By Susan Heeger
Mastering the Mix
Jeri and Steven de Souza dressed down their antiques to fit their new way of life.
 
Five years ago when Jeri Barchilon and Steven E. de Souza’s children left home, the couple no longer needed their large, art- and antique-filled, 1912 Los Angeles Craftsman—let alone its five bedrooms. Then they got an unexpected offer on it and realized it was time to go. But where? And how would they squeeze the pizzazz of "big house" life into a smaller space?

de Souza, entry
photography: Roger Davies
Jeri, an interior designer, secretly welcomed the challenge. "I was itching for a good project," she admits. And she and Steven, a writer-director for film and television, had a wish list ready. "We wanted a less formal house with more of an open plan, so we could use it all," Jeri says, "and we both needed a home office." Adds Steven, "We also wanted to live within walking and biking distance of the beach."

East Coast transplants, they envisioned sunny rooms and glass doors open to gardens. They couldn't go too terribly modern, since they planned to keep at least some antiques. But because Jeri's decorating is far from precious (she likes to dress down antiques with eBay finds and thrift-shop gems), they weren't wedded to any architectural style.


de Souza, dining room
photography: Roger Davies
Odd chairs, mostly in pairs, lend a certain harmony to the mix-and-match dining room. The fabrics blend pleasingly and complement the antique Oushak rug.


Their eventual choice: a 1949 ranch-style bungalow on a broad lot two blocks from the beach. A bit "dingy and tired," Jeri says, and painted "grim beige" on the inside, the house compensated with generous rooms, a convenient layout, wood floors, and high, beamed ceilings. "You can make this great," Steven encouraged her, envisioning the cottage where he’d spent childhood summers on the Jersey shore.

de Souza, bathroom
photography: Roger Davies
That sort of breezy, feet-up feel became Jeri's guide as she tackled the redo in 2001. Together, they opened up the living spaces, removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room to create one large flowing area for lounging or entertaining. "I want to hang out with my friends while I cook," Jeri says. To unify the parts, she painted everything white, including cabinetry and shelves, some existing, some custom-built to match. And though, on Steven’s advice, she stole space from two closets to make a powder room, she preserved original details wherever possible. "A great house is all about the mix—old, new, pricey, bargain," Jeri says. "It shouldn't look as if a decorator just left."


de Souza, breakfast nook
photography: Roger Davies
In a sunny corner of the kitchen, Jeri added a seat to the bay window, rolled up a steel table and chairs from dwr.com, and presto—a breakfast nook.


In this spirit of practical collage, she saved somewhat grandmotherly bay windows, but under one in the kitchen built a window seat, creating an eat-in breakfast nook. Under another in the living room, she installed bookcases for Steven's "ever-multiplying collection." To make their furniture look at home, she added 6-inch baseboards in each room, underscoring the traditional feel of the surroundings. She brought in natural light with French doors in the master bedroom and color in an array of fabrics. "I love materials that feel good when you touch them—linen, silk, leather, cotton," she says. "If they get tattered or faded, fine. That just adds texture and interest."

de Souza, sitting room
photography: Roger Davies
So, too, does combining elements from different decades and cultures and pedigrees. In the living room, for example, Jeri's layered blend includes English and Swedish antique chairs, a modern Italian glass coffee table, Chinese lamps, flea market fireplace tools and pottery, and nesting tables from a thrift shop. On the sisal rug, a zebra skin recalls a trip the couple took to South Africa. "There’s nothing more dull than having everything match," believes Jeri, who compares her mix-it-up approach to "wearing a Chanel jacket with a Target T-shirt." To her and Steven, comfort is as critical as style, which is why they have a round dining table—best for conversation, she says—ringed by a medley of different chairs. "When people get comfortable at a party, they move their chairs around," Jeri says. "It’s nice to encourage that."


de Souza, bedroom
photography: Roger Davies
In the master bedroom, the de Souzas added light by means of a bay window and French doors to the garden.


For coherence, she repeats design themes, incorporating animal prints, chinoiserie, mirrors, shells, and painted wood throughout the house. Her accent colors are complementary, as in the master bedroom where "restful" blue walls are sparked by Chinese-red cushions and chairs. Window coverings are minimal—she calls the bamboo matchstick blinds "cheap, chic, and a beautiful filter for light."

de Souza, Steven
photography: Roger Davies
Usually, the blinds are up and the doors and windows are open to the garden. "We just close the house up at night," says Steven. He likes to write outside on a laptop and, during breaks, bike to Starbucks for coffee. "There's an odd conception out here," he notes, “that you're not living unless your house is the size of a hotel. But ours exactly suits the way we live. I can't imagine where we'd be happier."

Take it from Jeri

Keep details from the past when renovating. Even dilapidated wood floors can be painted. The worn floors in Jeri and Steven's kitchen look fresh and stylish with the newly painted checkerboard pattern. Also, instead of starting over with cabinets, consider just replacing the doors. For more storage, model new cabinets on the old.


de Souza, kitchen
photography: Roger Davies


Invest in quality pieces of upholstered furniture with simple lines and they'll last you all your life. You can always re-upholster, restuff, or slip-cover as needed. The headboard and skirt in the master bedroom now wear fabric that used to hang in the de Souzas' former home.


de Souza, den
photography: Roger Davies


Choose fabrics in the same color families. When you move or arrange, the pieces will still work together. Pull your colors out of one great print and repeat them in a check or stripe. The de Souzas' home shows Jeri is a master of this trick.


de Souza, living room
photography: Roger Davies


Pay attention to shape and scale. Use large items to anchor spaces, then insert contrasting forms: dainty, rounded chairs, for instance, near massive, boxy sofas; a circular mirror above a squared-off mantel.


de Souza, red room
photography: Roger Davies


Mix it up. A potpourri of furnishings and materials makes rooms more inviting. Six identical antique chairs around the dining table might have appeared stuffy; instead, the combo keeps it fun.

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