Name: RJ Durell and Nick Florez
Location: Studio City — Los Angeles, California
Size: 3 Bedrooms + 2 Baths
Years lived in: 8 Years — Own
Nick and RJ live on a quiet block in a lovely residential neighborhood where they have designed a stylish home. Complete with luscious front and backyard landscaping, this small home offers the best of indoor and outdoor living. After eight years of living in their cozy home, they still love it just as much as when they first moved in.
My dear friends Michael Crispen and John Donaldson have introduced me again to a wonderful couple with a wonderful home. John provided some custom window treatments and Michael helped design several elements of the various rooms. Nick and RJ are both dancer/choreographers here in LA, and have collaborated with some of Hollywood's most recognizable talents.
This is a home that exudes eclectic elegance. Each room has a charismatic sense of warmth and style. For Nick and RJ, "luxury and aesthetic" were the most essential elements of designing their home. Although they've included designer pieces and custom designs, Nick confessed that the most significant thing in the house was the "original artwork by my sister Sandra Florez".
The most charming aspect of this house, for me, was seeing all the doors from bedrooms, the hallways and the dining room, all open to the back yard and outside dining space. This is a common feature in many Southern California homes that never goes unappreciated. Taking full advantage of the space, sunshine and private back yard Nick and RJ explain that "LA is cosmopolitan and also has a beautiful nature aspect as well. Our home mirrors that in the little hints of glam with the beauty of trees, plants, and flowers surrounding us from all sides."
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Inspiration: Hollywood glam/eclectic/anything chic!
Favorite Element: Indoor/outdoor living
Biggest Challenge: Staining floors twice to get the color right
What Friends Say: "I wanna live here!"
Biggest Embarrassment: Having 4 front doors
Proudest DIY: Installing dining room chandelier and planting succulent garden
Biggest Indulgence: Carrera marble countertops in kitchen and silk window treatments
Best Advice: "Take your time"
Dream Sources: Milan, darling!
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • All paint Benjamin Moore
• Living Room & Hallway: Smoke Embers
• Office: Rocky Mountains
• Master Bedroom: Kendall Charcoal
LIVING ROOM
- • Sectional sofa by Interior Illusions
• White lacquer console by Weego Home
• Vintage Hollywood Regency Blanc de Chine lamps
• Painting by Sandra Florez @ www.greenhousestudio.com
• Silk Curtains by Silk Trading Company
• White candlesticks by B&B Italia
• Murano glass objects by Michael Crispen's 20th Century Object
• Pillows by Habitè
DINING ROOM
- • Painting by Sandra Florez @ www.greenhousestudio.com
• Vintage Brass Rams head table
• Vintage Hollywood Regency Dining Chairs by Michael Crispen's 20th Century Object
• Vintage White Porcelain Chandelier
KITCHEN
- • Carrera marble top counters
• Oven and stovetop by Thermador
• Teapot by Le Creuset
• Knives by J A Henkles
• Whale pitcher by Jonathan Adler
BEDROOM
- • Hotel Bedding by Williams Sonoma Home
• Plates by Hermes
• Bedside table and trunks by Interior Illusions
• Faux Fur throw by Bluehaus
• Bedside ottoman by William Sonoma Home
• Bedside vase by Jonathan Adler
• Murano glass objects by Michael Crispen's 20th Century Object
BATHROOM
- • Mirror by Restoration Hardware
• Rugs and Towels by Hotel Collection
OFFICE
- • Antique leather-top desk
• Custom window treatments designed by John Donaldson
• Lamp & Mirror by Weego Home
• Nude Drawing by Sandra Florez @ www.greenhousestudio.com
• Vintage Acrylic console by Michael Crispen's 20th Century Object
• Blue leather briefcase by Prada
• White speaker by Apple
Thanks, Nick and RJ!
Images: Bethany Nauert
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amazing house and beautiful images - love the portrait of the owners with their little pups!
WHOA! Love the happy home. That family pic owns, gentlemen. A++!
Love your soft colour schemes and beautiful garden! We don't quite share a taste when it comes to patterns, and lines in furniture however.
Looks like a very comfortable home - well done. I like the family pic, too, but have to note those dawgs look so unhappy (I'm sure they're not, but it did make me giggle).
Nice dogs.
Your bathtub is calling me.
lovely!
Perfection, utter perfection. I particularly appreciate the placement of the sofas, just a bit on angle. Oh, for the California climate--I could never have a garden like that here in New Hampshire! The artwork suits the space. Excellent work guys.
