There’s a shared intention across young families who turn to an interior designer.

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At the top of many wishlists is a home that ticks the boxes of both functionality and looks without feeling too precious. And Mandy Cheng gets it. So much so that the Expert Top 40 designer’s client roster is almost exclusively made up of families with small children.

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“People need to be able to navigate their home and not be afraid to walk past their sofa when they're wearing dark blue jeans because the color could rub off,” Mandy explains. Her appeal extends well beyond ensuring everyday practicalities; the AD100 talent also has a unique way of reflecting the personalities of her clients back at them through their home.

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With this Mediterranean-style house in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Feliz, both the decor and layout felt outdated. The owners, who have two children and a dog, wanted it to be fun, vibrant, and stimulating. She started with the kitchen, extending its footprint to make space for a much-needed breakfast nook.

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In the process she also added a mudroom and pantry, and between them, a striking lightwell centered on a majestic black olive tree. Rather than using the area for additional storage, Cheng turned it into a poetic architectural moment. To bring the clients around, she relied on 3D models and renderings. “Being able to see something in perspective makes such a big difference,” she says. The arched feature is trimmed with handpainted terracotta tiles by Tebarka which, fittingly, depict olive sprigs. Installed with the necessary irrigation and accessible via the mudroom, the tree is set up to flourish.

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The luminous quality of the house meant that Mandy could pull from a palette of natural shades in the lush landscaping right outside. Not many kitchens cabinets can carry Benjamin Moore’s moody Mallard Green without feeling closed-in, but contrasted against the rustic floor tiles, it feels elegant and intentional. Even some of the ceilings got the color treatment: the playroom channels the banana leaves swaying outside, while the daughter’s room (painted in Benjamin Moore’s Heavenly Blue) radiates tranquility.

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There are swathes of noteworthy wallpaper, too. On the dining room ceiling, it draws the eye up and makes the space feel more intimate. The bathrooms are playful, too: in the kids’ spaces, dogs make an appearance as the children brush their teeth, while the guest bath is animated by exotic birds tucked among the leaves. “It makes these spaces so charming and gives them so much personality,” adds Mandy. If she had to pick a favorite: the Kingdom grasscloth in the primary bedroom by Fayce is an obvious choice. “It’s calming, sophisticated and aligns with the style of the house.”

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With elementary-age children in the mix, Mandy ensured the fabrics used were washable—or at least scrubbable. In the powder room, where a dramatic Roman clay finish wraps the walls, a protective topcoat helps it withstand less cautious fingers. That same practicality informed some of the millwork: the daughter’s bedroom and the dining room’s new built-ins feature irresistibly curved edges. Though more of a splurge from a craftsmanship perspective, Mandy saw it as worthwhile given the tight footprint of both spaces: “It’s a way for people to navigate around the dining table without walking into sharp corners,” she explains. “Functionality is always in the back of my mind, but so are aesthetics.”

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That problem-solving instinct reaches its peak in the primary bathroom, where a wall of stained white oak separates the toilet from the vanity. The partition cleverly incorporates pantry-like pull-out storage, along with rear shelving for overflow cosmetics. Clad in zellige tile, the room’s deep turquoise hue echoes the pool outside. It’s a bold move that exemplifies Mandy’s fearless approach to color—and, more importantly, captures the playful spirit of the owners who live with it.

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