In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
For Alexandra Azat, principal at Plaster & Patina, a premium design firm for historic properties in Southern California, the Altadena fires of January 2025 struck too close to home. “I lost my house in the Eaton blaze, as did many of our clients,” she says. In the year since the devastation, the designer has poured her heart and soul into the hard work of community building: “It’s what’s inspiring us the most at the moment, creating new homes that give a respectful nod to the past and the loss through resonant elements that will age gracefully.”
As featured in her flat lay, colorful mosaic flooring and copper ceiling tiles are just two of the traditional, Western-tinged touches Azat is incorporating in her projects, including her own place. But she also sees the silver lining of starting from scratch, and she’s seizing the opportunity to infuse bits of fun into the mix. “We want to invite leopard print and stripes to play,” she says. “Our priority is making these homes classic yet interesting and intriguing.” Luxe, too: Richly veined, rose-hued marble joins burled wood, burgundy mohair and bespoke Murano glass light fixtures on her mood board. “We gravitate toward authentic materials and nuanced palettes, which elevate the vibe to something more swanky and sophisticated,” she explains.
Azat envisions all the pieces coming together in a delightfully textural, slightly decadent dining space or bar: “A place where you’d want to settle in and have too many dirty martinis!” She describes each of her choices here.
1. VINTAGE COPPER POTS AT 1STDIBS
“Introducing age, as with vintage copper cookware, is a good way to give soul to a new build. The combination of old and new makes spaces feel inviting and collected over time, which is just how we want our clients’ homes to feel.”
2. MARBLE MOSAIC FROM VIVA TILE BY HERITAGE TILE
“One of the things I miss most about the home we lost in the fires was our gorgeous entryway mosaic. These 1-inch tiles come in hexagon, round and square shapes in a slew of colors, making it easy to customize your own pattern. Mixing interesting shades creates completely bespoke, modern, yet old-world-feeling floors that will last a lifetime.”
3. BALL CABINET KNOB IN UNLACQUERED BRASS BY REJUVENATION
“I’m always obsessed with a tiny little knob. At under 1 inch in diameter, this one is just the right size. Unlacquered, it will take on personality and darken over time—the living finish helps provide soul to a home.”
4. WALNUT WOOD
“Grounded, classic and oh-so-rich with warm undertones, walnut is the perfect neutral. We’re using it more often as a countertop option in place of stone; I used it throughout my own kitchen.”
5. BRETEUIL FABRIC IN CUIVRE BY MANUEL CANOVAS at COWTAN & TOUT
“I could eat this. They’re saying luxe is back, but I never knew it went out of style. We are loving how this fabric is moody, has a sheen, and provides just enough of a playful pattern to make it interesting and current.”
6. VILLA WALLPAPER IN MOUNTAIN PASS BY PAPIER
“Give me a stripe any day of the week, and I’m happy. This one has an extra fun twist, being created from different weights, and we love the moody, craft-paper-background feel—the contrast isn’t as heavy as if it were a cream-and-black stripe. We are all about the classics used in inventive ways. Chic!”
7. ROSSA PORTUGAL MARBLE FROM THE STONE INDUSTRY
“Natural stone is always a priority, and we love one with personality like this.”
8. PAINT IN BROCCOLI BROWN BY FARROW & BALL
“If we build a new home correctly, it doesn’t feel ‘new.’ One of the ways we do this is through the palette. Grounded tones make spaces more comfortable and casual, easy to be in and live in.”
9. NAKURU LINEN VELVET IN LEOPARD BY SCHUMACHER
“Give me tiger, cheetah, leopard—anything big cat! Just the right amount adds a playful energy to a space.”
10. KAORI WALLCOVERING IN BRONZE BY S. HARRIS AT FABRICUT
“Raw silk speaks to me—it always has and it always will. Not only is it sophisticated, it’s also authentic, and the imperfections are what make it so gorgeous. Putting raw silk on your walls is always a good idea.”
11. SASHA FABRIC IN ROSEWOOD BY LARSEN AT COWTAN & TOUT
“Mohair is a weakness of mine. Perfect for beds or sofas, it adds the ultimate suggestion of sensuality to a space that might otherwise have a serious or masculine architectural lean.”
12. DACHA WALLPAPER IN OYSTER BY COWTAN & TOUT
“A classic textured wallpaper will never go out of style.”
13. VINTAGE SCONCE AT 1STDIBS
“We source plenty of vintage lights for our projects. These one-of-a-kind pieces are so gorgeous, and we love the hunt.”
14. PATTERN 41 TILE IN COPPER PENNY BY AMERICAN TIN CEILINGS
“If you want a space to feel old-world, look no further than the classic tin ceiling. We’re using this lustrous copper-penny color in the bar that we’re building after the fires and can’t wait to see it installed.”
15. CUSTOM MURANO GLASS LIGHTS BY SOTOKLER STUDIO
“Lighting should feel like art, and it should command attention when it’s a focal point in a room. We are in the midst of developing some custom Murano glass pieces with Sotokler Studio that we’re so excited to unveil when my home is finally completed. It’s fun to play with the various colors, and since the pieces are handblown, no two are completely alike.”
16. MANOIR NO. 2 FABRIC BY NOBILIS
“Epingle fabrics add so much depth and texture. We use them sparingly, on occasional chairs and pillows, to add a fun pop.”
17. BURL WOOD
“This naturally occurring wood detail brings texture and intrigue to any space.”
