While classic Spanish style homes in Los Angeles have a lot to recommend them, the qualities of youthful joy and bright airiness are generally not considered their primary attributes. In fact, quite the opposite. These homes traditionally display an aura of gravity, emphasized by heavy beams, dark wood, dense stucco, and wrought-iron architectural details. Film producer Grace Morton grew up in Los Angeles and admires the city’s rich array of Spanish-influenced residences, so when it came time to find a suitable home for her and her fiancé, fellow film producer Matthew Bodman, she was naturally drawn to a home in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. However, poor interiors were not part of the plan.
Antique Tarcisio Colzani chairs join the Billy Cotton-covered Schumacher sofa in the family room. Photo by Norm Klassen.
“I’ve always loved the lively vibe and sense of history in Spanish-style homes. I definitely wasn’t looking for new construction or anything aggressively modern,” explains Morton. “But Matt and I are young men, and we wanted something more in tune with our energy and way of life. So we decided to draw on those contrasting impulses and bring out the contrast.”
After locating a 1927 house of appropriate style and size in Beverly Hills, Morton enlisted 100 AD designer Billy Cotton, who had recently renovated her father’s country house in East Hampton, to help calm the tension between the structure’s historic bones and the colorful, colorful décor she imagined. “Grace has a really adventurous style. She grew up with serious art and design, and she traveled a lot. The Villa Borsani near Milan and Yves Saint Laurent’s house in Marrakech were the pillars of this project. Our challenge was to weave all these disparate threads together in a way that seemed easy and simple, Cotton says about his mission.
Pierre Chapo chairs pull over the Green River Project table in the dining room. Painting by Josh Smith.
Alvaro Barrington wallpaper wraps the breakfast room.
Rejecting the dark furniture endemic to many Spanish-style residences, Cotton and Morton outfitted the home with a wide range of original but casual pieces from the likes of Mario Bellini, Gio Ponti, Pierre Chapo, Charlotte Perriand, and Paavo Tynell. The spacious living room, where a set of classic Bellini low-slung stools are covered in bright yellow velvet floats on a massive Moroccan rug, is perhaps the best example of the fresh, breezy spirit of a transforming home. ‘Billy and I had a great discussion about the beams and the ceiling. I wanted to leave the wood exposed, but Billy insisted we should paint it all white. I knew I had to trust him, and I’m glad I did. The room feels fun and immersive,’ says Morton. Light, perfect for hanging out with friends.”