Unexpected Celebrity Homes That Inspire My Work
Photographer: William Abranowicz | Designer: Kathleen and Tommy Clements and Waldo Fernandez
It’s a professional hazard: I despise reality TV, yet I somehow find myself captivated by the domestic stages where these personalities perform. While I might mute the drama, I can’t help but love being a voyeur (via Architectural Digest) into some of their sublimely dressed homes. It turns out that even in the chaotic world of scripted "realness," there are pockets of design brilliance. When we strip away the fame, we’re left with spaces that challenge our expectations and, occasionally, offer a masterclass in curation.
Photographer: William Abranowicz | Designer: Kathleen and Tommy Clements and Waldo Fernandez
Take Kendall Jenner’s Los Angeles sanctuary, featured in AD back in 2020. I’m not talking about the "granny chic" mountain aesthetic recent debacle; I’m looking at her actual Pacific home. It’s an exercise in the harmony of restraint. Layered mulberry and mauve linens, highly textured, nubby (please take your shoes off) cream area rugs, and primitive antiques. It’s a reminder that even a "supermodel" home can prioritize soul over spectacle, proving that comfort doesn’t have to sacrifice a sharp, contemporary edge.
Photographer: Simon Watson | Designer: Gray Davis
In total contrast is Oh my Gosh, I am so sorry, another reality TV star, Jenna Lyons’ iconic SoHo loft. Before she was a Housewife, she was the undisputed queen of "J.Crew-chic," and her home reflects that same editorial eye, albeit with far more bold hues. It’s a fearless celebration of color and brass, where a sublime coral velvet sectional plays off hides, leather, and brass.
Photographer: Simon Watson | Designer: Gray Davis
In design school, I pinned an entire project to a sunset-hued, glowing, and passionate striped silk window treatment. Jenna’s sofa is the mohair equivalent of my Hawaiian loft project. Lyons masters the art of the "collected" look; nothing feels like it came from a showroom catalog with hand-sketched art and seemingly random book collections. It’s a playful, high-contrast environment that inspires me to push my clients toward bolder, more personal palettes.
Photographer: Michael Paul
Finally, to cleanse the palate from the neon glow of Hollywood, I always return to the monastic silence of Axel Vervoordt’s Kasteel van ’s-Gravenwezel in Belgium. If the previous two are about personality, Vervoordt is about the poetry. His work with Gustavian principles—utilizing ancient stone, reclaimed wood, and vast, empty volumes—is a masterclass in understated luxury.
Photographer: Michael Paul
There is a profound power in his simplicity; it’s a reminder that sometimes the most elevated design isn’t about what you add, but what you have the courage to leave out.
Photographer: Michael Paul
Learn more about these incredible celebrity homes that inspire my work here:
Inside Supermodel Kendall Jenner's Tranquil Los Angeles Home
Décor Inspiration: Jenna Lyons’s SoHo Loft
Axel Vervoordt Crafts a Poetic Home in the Belgian Countryside For His Family