How a Los Angeles Hills New Build Finally Found Its Soul

When Jessica Reynaud stepped into this new build in Los Angeles, it was clear the home needed less structure and more feeling. Her clients had already lived there for years, but the spaces still felt unfinished. Jessica approached the project through texture, tone, and materiality, layering Roman clay walls, jewel-toned upholstery, ambient lighting, and moments of pattern to create depth and intimacy. What emerged is a home shaped by nuance rather than overhaul, where vintage pieces, soft finishes, and thoughtful details bring a sense of ease and personality to every room.

Design: Jessica Reynaud | Styling: Cate Geiger | Photography: Jenna Peffley

Designing Warmth Into a New Build

From the outset, the focus was on softening the home’s clean-lined architecture and bringing warmth into spaces that felt overly crisp. Roman clay walls by Portola Paints were used throughout to add depth and movement, paired with a mix of stone, walnut, and brass finishes that introduce weight and tactility. Rather than reworking the structure, Jessica concentrated on material shifts, layering finishes that feel grounded and lived-in while leaving the home’s contemporary bones intact.

Bottom cabinetry painted in Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow.

Texture, Tone, and a Layered Approach

Texture does much of the storytelling here. In the front sitting room, a vintage sofa anchors the space alongside a handwoven Armadillo & Co. rug, marble nesting tables, and leather accent chairs, all set against creamy Roman Clay walls.

Elsewhere, velvet dining chairs from Soho Home bring richness to the breakfast nook, while patterned moments—like Zac and Fox wallpaper in the dining room—add softness and visual rhythm. Throughout the home, these layers create contrast and drama without crowding the spaces.

Lighting as Atmosphere

Lighting was treated as a design element rather than an afterthought. Sculptural lighting, warm pendants, and carefully chosen fixtures add personality while casting a soft, ambient glow. In the sitting room, ceiling lighting works in tandem with a sculptural wall fixture and commissioned art, while bathrooms feature brass-accented sconces and pendants that highlight stone and tile finishes. Custom window treatments throughout the home further shape the light, filtering daylight to keep each room feeling calm and intimate.

Vintage Pieces and Personal Detail

What ultimately grounds the home is its mix of custom work and collected pieces. Custom walnut vanities, consoles, and cabinetry appear alongside floating stone and marble sinks, unlacquered brass plumbing, and vintage furnishings that bring a sense of history. In the primary bathroom, zellige tile is laid in a nuanced pattern behind the tub and shower, while brass fixtures add warmth against the tile’s variation. These thoughtful pairings give each room a sense of permanence and lived-in personality.

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