La Dolce Vita: Ryan Brown’s “Flip-Out-worthy” Pad

Ryan Brown’s design sensibility has appealed to me since the first season of Flipping Out. His aesthetic mixes laidback California elegance with Los Angeles Regency and Asian influences. His chic projects usually feature a mix of styles, which I love. The home Ryan shares with his partner, Dale and daughter, Chloe was featured in the Los Angeles Times a few months ago and was recently named one of their top 10 stories of the year.

The living room is furnished in a sophisticated mix of vintage and contemporary pieces: A white-lacquered Art Deco side table sits next to a minimalist Italian sofa. A wooden-topped factory stool flanks a Danish armchair covered in a bold floral. Matching high-backed chairs sit across from an embossed leather ottoman on casters. Above it is Jonathan Adler's three-tier Ventana chandelier. On the small wall to the right of the bay window, another Brown touch: wooden paddles from European bakeries hung as art.

Ryan’s living room features Kelly Wearstler Trellis drapes, Jonathan Adler’s Ventana Chandelier, and a pair of high back chairs.

The opposite view: Daughter Chloe crosses the living room, with the elevated dining area in the background. Note how the crown molding at the ceiling juts out at the window and serves as curtain valances. "Molding adds instant warmth and character to a room," says Brown, who also connected baseboards and chair rails to vertical trim pieces, creating the appearance of paneled walls. "You can get it at a hardware store and just nail it up. It doesn't need to be real wood since it's going to be painted." Although Brown splurged on high-priced designer fabrics by Lulu DK and Kelly Wearstler elsewhere in the house, when it came to larger jobs such as curtains and Roman shades, he went to the Fashion District in downtown L.A. and shopped discount stores.

Ryan often uses rich neutral colors. I love the elegant warmth in this room. Little Chloe is certainly the cutest thing in the room!

On a vintage bar cart from <a href="http://www.lawsonfenning.com"> Lawson-Fenning</a> in Los Angeles, Brown creates a display that mixes a Buddha head, a branch of coral and two oversized lacquer candlesticks from West Elm that frame what appears to be a glass mosaic tile work. It's actually a painting by <a href="http://www.thehappylion.com/index.php?artist=wills&view=list"> artist Brian Wills</a>. The walls are painted with Sherwin Williams' Gauntlet Gray.

I love these West Elm Candlesticks! The coral adds nice texture, as well.

In the dining room, Brown covered the ceiling in bead board, which makes the space feel intimate yet casual, he says. The horizontal lines also echo the wall of cabinetry, which Brown created from three matching Chinese pieces, an eye-catching alternative to a built-in unit. He designed the table, which can seat 12. It's built on a base of reclaimed Douglas fir with a distressed walnut top by Ian Ferguson of [<a href="http://www.digitfurniture.com">Dig It Furniture</a> in Venice. "I always tell him to beat up table tops so I don't have to worry about them," Brown says. Though they look like antiques, the dining chairs are a cheat, Brown admits. "I was running out of budget so I got them from <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com"> Anthropologie</a> and recovered the seats."

The dining room features an amazing Sputnik chandelier and beautiful, rich cabinetry.

The Sputnik lamp hanging over the dining table was purchased at <a href="http://www.downtown20.net"> Downtown</a> in Los Angeles. "There's a bulb missing and people always notice," the designer says. "But I think that's part of its charm."

The family's chocolate Lab, Jordan, cruises through the kitchen. Brown designed a fretwork pattern for cupboard doors, giving the room the Chinese Chippendale look associated with Hollywood Regency style. The work also was done by <a href="http://www.digitfurniture.com">Dig It Furniture</a> in Venice. Note the top portion of the walls, which are covered in bead board running horizontally, coordinating with the marble subway tiles above the countertop.

I must say that my favorite rooms that Ryan designs are always his kitchens! I love the open shelving and beautiful finishes. Notice the fretwork on the cabinets.

A banquette style sofa from <a href="http://www.mgandbw.com/">Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams</a> in a kid-friendly floral print anchors the space adjoining the kitchen. Monchamp says the home nicely balances formal spaces with family areas. "We couldn't do anything too precious," he says. "We are not 'No, don't touch that' people."

Brown's improvements included new hardwood floor, doors and windows, which brighten the master bedroom upstairs. And the mix of décor? "The world is an art gallery," Brown says. "You can learn something new at every turn."

The Zen-Like Master Bedroom

The master bath gets the glam spa treatment with a <a href="http://www.sunrisespecialty.com/sunskirted.html">Piedmont skirted tub</a> purchased at <a href="http://www.livingsquare.com">Living Square</a> in Los Angeles. Hexagonal Mist limestone floor tiles are from <a href="http://www.annsacks.com/home.html">Ann Sacks</a>. The chandelier, which Brown repainted white, was 60 bucks. "A lot of the lamps in the house cost under a hundred dollars at flea markets and garage sales," Brown says.

This is such a great spot for a tub!

In the stairwell, he hung the 30-bulb Meurice chandelier, a Jonathan Adler design that can be found <a href="http://www.jonathanadler.com/shop/product.php?productid=17077&cat=387&page=1&initial="> online</a> for $750.