I could live here..hello...I could live here. Beautiful home and love the grounds.
Beautiful home! Would you be able to share the name of the soft grey paint color for the dining room? Thanks - love the beautiful home and the cute pups!
Just two words guys. Awe-some!!!
The dining room and backyard are especially delicious.
Wow, what a gorgeous home. Everything is so put together but not stuffy. Love it!
creative, precise, and authentic. beautiful :)
i do not understand the slightly angled couch... can someone please explain what the point of that is? unless u have a large room where u can really have an angled sitting area (@ least 30 degrees) i think it looks like it just got bumped into...
RJ and Nick: your home is simply glorious. I love the sofa placement.
Ellenx: the slightly angled couch permits an unexpected exclamation point in an otherwise perfectly created sentence. Which, of course, is the opposite effect that might be created by using abbreviated spelling and other grammatical silliness.
nice house ~ every room looks welcoming. I love the kitchen window(s) above the sink.
Very nice! The only thing that seemed a little off to me was the tile kitchen floor. It doesn't seem to go well with the beautiful carrera marble countertops. Otherwise, nice place and nice dogs!
Cute couple and pooches! I love the combo of raw and glam, smokey and clean lines. Very nice tour.
Lovely, lovely home! I did a double take when I saw that marble in the kitchen.
Wow - what a spectacular home. I love your yard - funny how no one even mentioned the undulating grasses and the trio of fountains. I'm certain the soothing sounds of water trickle into your home in the evening and is divine!
I especially love the butterscotch dresser in photo #15 and the color chosen for the master bedroom.
The only thing that bothers me is the fact that you did not hide the CPU in next to your desk. That's a simple hide and it would make the office much less officey!
The photo of your doggy reminds me of that faraway glance Natalie Wood has in Splendor in the Grass! Love it!
I love the house. You two are super, super cute!
Wow! Their style is so fabulous! I love it all. What a nice looking family picture, too!
Cute couple. Nice dogs. Gorgeous home.
Talk to me about the mirror and curtains. Is that a closet area-or did you just do that up on a wall?
Beautiful! I have a bad case of home envy! I love how each room evokes a certain energy/mood, great use of colors! Oh and I think I would live in backyard all summer long if it looked like that.
Washing machine in the kitchen?
Stylish and convenient.
I absolutely LOVE the colors and textures used... Especially in the master bedroom and the computer nook area. Tailored and rich yet very inviting... Not stuffy at all! Well done gents.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures of the house, the one I liked best was the last one. The two of them sitting together, enjoying their home...it was absolutely heartwarming and sweet.
I agree with lbarak. I like the home a lot but I think what brings it all together is the last photo.
Delightful. gorgeous dogs, but please do something with the garden. xx
Wowzers! This is lovely. That last picture is adorable!
Lovely home. LOVE THE OUTDOORS! Their outdoor areas are lush and serene *sigh* :)
My only suggestion would be that they consider changing the tile on the kitchen floor. A white, monolithic tile would work really well with the classic carrera marble tops and backsplash. Otherwise, it's really well done. Nice looking couple too.
Love the outdoors, love the inside! The kitchen and the bathroom are my favorite inside pictures but my very favorite picture is the last one.
The last photo is a perfect ending.
LeonRoi, I did the same thing with my washer & dryer -- moved them up from the basement to the same spot one floor up in the kitchen -- and while I haven't pulled it off as stylishly as Nick and RJ, it's great not having to risk life and limb by descending rickety stairs whenever I wash clothes.
Nicely done Bethany! You absolutely captured everything!
Cool Paul
Love it!
Perhaps the sofa is angled because those are French doors behind. It allows access to them. Beautiful colors and sumptuousness!! And your feet are in the exact same dance position in first photo!
Wow!!!! Nice..nice..i love how every room has its own style,, how you made it look different and interesting,, very cozy and clean,,,i love the couches in the living room,,,the master bedroom is awesome,, kittchen is wow,,, you did and excellent job!!!,, thanks!!!!!
great style throughout! esp. love the angled couch and wow, that bathroom! handsome couple and cute pouting dogs.
Thoroughly homey and yet drop-dead gorgeous. I really, really love this.
Hmmm. I kind of feel like they need to go through the house and get rid of stuff. They are heavy on the shiney "luxe" fabrics and finishes, but not all of them are quality fabrics/finishes and it shows. If you are going to call attention to yourself you should be up to scrutiny and alot of pieces and elements in this place really don't stand up to scrutiny. Sorry.