A Traditional Mediterranean Villa Gets an Update for a California Couple
West Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) October 30, 2013 -- When this California couple first built their spacious 6-bedroom home in a gated community in the hills of Thousand Oaks several years ago, their design choices were influenced by the existing homes in the neighborhood as well as restrictions imposed by the homeowners association. The result was an old-world Mediterranean villa that quickly began to feel stodgy and formal to the progressive young owners and their growing family of children and pre-teens. A younger, fresher and more adaptable design was needed that could still feel natural inside the current structure. After hiring several designers whose tastes did not match their own, they discovered Thomas Schoos, a designer with a background as a modern artist who has spent the last year creating a new interior and landscape design that strikes the right balance between creativity and classical beauty the couple was seeking.
The approach Schoos and his West Hollywood design firm, Schoos Design, took was to bring a contemporary twist to both the interior and exterior design, reducing the baroque ornamentation and incorporating more modern furniture and art. The approach was adapted to the practical needs of each space, with eighty percent of the furniture and fixtures customized and much of it designed specifically for the home. Schoos also created several new pieces of art for his clients, including two 20 foot high paintings in the living room. See more photos of the home here: http://bit.ly/1auSFvZ
In the two-story living room and atrium, bright white and metallic textures were introduced to create a sleek modern vibe. The two paintings by Schoos set the tone with geometric patterns, large areas of white and metallic colors like gold and silver. This color palette continues in the form of upholstery, lighting fixtures, planters and artwork. Patterns in the upholstery and accessories are geometric or abstract, and many items are oversized to fit the scale of the large open room. The crystal chandelier is a custom design featuring stainless steel rings hung in geometric patterns with asymmetrically hung bulbs and strung crystals. Large planter boxes containing trees continue the modernist feel with a shiny silver finish and an abstract pattern of wavy lines.
The kitchen received a complete makeover including removing the quaint country-style cabinetry and fixtures and replacing them with two-tone gray high-lacquer cabinets and stainless steel Miele appliances. Carved bone light fixtures add a touch of intricate geometry. In the 2,000 square foot master bedroom, carpets were replaced with walnut hardwood floors. The custom furniture includes intricate details like hand-carved trim on the bed frame and credenzas inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Family rooms and children’s bedrooms were updated with contemporary comfort and the latest technology, as were dedicated rooms for gaming and fitness, the home theater and the music recording studio.
On the exterior, all new landscaping, patios, lighting and furniture give the scenic California views the feel of a resort. White upholstery and umbrellas carry the modernist theme from the living room outside, integrating well into several contemporary seating areas around the pool, the barbeque and fire pit, while still feeling complementary to the gracious Mediterranean architecture.
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About Thomas Schoos
Thomas Schoos is known as designer of some of the most successful hospitality venues in the U.S., ranging from Tao Restaurant and Nightclub at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, which has been the top-grossing restaurant in the U.S. every year since it opened in 2005, to Searsucker in San Diego, voted by Open Table as the second most popular restaurant in the country in 2011. Schoos has partnered with celebrity chefs like Iron Chef Morimoto and The Taste’s Brian Malarkey to design numerous restaurants in many cities, with dozens more planned. Last year, his design for Morimoto Mexico City was named one of two finalists in the Hospitality Design Awards for Fine Dining. At the same time, Schoos has maintained a robust residential design business with a client list including many Hollywood celebrities. When he is not working – or even when he is! -- Thomas loves to travel and collect treasures from around the world for use in his own artwork, for design projects, or to sell. Schoos original designs and collectibles may be purchased at schoosonlineshop.com.
Matthew Hutchison, Schoos Design, Inc., http://www.schoos.com, +1 (323) 822-2800, [email protected]
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