KES Studio designed the Beverly Hills residence in Folly Hills, which embodies "California ease" and "modern old-world charm.Before it was Hollywood and Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Hills neighbourhood or “90210” as it’s famously called, was one of many Spanish ranches in the Californian region. Come the early 20th century and the “Golden Age” of American film and television, the area entered an architectural awakening of sorts, now referred to as the Spanish Colonial Revival. Actors, producers and directors alike were putting up homes in the hills with terracotta tile roofs, white stucco walls, soft arches and carved wooden doors.

Interior designers of the 21st century are constantly finding ways to reform these Spanish Colonial homes without poking holes in history. Los Angeles-based practice KES Studio joins the ranks of these interior designers, rewriting a home in Beverly Hills owned by a high-profile businesswoman. Together they share a keen eye for elegant details and sanctuary-like spaces, endorsing a home that is both sensibly crafted and deeply personal.The sculptural plaster staircase forms a focal point of the home. 

KES Studio particularly love playing with neutrals, which make up most of the home’s material palette. Materials like the taupe-coloured stone in the bar area, the cream-coloured sofas in the living space and the natural timber in the kitchen impart an understated and highly-resolved interior.The home’s original Spanish floors have been relaid with hardwood floors, responding to the client’s penchant for soft, neutral tones.“The warmth of the colours gives the home a calming and welcoming feel but also accentuates the client’s extensive art collection,” Kara says.

What’s significant about Beverly Hills Residence is that while KES Studio did drift substantially from the home’s “dated Spanish look”, they have approached it in a way that still pays homage to the original architecture. “We decided to embrace the locale and create a look and feel with a strong sense of place,” Kara says. From the onset, the home’s design scheme revolved around the qualities of “California ease” and “modernised old glamour”.