L.A. Designers Love This Signature Interior Style

If there's one interior design style we've covered extensively on MyDomaine, it's the Cali-cool look. It's quintessential to the coastal region, and we have to admit, it's a look we never tire of. There's something about the neutral hues layered with rich textures and a mix of organic materials that truly captures our attention. It feels lived-in, cozy, and aspirational all at once—three words we all want to be associated with the place we call home. 

So you can imagine our delight when we first laid eyes on this living room makeover in Virginia (you should have seen it before). Designer Jennifer Wagner Schmidt of JWS Interiors followed her client's orders of "light and bright" and brought this dated 1990s living room and home office into the 2000s with all the classic traits of the Cali-cool style we know and love. We featured the striking kitchen from this home earlier in the year, so we're beyond thrilled to introduce the next chapter of this stunning home renovation.

Take the tour to hear how Schmidt transformed the space and shop the look. 

It's hard to imagine that this space was tired and dated while looking at it now, but Schmidt's team did a complete overhaul of this room. They took out a six-foot-long knee wall that was separating the kitchen from the family room to open it up and painted the two-story stone fireplace wall white to brighten the space for the Cali-Cool vibe.

The team also refinished the orange-toned wood floors by stripping the color completely to reveal the beautiful natural blonde shade. The original banisters and railings were also replaced for more modern iron spindles. The modern chandelier brings your eyes up to appreciate the incredibly high ceilings, an aspect of the space you don't want to miss.

The layering of this room is what makes it truly special. The tan leather chairs really lift the crisp white sofa and add dimension to the neutral space. The texture of the jute rug also helps to lift it out of the white hue and anchor the room.

Everything in the room before the makeover was ditched, and the design team started from scratch. The first purchase was the two white sofas, which really create balance and symmetry in the large living room. 

Schmidt's main objective was to create a calming and happy space overall for the young family. "You just want to walk in and plop down on the sofa and relax," she says. We couldn't agree more. 

The use of natural textures and organic materials is crucial to the Cali-cool style, and Schmidt didn't skimp on incorporating them, like this hourglass timber side table from Anthropologie.

Schmidt wove in abstract artwork in black and white to bring more high-level contrast to the space and elevate the Cali-cool style. 

The coffee table styling is kept very minimal and thoughtful, displaying fashion and design books with decorative objects a hint of greenery. 

With only one window in the home office, it can tend to feel dark, and originally it was also painted a dark color. So Schmidt's team painted the built-in shelves white and the walls a pale gray to lift it. "The goal was to add a little glam to the space since it was designed for the wife," she explains. "A beautiful white lacquered desk floats in the room providing a pretty focal point (with the window behind)."

The West Elm chair with its gray upholstery and simple gold legs added a touch of glamour too. Since the owner is a huge Chanel fan, they incorporated simple Chanel bags along with iconic fashion books on the shelves.

Each shelf was carefully curated so as not to overwhelm or create excess clutter. The use of white space ensures the room feels open and modern, like a space where you can truly feel inspired to work.

The gallery art is layered casually on top of the storage unit—it's how all the cool people display their art. This is a nice way to give a little corner some life and visual interest.