The Crown Jewel

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Studio Montemayor fills a modern L.A. home owned by a renowned jewelry designer, with character and life

The living room focuses on a dramatic fireplace covered in Made Modern dimensional tiles by Ann Sacks. Photography by Sam Frost, styled by Yedda Morrison.

“We believe the home should be a reflection of the family who inhabits it, and through thoughtful curation we provide a beautiful stage to discretely elevate their daily routine,” says Studio Montemayor founder, Regina Perez Montemayor about the spaces she and her team dream up for clients. “Unbound by a set aesthetic, our work is stylistically diverse and attuned to our clients—unified by an essential refinement, sense of place and attention to detail.”

A pair of cocktail swivel chairs by Phillippe Malouin and a Lampers de Marseille sconce by Le Corbusier create the Backgammon corner.
Photography by Sam Frost, styled by Yedda Morrison.

When hired by L.A.-based jewelry designer Emily P. Wheeler and her partner to transform their 3,700-square-foot home into a fun-filled destination for entertaining, they reveled at the opportunity. “Through a mix of vintage and contemporary furnishings and bold use of color, we achieved a design that feels refined but still playful and inviting,” says Perez Montemayor.

In a corner of the living room, custom steel shelves sit behind a Coda chair by Atelier de Troupe and a side table by Bari Ziperstein. Photography by Sam Frost, styled by Yedda Morrison.
In the entry, the tube chandelier by Michael Anastassiades hangs above the Barcini sideboard from Soho Home and a hand-knotted rug from Garde. Photography by Sam Frost, styled by Yedda Morrison.

Like most Southern Californians, the client’s wanted the interior of each space to feel as if it was fused with the outdoors. The team furthered the home’s indoor/outdoor layout through material choices, color selections and by interior plantscaping.  “By planting Creeping Fig along the back wall of the dining room, we were able to enhance this experience, creating a stunning but unexpected backdrop for the dining room, and taking advantage of the abundant natural light, especially when the large floor to ceiling sliding glass doors are fully open,” she remarks. “Given that the ground floor is an open floor plan encompassing the kitchen, dining and living rooms, this feeling is extended to the entire space and highlights the best part of living in L.A.—the weather!”

In the dining room, N° 556 Silk Shade Pendant by Ruemmler hangs above a custom black limestone table and a set of Leggera dining chairs by Gil Point from Cassina. Photography by Sam Frost, styled by Yedda Morrison.
In the primary bedroom, the custom designed ceiling suspension canopy holds full-height sheer linen drapery.
The art is by Peter Bonde through Nino Pier Gallery. Photography by Sam Frost, styled by Yedda Morrison.
A side table by Bari Ziperstein rests beside a soaking tub in the primary bathroom.
Photography by Sam Frost, styled by Yedda Morrison.

A true reflection of the quintessential “California Cool” aesthetic, the home’s contemporary architecture is grounded by rare vintage finds, unique ceramics, jewel-toned colors and soft textures. When askeed how the clients responded to the big reveal, Perez Montemayor recalls, “The client’s were thrilled with the end result, and shortly after its completion welcomed their first child- needless to say the playful character of the home has augmented!”

Homeowner and jewelry designer Emily P. Wheeler. Photography by Sam Frost, styled by Yedda Morrison.