According to Bryce Dallas Howard, the veteran actor and director best known for her roles in Jurassic World and the Twilight series, she and her husband, fellow actor Seth Gabel, had one place in mind when envisioning how their new home would look. They visited Rosemary's Baby actress Mia Farrow at her heirloom farmhouse in Connecticut. And it was the most magical place. Her house was full of stories and treasures, mementos of such a legendary life. That's what Bryce Dallas Howard and Seth Gabel are after, that's what they want their home to look like.
In developing the project, Howard and Thomas collectively dubbed their working style “organic glamour,” meaning a playful mix of old Hollywood influences, lively vintage pieces, and easygoing Californian vibes. Thomas mentioned that they knew right away that the core colors of the house would be pink and green.
Most rooms are dominated by those shades: A mint-toned kitchen island is flanked by baby pink cabinets, which match the custom terrazzo breakfast table by Concrete Collaborative; a bubblegum media center in the living room faces a U-shaped Joybird sofa in a darker rose tone; a tranquil sage green guest bedroom has fluted wooden detailing on the wall; a fuchsia dinosaur-printed wallpaper charms next to the vanity in the powder room; and an olive-colored soaker tub is set atop rosy Venetian flooring in the primary bathroom.
Despite the home’s overall sunny demeanor, there was still plenty of space left for drama. In the dining room, Thomas folded in touches of fantasy which, she says, really speak to Howard and Gabel’s shared passion for cinema. “Bryce calls it her Miyazaki room,” she explains, referring to the revered Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. Thomas lined the walls with a mural-like wallpaper from Schumacher, which depicts a starry woodland scene which Howard says reminds her of the mystical forest setting in My Neighbor Totoro, her favorite Miyazaki film.
- Interiors: Claire Thomas
- Photos: Tim Hirschmann
- Words: Gina