In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
Picture a grand Hollywood manor befitting a movie star. Escape, for a moment, from L.A.’s storied sunshine—the rooms here are shadowed and moody, dripping in velvet, leather and darkly veined marble. For her restoration of a 100-year-old home in the city’s historic Larchmont neighborhood (the inspiration behind her flat lay), Holladay, Utah–based designer Anne-Marie Barton selected materials that balance heritage and whimsy. “Many of the pieces reference the past while still expressing playful layering,” she says. “I imagine them living in a space where tradition is honored, but not treated too seriously.”
Found in a plush faux fur, a peacock-patterned velvet and a hand-painted floral wallpaper, the palette of nutmeg, aubergine, cranberry, terra cotta and bronze conjures up an ambience of earthy richness. Accents in brass and gold—from a lion’s-head door handle to an antique stirrup clock—hint at happenings glamorous and wild. Add a leopard-print Regency-era sofa, and the room roars to life.
“What ties everything together is a respect for heirlooms and the artist’s hand,” says Barton. Umber- and chestnut-stained walnut, textural zellige tile, and vintage objects like a 1970s-era Italian ceramic lamp and a cognac-colored Norell Inca easy chair all convey a sense of time and a human touch that helps cohere the assortment. “The mood is warm, daring and full of character,” says Barton. “It’s a mix that feels collected”—and ready for its close-up. Read on to discover each of the designer’s selections.
1. DUNE BELTED LIGHT BY ANNE-MARIE BARTON FOR VISUAL COMFORT & CO.
“Organically driven with uneven blush glass balls and suede strands, this light—part of my collection with Visual Comfort—brings a sense of softness while adding an iconic sensibility.”
2. LEOPARDO FABRIC BY SCALAMANDRÉ
“Adding a brighter expression to this otherwise restored heirloom 19th century home contemporizes the space and introduces a sense of surprise. Leopard print is an attitude I subscribe to when craving a touch of drama—and of course, the wild side is needed.”
3. NATURA RUG BY ANNE-MARIE BARTON FOR ELIKO RUGS by david ariel
“The fringe on all four sides is unprecedented in its expression of texture. The color represents my favorite palette of ‘nutmeg meets neutral.’ This rug, available in my collection, expresses my constant wish to add warmth and texture to every home I design.”
4. ANTIQUE LONGCHAMP STIRRUP CLOCK FROM LAYERED BY PAIGE ELISE
“I keep my eyes open for special artifacts that conjure the depth of the past and the touch of those who came before us. This old clock made from a horse’s stirrup is frayed and imperfect, referencing our own history while bringing it forward in a positive way.”
5. MASK CHANDELIER IN POLISHED BRONZE BY NICOLA COX AT cox london“Evoking the past while still feeling entirely new, this chandelier by Cox London transcends predictability, grounding a space with its historical scale and presence.”
6. MOHAIR FABRIC AND LEATHER IN CHOCOLATE BY CUFF STUDIO
“Upholstered in deliciously rich mohair contrasted with matching leather arms, the dining chairs in the Hollywood restoration will be exceptionally comfortable while adding a beautiful, repeating T-back silhouette around the 12-person dining table.”
7. HALLIANA WALLPAPER IN COLORWAY 02 BY ZAK+FOX
“I have a mad crush on Zak+Fox. Their colors and sensitive patterns bring joy and a sense of reminiscence.”
8. GARANHÃO LOUNGE CHAIR IN CREAM LINEN BY JESSICA GERSTEN DESIGN
“This collectible lounge chair offers playful elegance with its horsehair detail. The horsehair can be draped straight back or to the side, combining comfort with sculptural creativity.”
9. CIRCA-1970 ITALIAN CERAMIC LAMP AT 1STDIBS
“Come on. Never have I ever. The only words I have for this lamp are outrageously cool.”
10. SOPHIE BULLION FRINGE IN WALNUT BY SAMUEL & SONS
“A must. Fringe is the answer for anyone who craves texture and is willing to take risks.”
11. VINTAGE LION’S-HEAD DOOR HANDLE
“This one-of-a-kind piece from 1919 allows us to reference what might have been present in this home a century ago. It’s a tieback I have not used in 30 years, but now I am ready for more.”
12. ANGIERS LIMESTONE TILE FROM VENETIAN TILE & STONE GALLERY
“The sheen on handmade zellige terra cotta tile offers much-needed contrast to my preferred dry materials. The variation in color creates a more lucid and richly textural visual impact.”
13. CHAUMONT LIMESTONE TILE BY SONOMA TILEMAKERS AT MODA marble
“This brings a quiet freshness to the bath. I love its soft mineral character and gentle texture underfoot, creating an experience that feels both refined and grounded. The coloration sits in a warm, pale register, maintaining an understated elegance while allowing daylight to travel effortlessly throughout the room. Its subtle movement and honed surface provide depth without distraction, making it an ideal foundation for spalike environments that feel breathable and peaceful.”
