DINZ德网 | Vanessa Alexander打造的隐世之地 · 超越时间的优雅
在圣莫尼卡山脚下，隐匿于Bonsall峡谷之中的，是室内设计师Vanessa Alexander精心打造的家庭避风港。这座位于Malibu的隐居之地，不仅坐拥崎岖悬崖的壮丽景观与郁郁葱葱的热带植被，更与海滩仅几步之遥，成为了远离尘嚣的理想居所。
Interior designer Vanessa Alexander’s secluded Malibu sanctuary is not your typical Californian beach shack. Located at the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains in Bonsall Canyon, this modern farmhouse is privy to tailored outlooks of rugged cliffs and established tropical greenery just minutes from the beach. In this exclusive film, Vanessa takes us on a guided tour through her home, revealing how she transformed it into a light-filled, European-inspired haven for her family.
Although the 1960s ranch-style home had good bones, it needed rehabilitation after several ‘not-so-thoughtful’ renovations over the years and damage from the Woolsey Fire that tore through Los Angeles in 2018. Lifting design cues from Belgium’s Flemish Region, Vanessa Alexander has cultivated a deep sense of serenity in her home through art, original vintage furniture and custom-designed pieces from her range, Alexander Design.
Hollywood manager turned interior designer Vanessa Alexander has lived in Los Angeles for years. She says she settled on the Bonsall Canyon neighbourhood to design her family home because it is close to the water and hiking and horseback trails. “I like that we can plug into all that the Malibu community has to offer but also still have privacy, land, and a bucolic and pastoral environment,” Vanessa adds.
It was the high ceilings and L-shaped floorplan that ‘hugs’ the garden that swayed Vanessa into purchasing this circa-1960s brick dwelling, although she says it certainly wasn’t short of a challenge. “The inherent architecture was interesting, but it definitely didn’t have a connection to the outdoors in the way that I wanted, and many rooms were pokey and didn’t flow to one another properly,” Vanessa says. Engaging Kovac Design Studio to oversee the architecture, the design team eliminated the ranch-style aspect of the home by removing the bricks and cladding the A-frame home entirely in Shou Sugi Ban cladding. Kovac Design Studio also enlarged all the door openings to establish a tangible connection to the outdoors and added skylights to maximise light flow.
Creamy hand-plastered walls and ceilings by Kamp Studios form a quintessentially Belgian interior canvas, punctuated by walnut ceiling beams and black steel frames. Tactile jute and sisal rugs, linen sheers, aged timber furniture, and plush velvets play to the homes’ overarching European design sensibility, contrasted with contemporary light fixtures in every room. “What I love about European design is that it doesn’t feel like it can’t be used; it doesn’t feel like it can’t be lived in,” Vanessa says.
The kitchen is the beating heart of the home, positioned under a slotted skylight that echoes the beams of the floating staircase at the front of the home. It’s here where Vanessa and her family spend most of their time as the space flows directly to the outdoor living space, pool and garden.
The neighbouring dining room transports you somewhere in the Belgian countryside, with an early-20th-century farm table, original Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh chairs and a statement pendant lamp by French designer Pierre Yovanovitch. “We have a handful of collectible pieces that really add to the overall patina and timelessness of the home by mixing old and new,” Vanessa says.
A marble and bronze pod encasing the shower in the master ensuite takes the Belgian barn-like aesthetic to new heights. Shrouded by greenery, this secluded corner is Vanessa’s favourite spot in her home. “The bathroom is calm, dreamy and intimate; as it opens up to the yard, I feel like I’m partaking in the outside world and not shut away,” Vanessa says.
Vanessa describes her signature style as an eclectic curation of opulent materials and luxurious textures against a monochrome backdrop. And while, as Vanessa puts it, Malibu can feel a bit ‘myopic’ at times, she has created a home that couldn’t feel more different. “My home is clearly a reflection of my personal aesthetic. It’s a place where I can recharge, find beauty, find peace, clear my head, be inspired, and I hope it will be a constant source of these things moving forward.”
Alexander Design是一家总部位于洛杉矶的全球知名室内设计公司，专注于住宅、零售和酒店环境，由创始人Vanessa Alexander成立。工作室是一个创意团队，致力于打造基于客户愿景、生活方式和故事的整体空间。
Alexander Design is a world-renowned interior design company headquartered in Los Angeles, focusing on residential, retail and hotel environments, founded by founder Vanessa Alexander. The studio is a creative team dedicated to creating an overall space based on the client's vision, lifestyle and story.