny haven in Santa Monica, California, that echoes the delights of her native Brazil.Read on to discover some design tips inspired by Ambrosio’s home.
Plan for your family, including the stage you are currently in, and for the future. For Alessandro it’s a family affair, with her ten-year-old daughter, Anja, and her six-year-old son, Noah. An open plan living area has the advantage of sight lines which will help adults keep an eye on little ones. However, open plan living is a timeless and spacious choice for the future as well.
Clean, white surfaces and wooden floors are kitchen staples that will transcend the test of time. However, keep it from becoming sterile with touches of warmth, such as these bar stools, or some greenery.
Don’t be afraid of statement pieces, they act as a focal point of the room and can pull a room together. If a feature is bright and bold, keep the supplementary colours and textiles relatively neutral in complementary tones.
The best bedrooms are ones where you want to escape to and relax. Create a calming effect with neutral tones and soft furnishings and fabrics.
Whether it’s a small sculpture you brought when travelling or a fun cushion or throw, adding touches of your own personality and style can bring a home to life. Allesandro completes a somewhat eclectic vibe with personal art pieces, “every picture is special… If I’m going to hang a photograph in my home, it has to mean something.”
Keep it simple yet high-quality for a luxe finish that isn’t gaudy, such as this double vanity featuring a patterned mirror.
“The house is very calm and peaceful, but the backyard is all about fun and noise. It has the same joyous feeling as my beach house in Brazil. When it’s winter in California, we head to Florianópolis, where it’s nice and warm,” Ambrosio says. Finish off an outdoor entertainment area with hardwood furniture, and soft textiles in earthy colours for a Brazilian influence.
Ambrosio was assisted by designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Photography by Douglas Friedman. Styled by Amy Chin. Images above from here.
