Amber Lewis, one of America's top interior designers, shows her newly renovated home in California. She and her husband, Mike, fell in love with the lush mature oak and orange trees in their front yard and bought the 1,500-square-foot, 1950s-era home in 2016. The couple and their daughter, Gwyneth, then lived in the house for two years. Amber Lewis says, "There's a mismatch between what I like and what I can afford. My taste is expensive, but I have to have a realistic budget, and I know I can do a lot of things with less money if I work harder at material selection, texture and color." I did the best I could."

The environments Lewis typically designs—for both her clients and herself—reflect a signature West Coast aesthetic she describes as “laid back” and “understated cool.” That often translates to vintage elements, layered textiles, and nature-inspired hues, all of which age well and are, as her forthcoming tome suggests, made for everyday living.

The main bathroom is the sole spot in the home where Lewis switched up the wall paint color, opting for Portola Paints’ Table Linen to eliminate any green undertones that could “look funky” on the skin. A Pinterest photo inspired the vanities with an apron front and Calacatta Super Oro Gold Vein marble on the countertops. Gold Waterworks fixtures, Lee Valley brass hardware, and custom oak cabinetry make the freestanding Waterworks Empire bathtub look especially inviting.