What’s New Feels Familiar

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Designer Claire Thomas finds her forever in a charming 1929 historic home in Claremont

In the living room, the ceiling mural is by Fine and Dandy, the drapes are by Everhem and the rug is vintage. Photos by Yayo Ahumada.

“I didn’t lose my home in the Palisades fire, but the fire is what precipitated the move. My mom lost a property and I needed to find a place that she could live with me part time so she could be close to her grandchildren,” says designer Claire Thomas on the defining moment she embarked on a move that ultimately led her to this 5,000-square-foot home in Claremont. “I was looking all over L.A. for property that could support an ADU build, and everything was outside of my price point. Then I remembered how charming Claremont was when I went to college there, and upon checking, saw the house. It’s very similar in style to my childhood home, and had a guest suite already built-in for my mom.”

The kitchen is covered in Fireclay tile, the plumbing fixtures and sink are by Signature Hardware. The lighting is by Rejuvenation and the refrigerator is by Big Chill. Photos by Yayo Ahumada.
The dining room features a rug by Ernesta, the shades are by Everhem and the wallpaper is by Kravet.
Photos by Yayo Ahumada.

Built in 1929, the bones and original details inspired Thomas’s pursuit to preserve and restore spaces where the historical elements had been stripped away, returning them to their 1929 appearance. “Storytelling hugely influences my approach to design,” she notes. “When I work with clients, we come up with a little story to hinge the whole project on. For my home, it was ‘The Bronte sisters go on vacation in Spain’—this tells us it’s a bit goth, romantic, mysterious—but ultimately optimistic. So if any color, texture, pattern, or object didn’t emphasize this story, it didn’t belong in it.”

In the powder room, the Kemper wallpaper is by Kravet and the plumbing fixture is by Signature Hardware.
Photos by Yayo Ahumada.
The foyer floor is lined with tile from Fireclay and the console table is by Arhaus. Photos by Yayo Ahumada.

Thomas has a true understanding and appreciation for California’s rich architectural history in residential design and therefore, when it came to the design of this home the goal was not to demo but enhance the existing. “When I have the opportunity to work on a historical home, I try to keep the architecture and hard details (flooring, lighting, hardware, molding, etc.) period appropriate and then the finishes are where we can create more of a dialogue,” she says. “So the furnishings, wallcoverings, fabric and color palette is where there can be more playfulness.” That approach is evident in each room, where colorful tiles, lush wallcoverings and welcoming furniture, sets the tone.

The office walls are covered in kravet wallpaper, framing the primary bedroom suite that has bedding by Coyuchi. The drapes are by Everhem. Photos by Yayo Ahumada.
The primary bathroom features tiles form Fireclay, the lighting is by Rejuvenation and the shades are by Everhem. Photos by Yayo Ahumada.
The plumbing fixtures are by Signature Hardware. Photos by Yayo Ahumada.

She turned to one of her longest standing collaborators, Joybird, to help fill many of the spaces with color and character. “My first design project with them was when I designed my cabin in Big Bear in 2018,” she recalls. “Claire has been a long-standing creative partner of Joybird and this project felt like a natural opportunity to continue that relationship while showing how both her point of view and the Joybird brand have evolved. Her new home represents a more layered, collected and elevated chapter of her aesthetic, giving us the opportunity to tell a different story together,” proclaims Gifty Walker of Joybird. “As a brand born in Los Angeles, we’ve always been inspired by the way California interiors mix eras, color, texture and influences in a way that feels collected rather than prescribed and this project shows that a Joybird piece can sit beautifully alongside vintage antiques, art, architectural character and objects collected over time.”

A guest suite features the Camille bed in Crave Heather Rose by Joybird, the drapes are by pepper and the lighting is by Regina Andrews.  Photos by Yayo Ahumada.
Another guest suite is clad in wallpaper by Everhem. The mattress is from Avocado and the hardware is by Rejuvenation.
Photos by Yayo Ahumada.
The boat-inspired custom bunk beds in the boy’s room is painted in a blue by Dunn Edwards. The drapes are by Pepper Home and the bedding is by Avocado. Photos by Yayo Ahumada.

When asked which room and piece in the house if her favorite she notes, “I’d have to say the Sebastian sectional in the basement as it gets used heavily, looks great, and is so comfortable.” The space she is referring to is not just a boring basement but a screening room clad in deep red velvet drapery, wall-to-wall leopard carpet by Stark and a huge and very cozy sofa from Joybird. “I feel like my basement is pretty hard to beat! I’ve always dreamed of having a space like this and am thrilled with the results.”

A game table in the screening room is surrounded by a set of the Jolie swivel chair in Harper cinnamon by Joybird.
Photos by Yayo Ahumada.
The screening room carpet is by Stark. The lighting is by Regina Andrews and the Sebastian modular sectional is by Joybird. Photos by Yayo Ahumada.

The final result is a family home that tells a story of love, passion and a deep appreciation for history—in each room. From the rich color palette to the soft textures, bold tiles and luminous lighting, the details define the style in such a unique way that is exclusive to Thomas.

Photos by Yayo Ahumada.
The moody bar features Fine and Dandy wallpaper. The tile is by Fireclay and the stools are by Serena & Lily.
Photos by Yayo Ahumada.

SHOP THE LOOK

-In the screening room, Thomas covered Joybird’s Sebastian Modular Sectional in the warm Harper Cinnamon textile.

-Joybird’s Marlow Ash End Table makes a small but powerful statement next to the sectional in the screening room.

-Thomas configured a set of the Jolie Swivel Chairs around a game table in the screening room, for maximum entertainment.


-A guest suite features the soft, cozy Camille Bed in Harper Desert Rose.