American designer Kelly Wearstler talks about her approach to interiors, her California homes, favourite LA spots, creative inspiration and more

Image: Neil Godwin at Future Studios for Wallpaper*. Courtesy of Kelly Wearstler

American designer Kelly Wearstler is known for her eclectic and experiential approach to interiors, and her design collections featuring imaginative furniture and lifestyle accessories. Her work merges design history with a sense of modernity, resulting in spaces where architectural rigour is combined with organic shapes, textures and colours. Her studio has worked on private residences as well as commercial and hospitality projects, each characterised by Wearstler’s multifaceted style while maintaining a distinctive personality.

Living in Los Angeles, Wearstler divides her time between her West Hollywood studio and her Beverly Hills residence, and her love and curiosity for her home city has informed her design practice. From her studio, Wearstler speaks to Wallpaper* about her daily life, her inspirations and future projects.

Kelly Wearstler, photographed at home by Joyce Park

Wallpaper*: Where are you at the moment? Can you describe the space where you work?

Kelly Wearstler: I am based in Los Angeles and have a studio in West Hollywood. There is an inherent cross-pollination to my creative process, with each project providing inspiration for the next. So, whilst I work on a selection of projects at once, I like to keep my office organised, with all of the information for my projects – including drawings, plans, inspiration – in labelled packets, laid out on the desk so I can easily pick them up as and when I need them. I keep a collection of colour swatches nearby, so I can review tones and hues easily. I also keep a vast collection of books in my office, each covering a range of topics, such as architecture, fashion, design, and art, offering a constant source of inspiration. The wall beside my desk is covered in family photos, featuring my husband, two boys, and of course our rescue dogs Javier and Willie Wearstler.

W*: What’s your morning routine, before you start work?

KW: I start every morning at 6am with a strong espresso and then exercise, which at the moment is usually tennis. I play five to six times a week – either with friends or for a lesson – and I love it. My day-to-day at work varies, between meeting with clients, visiting vendors, travelling to project sites, or designing at the studio. In one day I can enjoy design sessions for interiors, architecture, products, and furniture. I love how each day can be completely different to the next; it is this amazing variety that inspires me most and keeps me on my toes, but I do like to keep a consistent morning routine to help me feel balanced and organised.

Wearstler’s Beverly Hills residence

W*: Where do you currently live? What does your neighbourhood look like, and what do you like the most about it?

KW: I love our neighbourhood in Beverly Hills, with its beautiful architecture and palm tree-lined streets. We are so lucky to be surrounded by amazing restaurants, excellent shopping locations, an incredible creative community, and of course never too far from the ocean.

Our house was originally built in 1926 as a Spanish Colonial, and then remodelled as a Georgian around 1934 by architect James E Dolena. We purchased the home in 2005 from the Broccoli family. Albert R Broccoli was the producer and creator of the James Bond films. The architecture and history make it distinctive. It has such a cool and rich Hollywood history. When we purchased the home, we added about 4,000 sq ft as the house needed to be adapted to modern living. The architectural additions and modifications were done historically. However, the furnishings are by a mélange of progressive contemporary furniture designers and artists, with important vintage furniture and curated unique finds from my travels. The house has an interior courtyard with the most beautiful garden that all the rooms on the ground floor look and open onto through tall glass doors. We love entertaining and opening up all the doors to the garden.