14. OMBRÉ GAIA FABRIC IN GOLD BY ROSEMARY HALLGARTEN
“Draperies with drama are back! It is an unreal experience to see a drapery with an ombre pattern dropping from a 120-inch rod and then softly pooling onto the floor.”
15. CLOISONNE FOLLY WALLCOVERING IN CORDOVAN BY FROMENTAL
“This outrageous wallcovering, hand-painted on tan buckskin, effuses dramatic color and ornate character. Perfect for a vestibule: The moment you walk through the front door, you know the artist’s hand will be present throughout the home.”
16. INCA EASY CHAIR BY ARNE NORELL AT 1STDIBS
“This iconic Arne Norell Inca easy chair and ottoman set from the 1970s features a solid wood frame with leather cushions and straps. Adding vintage pieces to my projects introduces that essential ingredient of heritage. The Inca style, especially in cognac leather, simply tells a story.”
17. MONTPARNOS FABRIC IN ROSE ANTIQUE BY MISIA
“This fluffy, nutmeg-hued fabric adds texture with intense depth of color. Best used in smaller doses, such as on pillows or ottomans.”
18. CUSTOM WALNUT WOOD SAMPLE
“Stained in umber and chestnut, this walnut piece is the heart of the home. From here the tones for flooring, kitchen cabinetry, wood-paneled walls and ceiling beams were cultivated.”
19. 3 HOLE WALL-MOUNTED LAVATORY FILLER BY SAMUEL HEATH
“Samuel Heath, with its heirloom sensibility matched by modern refinement in a delicious toasty bronze, is my go-to.”
20. LATTICE TILE IN BURNT SUGAR + GLAZED EARTH BY ZIA TILE
“Stepping into bolder patterning with zellige mosaic terra cotta tile introduces our viola-born palette.”
21. CALACATTA VIOLA MARBLE FROM MMG TILE + STONE
“As part of restoring this 100-year-old home, I craved the dramatic contrasts of viola marble as an alternative to neutral stone. I cannot get enough of the aubergine, gentle blush and creams in this marble, which I now use liberally in kitchens with sealers that work magic.”
22. LUXURIANCE I WALLPAPER BY ATELIER D’OFFARD
“I am constantly exploring bespoke wallcoverings, hoping to elevate them as a central theme in my creative projects. It is essential that the restoration of this home in the heart of Larchmont, Los Angeles, brings in patterns that honor decorative heritage.”
23. BEVERLY HILLS FABRIC IN WHISKY BY CATHERINE MARTIN BY MOKUM
“When you simply must have more velvet, a printed version offers another layer of detail. With arched repetition carrying nutmeg, cranberry and aubergine colors, this fabric gives permission to add flirt and folly.”
24. VINTAGE REGENCY LEOPARD ROPE AND KNOT SOFA AT 1STDIBS
“You can never underestimate the wow factor of a little animal print. We used it in two areas of the home just to prove the point. This piece is fully upholstered in a luxurious leopard-print velvet, imbuing the interior with wild elegance. What sets this settee apart is the exceptional hand-carved wooden frame, meticulously designed to mimic a continuous rope-and-knot motif. The unique six-leg design is punctuated by intricate tassel and knot details at the base, showcasing a level of superior artisanal quality characteristic of high-end custom furnishings.”
25. NOISETTE BORDEAUX MARBLE FROM MODUL MARBLE
“This has ‘dining room console’ written all over it. I discovered it after searching high and low in Los Angeles for the right piece for a richly paneled dining room with leopard-print chairs and a whimsical branching chandelier overhead. The space already had so much personality, it seemed only right to include a material that felt unearthed rather than designed—something completely out of the ordinary, offering unexpected naturalness and a custom sculptural presence to the space.”
26. VINTAGE VICTORIAN LACE TABLECLOTH
“This antique lace tablecloth will make delicate draperies for the primary bathroom, framing the window by the freestanding tub.”
27. PASSAGE RUG IN CARDAMOM BY SHIIR RUGS
“An intensely plush weave with a subtle tone-on-tone pattern in burnt oranges. Here we step into—and onto—the wild side, with color rather than texture taking the front row.”
28. CUSTOM HICKORY FLOORING
“The home’s existing hickory flooring was carefully stripped back from a dark stain and refinished in a custom greige oil, allowing the character of the wood to reemerge. Softening the inherent warmth of hickory while preserving its natural movement and grain, the new palette establishes a quiet backdrop that feels collected rather than manufactured. It carries a lived-in authenticity underfoot, allowing the surrounding materials to breathe.”
