Vanessa Alexander’s design education began in hidden Japanese shops.

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As a child, she vividly recalls trailing her mother through Tokyo’s tucked-away shops, watching her hunt for treasures to ship back to her antique store in Santa Monica. Nowadays, the Alexander Design founder, who is based in Los Angeles, draws on those early memories to craft warmly elegant homes that feel like personal sanctuaries.

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Her career path wasn’t linear. In a previous life as a talent manager, Vanessa flipped houses on the side with her husband, Steve. When friends begged for help with their own homes, she refused, citing her lack of credentials. “I don’t think I had the confidence to say I was a designer yet,” she says.

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Then, motherhood changed everything. After taking time off after her first child, the Expert finally said yes to a client. To her surprise, she realized her years of dealing with big personalities in entertainment had been the perfect training ground for decoding homeowners’ deepest desires. “So much of what I do is about reading people and trying to get into the heads of my clients,” says the native Angeleno, whose winter getaway in Mammoth Lakes, California, was featured in The New York Times. Vanessa—who now leads an 18-person practice— shares what fuels her work, from earthy tones and vintage Danish ceramics to sit-tested sofas.

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The first thing I do when I design a room

I really try to connect with the client. It’s not even about design—it’s more about sharing jokes or chatting about what’s going on in the world, so I can understand the client’s personality and who I’ll be working with.

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The colors I’m loving right now

Right now, I'm obsessed with browns, terracottas, and everything in that earthy expanse between brown and yellow. These colors feel authentic, like they’re from a flower or soil, but they’re saturated and based in things you can see and feel.

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The no-fail piece that everyone needs

Everybody needs an amazing sofa. No home can survive without incredible seating. In terms of elevating a room, I think a vintage chair or lamp—things that can play against everything else—add a soulful dynamic.

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My signature design move

I mix a lot of metals and different textures. I wouldn’t say I’m a minimalist, but I love to use an edited palette of materials and fabrics. I also love blending all kinds of woods, metals, leathers, and suedes in the same room, so there’s a lot of dynamic quality to even the simplest palette. Plaster is also a big one for me: I’m obsessed with light and shadow play and the hand feel of plaster. It brings so much to every environment, no matter the style or period. It’s a game changer.

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One thing that always anchors a space

Authentic materials. Whether you’re furnishing your home with a designer or building your own collection slowly, if you don’t have beautiful, authentic materials, you don’t have anything, in my opinion. In a perfect world, authentic, unmanipulated materials that show their body, quality, and craftsmanship are the best foundation. I don’t like wood that’s overly scraped and bleached; whatever it is needs to be visible. I enjoy things that are imperfect in a wabi-sabi way, and let the natural flaws shine through instead of covering them up.

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The design books I reference

I love Beta-Plus Publishing. They’re from Belgium, and they showcase that amazing ancient-modern juxtaposition that so many old European homes do so well. I love the authenticity of old buildings and how they can be adapted to suit modern living. I like to open up the flow and let the light in.

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Where I splurge and where I save

I splurge on the primary suite, and mainly the bathroom. I want those spaces to feel like transportive escapes, big or small. Kitchens, too. I also like to splurge on an incredible chair, a vintage light, or artwork. It could be contemporary or vintage, depending on the space…

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Secondary spaces, in general, I’m not as spendy on. As far as furniture, it’s not about the price; it’s more about the quality I try not to compromise on, even when buying something less expensive. That’s the trick. I’m happy to spend less on a sofa or a chair, as long as I get to create environments that last. It’s less about price than finding the right piece.

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What I always make custom

I specify custom sofas because I want comfort to be paramount, and people are so specific about what they like. Some like low seats, some like high seats, some have longer legs, some are short and don’t want their limbs dangling off. The list goes on and on, so it’s nice to be able to customize and have clients sit test those pieces.

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I also make dining tables based on specific dimensions. In oversized spaces, it’s hard to find a piece that works well, and dining tables are a little bit tricky because once you put a lot of chairs around them, sometimes you don’t see the decorative elements or base. I’m always looking for ways to create a beautiful table that you can see.

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What I collect

I collect Arne Bang ceramics. They’re beautiful Danish glazework with these intricate grooved patterns that I just love so much.

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The hotel that defines luxury for me

Château La Coste in Aix-en-Provence, France, is one of my absolute favorites. The rooms are unbelievably exquisite, and they have art installations by contemporary artists throughout. The food is unbelievable.

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My go-to finishing touch

I love sourcing vintage one-of-a-kind textiles. It’s hard to find unique pillows.

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I’m always looking for fun textiles and crafts. And, of course, flowers and branches, greenery and trees that bring the outside in.

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