REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE
Nestled in the heart of Fresno’s Old Fig Garden neighborhood, this traditional Spanish Revival dares to break all the rules. But in order for a house to truly feel like home, it must embody the spirit of its dwellers, and this home’s dwellers are anything but conventional.
To achieve a truly unique vibe, we first needed to properly space plan. The home has many large open spaces. We needed to determine what type of activities would take place in each area. This is the crucial part in the planning process. The placement of furniture dictates the entire flow and energy of the house, making it either harmonious or segmented.
The entryway is a large rectangle totaling one thousand square feet, and a large winding staircase floats from the second story and affixes itself as a massive focal point. Although the space had some inherent majesty, its grandeur was lost in all the openness. It was soon discovered that we could have the entryway double as a formal dining room.
Once the floor plan was finalized, we began to bend the rules with modern furniture, custom art, and a color palette that veered from tradition. To bring contrast to the entryway, a black sideboard with metal doors plays nicely off the old-world staircase. Atop we paired custom artwork, by local artist Chance James, with sculptural accents. Beyond the staircase lies the dining area, which provides a simple yet meaningful backdrop to the space.
Who could debate the traditional beauty of a floating staircase with hand-painted tiles, a magnificent entryway that feels more like a ballroom than a passthrough, or a custom balustrade created from pure wrought iron?
Another highlight of this home is the kitchen. The cabinets are hand-glazed in a dark umber hue, playing to the home’s Spanish architecture, and modern, brushed gold accents are sprinkled throughout. An oversized chandelier hangs elegantly above the island, making it an exceptional focal point.
We kept with a very limited palette throughout the entire house. Nowhere is that more evident than the master bedroom. Grays, blacks, and whites blend with natural wood elements and provide a relaxing retreat for the homeowners.
SHOP THE FEATURE
1. Pom Pom at Home Blair Bedding in Ocean $115.00 to $552.00 from www.pompomathome.com 2. Lulu & Georgia Sundara Planter $119.00 from www.luluandgeorgia.com 3. Anthropologie Sculpted Rattan Mirror in Black $228.00 from www.anthropologie.com 4. Arteriors Ramirez Chandelier $3,640.00 from www.arteriorshome.com 5. Arteriors Riley Etagere $3,200.00 from www.arteriorshome.com 6. Pom Pom at Home Warby Handwoven Rug in Light Grey $92.00 to $1288.00 from www.pompomathome.com 7. Interlude Home Darcy Hide Chair in Bronze $2,841.00 from www.interludehome.com 8. Lulu & Georgia Sandia Bar Chair in Desert Leather $583.00 from www.luluandgeorgia.com 9. Lulu & Georgia Decima Sectional in Oatmeal $4,170.00 from www.luluandgeorgia.com 10. Lulu & Georgia Rora Media Console in Medium Oak $2,840.00 from www.luluandgeorgia.com
Interiors Editor Erin Melkonian
Contributing Photographers Ellie Koleen & Erin Melkonian
Erin Melkonian
Interiors Editor
Erin runs a collaborative design firm, EMID Design Group, specializing in healthcare, hospitality, and residential interior design, in Fresno, California. Seeing the world through an artistic lens has allowed Erin to experiment in a number of different styles. Everything she does with a space is deliberate. Every piece has a purpose and has been thought about, from color, to position, to scale in order to create the most unique and personal spaces for her clients.
Ellie Koleen
Photographer
Ellie is a lifestyle, wedding, and brand photographer based in Fresno, California. An artist behind the lens, her trademark airy, light-filled style and masterful camera angles make her work easily recognizable. She uses her love for all things design related as inspiration for her work. The Fresno Bee named Ellie Best Photographer for the People’s Choice Awards in 2018 and 2019.
