A Globally Inspired Spanish Colonial California Bungalow

Name: Sheeva Sairafi
Location: Los Angeles, California
Size: 3 bedroom/2 bathroom
Years lived in: Owned 1 year

Sheeva Sairafi’s bright and colorful Spanish Colonial style home reflects her inspiring vision for making a global impact. In 2014 Sheeva left a coveted corporate retail position to start her own socially conscious global home decor company, Local + Lejos. On a budget and knee-deep in her new entrepreneurial journey, the Boston native has somehow managed to piece together a cohesive design for her Los Angeles home that is rich with character and filled with artisanal goods from her travels abroad.

The Spanish Colonial style architecture of this breezy bungalow perfectly complements Sheeva’s worldly decor. Taking the walls from a drab beige to bright white helped the stunning architectural details and colorful woven goods shine. Large bay windows filled with Spanish Revival leaded stained glass and sweeping rounded archways provide a subtle European feel, while Rwandan bowls and Guatemalan textiles stand out against white walls and natural surfaces.

My Style: My style blends a worldly feel with modern touches. When designing the space, it was important to me that we support local makers, conscious brands, and vintage shops. I’m a small business owner, so budget was shoestring, hence why it took over ten months to really come together. Most items were found thrifting! Only a handful of items in the whole house are from a big brand name store. I’m also DIY obsessed, so a lot of the furniture in the house is actually refurbished furniture from my old place that has been given a makeover to work in this new space (namely, spray painted :)).

Favorite Element: Bedroom Arches! Those arches are the reason we bought the house. It was love at first site.

Biggest Challenge: Oddly enough because I think it’s my favorite room now—the living room was my biggest challenge. It took me forever to get the spacing and set up right. At first, the couch was against the window because I wanted the space to feel open, but it just didn’t feel right. Once we got the two leather chairs, it started to make more sense as a space and we moved the couch to face the television.

What Friends Say: My friends love the space and think it’s really a reflection of my personality and values. Specifically, the space has knickknacks from across my travels, and of course has many products from Local + Lejos, my home décor company that works in partnership with artisan women in developing countries.

Biggest Embarrassment: Ah – the built in bookshelf. It kills me to walk in the room everyday and see unstyled shelves, but I just haven’t gotten to taking a Sunday and tackling it.

Proudest DIY: The dip-dyed curtains in the living room. Although – I’d be lying if I said they were easy! Those took a couple of practice runs.

Biggest Indulgence: The leather chairs from West Elm. It took us f-o-r-e-v-e-r to find the chairs to complete the space, and when I saw them, I just knew they were the final touch. I got them during Black Friday deals, so the price tag hurt just a little bit less.

Dream Sources: Park Studio LA, Kalon Studios, Bend Goods, Local + Lejos

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