Giving Your Home a Made-for-the-Movies Glow Is Easier Than You Think
Words by Olivia Lidbury
Photo by Yoshihiro Makino; Design by Brigette Romanek
The world’s best designers may only take on a handful of projects a year, but you don’t need to be an A-lister to get their Expert advice.
From the hallowed pages of AD to your very own Zoom consultation, you can sprinkle a little Hollywood magic in your own home with advice from a celebrity-approved interior designer.
So if you’re dreaming of a kitchen as covetable as Nancy Meyers’, or a sitting room as luxurious as Ellen Pompeo’s, those who pulled all the creative strings are able to help at the click of a button. From advising on layouts to finishes, our roster of Experts will open their little black books to share their go-to suppliers as well as tips and tricks. Here are just a few of the top names to know.
If Your Decor Style Is Sweet Like Candy...
Photo by Trevor Tondro; Design by Sarah Sherman Samuel
Actress Mandy Moore’s luminous, mid-century house in Pasadena makes it onto a lot of mood boards. And it’s largely thanks to Sarah Sherman Samuel, who recaptured the property’s ‘50s spirit with a contemporary flavor. Dazzling flashes of metallics, chunks of terrazzo and slabs of marble all come together in a way that feels fresh—and with children and pets in the mix—not remotely precious. Mandy also credits Sarah with introducing her to exciting contemporary artists, whose work adorns her walls.
Book a consultation with Sarah Sherman Samuel
If a Touch of Grey Is for You...
Photo by Douglas Friedman; Design by Martyn Lawrence Bullard
After working on four properties together, Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo and Martyn Lawrence Bullard have become the best of friends. The actress is clearly taken with the designer’s prediction for gray accents: in her Malibu beach house, the living room’s wall is decadently swathed in rare Brazilian agatha marble. Such is their unique bond, Martyn even knows what the design enthusiast will like before showing it to her, which makes snapping up one-off gems—like the cutting table from Yves Saint Laurent’s atelier for the entryway—a sure-fire bet.
Book a consultation with Martyn Lawrence Bullard
If You’ve Always Dreamed of a Nancy Meyers Kitchen...
Photo by Amy Neunsinger; Design by Mark D. Sikes
Mark D. Sikes recently helped renowned filmmaker Nancy Meyers to fall back in love with her Provençal–style home in Los Angeles. So much so, that she abandoned plans to move to a smaller property next-door. With Mark’s classical style and Nancy’s own flair for inviting homes (as the interiors in all her movies attest), the union was a match made in heaven. Some lightening up here, a change of fabric there—the gentle overhaul was proof that you don’t always have to renovate—just redecorate.
Book a consultation with Mark D. Sikes
If You Want a Home As Sleek As Your Best Hair Day...
Photo by Sam Frost; Design by Maison Trouvaille
‘Calm and peaceful’ was celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkins’ brief to Maison Trouvaille’s Erick Garcia when it came to reimagining her home in California. One of Erick’s most dramatic changes to the property was the kitchen: natural materials and a slatted ceiling make the space feel elevated yet casual, and there’s ample seating (and crucially, two dishwashers) for when Jen and her husband host—which they love to do.
Book a consultation with Maison Trouvaille
If You Gather Home Inspo From Your Closet...
Joseph Altuzarra called in Josh Greene for help when it came to decorating the weekend retreat he built from the ground up in the Hamptons. “He’s incredibly collaborative,” Joseph says of Josh, who is known for balancing warmth with functionality and comfort. That collaborative spirit proved crucial to harmonizing the contrasting elements desired by the fashion designer—who was seeking a layered aesthetic—and that of his minimalist-loving husband Seth. “We both had very specific visions of the house, but overall, it really feels like us,” he told AD.
Book a consultation with Josh Greene
If You Like a Bit of Drama...
Photo by Jenna Peffley; Design by Jake Arnold
The Expert co-founder Jake Arnold assisted actress Vanessa Hudgens in channeling her affection for old Hollywood glamour in the primary suite of her Georgian Colonial home in Los Feliz. “I wanted it to feel sexy and cave-like,” Vanessa says of her indulgent retreat. Daubed in a moody, dark limewash, and decked with marble sinks and wood and brass hardware, the striking space feels both opulent yet grounded.
Book a consultation with Jake Arnold
If Your Home Is Your Sanctuary...
Photo by Yoshihiro Makino; Design by Brigette Romanek
Even Gwyneth Paltrow can’t do it all. So when it came time to overhaul her new home in Montecito, the Expert and her friend of 20 years, Brigette Romanek, stepped in. The designer helped mastermind entire spaces and sourced pieces to make the many rooms shine. Brigette also made the star’s moodboards a reality, conceiving a fluted plaster wall to frame the fireplace in the kitchen, and choosing onyx for that showstopper bar in the living room.
Book a consultation with Brigette Romanek
If You Want Late Night Vibes...
Photo by Shade Degges; Design by Ashe Leandro
There’s a family connection to the Late Night With Seth Myers’ relationship with Experts Ashe Leandro: co-founder Ariel is his wife Alexi’s sister. Her design studio accentuated the sophisticated Manhattan aura of the couple’s duplex in Greenwich Village with crisp white walls and considered furniture, ranging from flea market-finds to antique rugs—and a few cult classics for good measure. The apartment is also a showcase for pieces from Ashe Leandro’s own line, Ruemmler—the jewel-like, silk pendant lamp flanking the dining table being a fine example.
Book a consultation with Ashe Leandro
