The beauty of living alone is that compromise never has to come into play.

​

For this Park & Oak client, a newly single homeowner who bought this 1920s bungalow in central Los Angeles, that freedom meant designing without concession. “She didn't have to apologize for wanting unique lighting or chairs tailored to her proportions,” justifies studio co-founder Christina Samatas.

​

Though the property had beautiful bones—exquisite, original paneling and arched openings— the interiors felt heavy, thanks to dark wood and weightier finishes. “The client wanted it to feel lighter, softer, and function better for the way that she lives and entertains,” explains Christina.

​

Paint proved to be “a miracle worker” in reshaping the home to reflect its new owner’s spirited outlook. Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball, drenched across the study’s walls and millwork, took a little persuasion at first, but the client now adores it. “Oftentimes, people worry that color is going to make a dimly-lit room feel even darker,” says Christina. “But if you lean into it, it actually feels more interesting and intimate.” The dining room takes a more tailored approach: built-ins in Farrow & Ball’s inky Railings stand out against a backdrop of Cornforth White.

​

Another defining move was converting an atrium-like former lounge into a library for the client’s ever-growing book collection. “She’s an avid reader who owns tons of books,” notes Christina, who designed floor-to-ceiling shelving with ladders to accommodate them. “We changed up the size and scale of the shelves to allow for objects to break it up.” The wingback chairs were chosen with the client’s petite frame in mind, scaled so she could sit comfortably with her feet on the floor.

​

Because the house previously belonged to an interior designer, certain details—like the Robert Kime wallpaper in the powder room—didn’t warrant undoing. Instead, Christina refreshed the space by swapping the tile for paneling and replacing the vanity countertop with natural stone. She leaned further into pattern elsewhere, using Claremont’s Jacobean-style Winchester print for the café curtains in the bathroom and Rose Tarlow’s Sea Leaves in the breakfast nook. Elsewhere, form takes a lighter turn: custom clover-shaped poufs bring a playful note to the sitting room.

​

The stately cast-iron Waterworks tub in the bathroom was a splurge, but a deliberate one: the client is an avid bather. In the kitchen, a set of flush mounts, banded in tarnished brass, also fell into that category. “I think of lights as accessories—like getting dressed. In a room with lower ceilings, they’re a chance to add something special.” Furthering the kitchen’s jewel-box effect is a custom metal island with a marble top; set on wheels, it can be moved aside when guests come over.

​

The home’s more distinctly personal spirit is perhaps most clearly expressed in its art. Framed photographs by Zimbabwean portrait photographer Tamary Kudita, Christina says, “act as a reminder of strength and beauty, even in adversity.”

​