An Elegant, French-Inspired Los Angeles Home

Name: Baiyina Hughley
Location: Miracle Mile — Los Angeles, California
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 4 years

As soon as you step into this quintessential LA apartment, the place feels like you are walking into a modern Parisian influenced home. Each room is mixed with eclectic pieces with fun paint colors. As an interior designer, Baiyina designs spaces for commercial projects and residential homes that have a simple elegance and her own home reflects that same theme.

The living room opens up the space with a neutral woven rug and dark sculptural coffee table that is balanced by the feminine, vintage sofa. Affordable finds, luxe finishes, and metallic pieces blend together, leading into the fabulously pink dining room. One of the more prominent pieces of the dining room is the acrylic wall calendar that is so functional and decorative at the same time.

Even though the space has a simple, edited feel, Baiyina definitely doesn’t shy away from using colors to make a statement, as you can see in the rest of her home.

My Style: Eclectic, elegant minimalism. I became obsessed with furniture and design by going to flea markets with my aunts so my style naturally evolved to favor mixing pieces of different styles. Working in the high-end furniture industry refined my eye and taught me how to reign in the eclecticism and keep things cohesive. I’ve always been somewhat of a minimalist, using a lot of white/ negative space so the pieces that I loved could take center stage. To me furniture is art, but at the same time it’s always been easy for me to let go. I regularly edit my space, donating items to Goodwill or swapping with friends so that I love and use everything that I have.

Inspiration: French / Parisian style – I love the stunning historic architecture, white walls, and antiques mixed with modern pieces. It’s so effortlessly chic. Los Angeles is also a source of inspiration because we are the kings of laid back indoor/ outdoor living. My dream home is a spanish style bungalow with dark hardwood floors, ceiling beams, mosaic tiles, lush gardens and french doors leading to the pool.

Favorite Element: The calm peaceful vibe. It’s the sunniest apartment I’ve ever lived in and every window has a good view. Even though I’m right in the middle of the city, it’s super quiet with the sound of chirping birds and a distant lawn mower. It feels really good.

Biggest Challenge: I’m constantly rearranging and tweaking so my biggest challenge is probably leaving it alone and being satisfied with where it is right now.

What Friends Say: “Wow it feels really good in here.” “Did you rearrange?” I also love that no one ever notices my TV. It’s sitting right in front of my fireplace on the floor and people always think that it’s the black of the fireplace.

Biggest Embarrassment: The backyard – it’s dry and barren right now. For a while I had it going with tomatoes, peppers, mint and a compost pile but this summer has been harsh and I’ve let it go.

Proudest DIY: I love the two leopard fur pillows on my sofa. My grandmother had an antique shop and would let us explore for hours, picking out one or two special things to take every time we visited. When she passed away all the grandchildren were allowed to take a few things and I selected one of her leopard coats. The silhouette didn’t suit me so I decided to have it made into pillows. Since it’s vintage I would much rather use the fur then let it go to waste or rot in a closet for another 30 years. They’re so luxe but in an understated way, which to me is very sophisticated.

Biggest Indulgence: My rent. I’ve been blessed with some very high quality gems and I’ve gotten really good deals on most pieces. My sofa was an amazing find at a local thrift store for $300. Having it reupholstered is where the cost comes in. It’s super comfy and really well made.

Best Advice: Be patient and build your home over time. Always keep an overall design vision in mind and resist impulse buys. Don’t buy things just because they’re on sale because cheap can be really expensive when they don’t work in your space.

Dream Sources: Rose Bowl Flea Market, Ochre, Swallowtail Interiors (now closed), Cisco Home, Rug Department at HD Buttercup, ABC Carpet & Home, Ligne Roset, Natural Curiosities, Oly Studios

PAINT & COLORS
Living Room — Dunn Edwards- Gardenia (walls); Dunn Edwards – White (trim & ceiling)
Dining Room — Dunn Edwards – Pale Jasper
Bedroom — Dunn Edwards- Worn Denim
Kitchen — Dunn Edwards – White & Sherwin Williams – First Star

LIVING ROOM
Sofa – vintage & reupholstered
Fur Pillows – vintage
Fur Throw – Restoration Hardware
Coffee Table, Lounge Chair & Side Table – Oly Studios
Brass Lamp — vintage (shade from Practical Props)
Floor Lamp — Ikea
Mirror — vintage
Sisal Rug — West Elm
Yellow Lounge Chairs — vintage
Fiddle leaf Fig — Rolling Greens
Photography — Jon Rou Photography for Zoe Bios Creative
Sideboard — vintage
Drapes — Restoration Hardware
Sheers — Bed, Bath & Beyond
Drapery Rod — craigslist
Floor Mirror — Ikea

DINING ROOM
Dining Table — West Elm
Dining Chairs — Vintage
Lucite Wall Calendar — Dare to Be Domestic via Etsy
Shelf — Oly
Chandelier — Practical Props
Lamp – Vintage
Dresser — Ikea
Sheers — Bed Bath & Beyond
Drapery Rod – DIY copper pipes from Osh

KITCHEN
Mirror — vintage
Stainless Steel Cutting Board/ Wall Shelf/ Knife Rack — Ikea
French Accessories — vintage from my mom

BEDROOM
Raffia Bed – Oly Studios
Nightstands — vintage
Antique Chair – vintage reupholstered in Duralee ikat
Floor Mirror – Ikea
Lamps – Homegoods
Dresser – vintage / lacquered in white
Drapes – Pottery Barn
Drapery Rod – World Market
Photography — Zoe Bios Creative
Rug — Rugs Usa
Bedding – Ikea & Homegoods