A Fabulous Jonathan Adler Chandelier Hangs in the Stairwell

Chloe plays chef in her bright and cheery room, furnished from catalog resources such as <a href="http://www.potterybarnkids.com/">Pottery Barn Kids</a>. Brown and Monchamp wanted a beautiful house that was still kid-friendly. The living room sofa may be B&B Italia, but that doesn’t mean Chloe and her playmates are impressed. "They'll take every cushion and pillow off and throw them on the floor, then they'll jump on them," Brown says, nonplussed.

Miss Chloe’s room is cute and sassy.

The yard was relandscaped to include a mosaic tile pool, an organic vegetable garden and a lawn with a concrete paver path from <a href="http://www.artobrick.com/index.aspx"> Arto Brick</a> in Gardena. With extensive changes inside and out, the tab for renovations came to about $700,000. "I did it as inexpensively as possible to use the materials I wanted," Brown says, adding that without his industry sources the cost would have run $1 million.

So relaxing! I wish I were hanging out in this beautiful backyard today instead of taking harbor from this cold, rainy day.

Under a wood-framed arbor, Brown created an outdoor dining area with a 13.5-foot-long table and four teak benches for seating. A zinc planter and an aged metal votive holder add a touch of French country charm.

I adore the items Ryan chose for the outdoor dining area. The long, farmhouse style table, zinc planter, and candleholder look fantastic and add a bit of French charm.

Image Credit: The Los Angeles Times

23 comments:

vmichelle said...: I love the built-in cabinets in the dining room. I'm a freak for storage and putting things away, but I like built-in storage that has style and adds so much to a room.; December 30, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Dumbwit Tellher said...: Thanks so much for posting Ryans home. He certainly has what it takes to create a gorgeous, livable, home. His design sense appeals to me by the bucket load. Little Chloe brings a huge sparkle to the spaces no doubt!
Happy New Year to you Palmoa. Wishing you all the best for 2010.; December 30, 2009 at 11:30 AM
La Maison Fou said...: I too luv the show & his style is wonderful.
I am thinking a cleaner, palatte for the New Year!
Leslie; December 30, 2009 at 11:34 AM
micah said...: Love the show Flipping Out. Ryan has an awesome house, can't get enough of that kitchen!; December 30, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Averill said...: I love Ryan's style and his home is gorgeous! It's such a great blend of hollywood regency, spanish, and asian zen. I think my favorite moment is actually that gorgeous banister -- it's got a great retro-Californian vibe!; December 30, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Unknown said...: First of all, I thought I was the only one who {secretly} loved Flipping Out. This is such a great spread, and I caught my breath toward the end because I think I actually looked at this house when it was on the market a few years back! Love the deep brown with the pop of white!; December 30, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Unknown said...: MaryJo, it is so cool that you recognized the house! I'm sure it must have looked different back then. According to the LA Times article, they spent $700,000 in renovations which Ryan says would have easily been $1 mil if he didn't have industry connections and designer discounts. Yikes!; December 30, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Celeste said...: I am absolutely green with envy over that tub!; December 30, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Stephanie Sabbe said...: loooove. I love the curtains in the living room. I need something like that in mine.

love your blog!; December 30, 2009 at 1:34 PM
dee said...: I love the chandelier over the tub. The whole space is just so elegant. Also love their kitchen and that island. I wanted so badly to do my floors a deep brown like this but I knew it would be a recipe for disaster with two dogs!

They better bring back Flipping Out soon!!; December 30, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Crystal @ Plush Palate said...: Everything about this house is amazing! I am especially loving the choice of chandeliers!

Thanks for posting this! I hadn't seen it before.

Happy New Year!

xo,
Crystal; December 30, 2009 at 2:23 PM
ashlina {the decorista} said...: ok...first of all, i LOVE that show. great idea to post this place.
i love the images....
the white candlesticks and the coral on the mantle are so amazing! need them now!

:); December 30, 2009 at 2:36 PM
TINDRA said...: gaaaah! oh lord! I just died! what a beautiful home!!! LOVE IT!; December 30, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...: Thanks for posting this! So many great rooms - especially the living room.; December 30, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Megan said...: Love, love, love. Getting lots of ideas for my new house. Thanks for sharing!; December 30, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Katie @ Noodle and Boof said...: Love this! Love that show! Love miss Chloe! That bathtub is to die for.; December 30, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Dani-Elle said...: I love love love these pictures.

Thanks for the post.

Dani-Elle from
www.frivolousidlepleasures.blogspot.comw; December 30, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Gena @ Inspired Living spaces said...: Great home - just the kind I like, calm, serene, lots of neutrals and texture and the odd bit of colour!!! happy new year Paloma!!; December 31, 2009 at 3:28 AM
Southern Aspirations said...: This is amazing!@ I love it!! The dark neutrals really speak to me- calming, like neutrals do so well, but yet very warm with a touch of glamour. Fabulous!; December 31, 2009 at 7:46 AM
SGM said...: I too love the stairwell, and it's so fun to see the finished pool. Wonder if he will really leave it all behind for Santa Barbara....

Happy New Year, Paloma!; December 31, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Candi said...: Love this house, thank you for sharing! I've been looking for curtains like those for months!!!; January 2, 2010 at 1:32 AM
P.S. I love this... said...: I just love your blog! It's a daily must read. I wish Ryan could decorate my house. *swoon*; January 4, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Kat said...: Can anyone tell me what colour paint he used for the living room?; December 29, 2010 at 4:43 PM

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Ryan Brown’s “Flip-Out-worthy” Pad

23 comments:

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