Welcome Home

Custom cabinetry designed by Stephen Mercer of Mercer Woodworks, a true artisan. He brought the cabinet over the step down into the living room for a more custom look he said. The live edge shelves and the large storage space the cabinet provides completely transformed our living room.

Photos by Joelle Lemercier

Seven years ago when our realtor at the time called to let me know "we got the house" on Towhee Drive I immediately asked, "Who did you have to kill to get it?" Potential buyers scaled the side gates when it came up for sale and when you see the view you'll understand why. It was built in 1969 in an area of Calabasas called the Bird Streets. The area was originally designed as an artist colony which I just recently learned about and that fact makes me love it here even more.

Much of my personal home style is inspired by nature, growing up in Southern California will do that to you. I like to keep natural elements in the house as much as I can like plants, river stones, and these birch logs from a tree my dad cut. When I saw him trimming these I practically threw myself in front of the chainsaw to grab them. The bin is an antique from my mom that she still thinks about reclaiming every time she visits. I never let her leave without checking the trunk.

I love white walls and oak floors because they are clean, neutral, and the perfect backdrop to add pops of color with books, pillows, and antiques. This cowboy hat is the real deal, worn by my mom while driving cattle from Bishop to Mammoth during the summer when I was a kid. I love having old pieces with lots of stories and history mixed in with new stuff. And yes, that is dog hair under the books and basically every service of our home. But you can see below, it's worth it.

Where I spend a lot of my time, over the kitchen sink. Usually not in full hair and makeup and definitely not smiling.

See what I mean. We feel like we live in Tuscany with this view and the sunsets do not disappoint. Two years ago we put in this pergola and it was a game changer. It's amazing how much shade the slats provide which is good because I didn't want to put a full roofed structure here. I look down on it from my bedroom and the idea of looking down on a roof irked me. This way we get shade , the view, and everybody's happy.

I love talismans in homes and these are two of my favorites. "The princess" as we call her overlooks the pool. I was told when I bought her she is supposed to be placed in front of water. The Buddha is perched up on a wall facing East because that is where my Thai mother in law said he needed to be and you don't mess with what your Thai mother in law says about the buddha. I used to have chickens before the city politely let me know they were illegal in my neighborhood and had to go. Joseph Wahl, a local artist and furniture maker, made this sign that used to hang on the coop, now it keeps the princess company.

Two years ago we bit the bullet and replaced all our outdoor furniture mix and match with a full set from Crate and Barrel and it's paid for itself tenfold. Especially with everyone being at home now, this space has been a lifesaver. Classroom, office, escape, it does it all. I can't believe it but these nine dollar pillows from Target have lasted for almost five years now. It was the kind of thing where I found one of them on clearance and then dragged the girls (in strollers at the time) to every Target in the valley to get a full set together. I love them so much and when the sad day comes to replace them I'll probably still go with a graphic black and white pattern. I love how it jumps off the teak and white cushions.

Recycling wood gives me a thrill, full stop. While cutting down two sick pines, by force trust me, I had another chainsaw moment. Three of these stumps are from those trees, the other two were gifted to me when some of our best friends moved back to France and I think of them whenever the kids sit here to make s'mores.