Ep. 356: Los Angeles Interiors with Annie Kelly

How to Decorate

We head to Tinseltown this week for a fun history lesson in LA design with accomplished author, Annie Kelly. Annie shares insights from her new book "City of Dreams: Los Angeles Interiors," offering a sweeping photographic survey of the city's most striking historic and contemporary homes. She discusses the inspiration behind the book and her longtime creative partnership with photographer Tim Street-Porter and shares a glimpse inside some of LA's most breathtaking modernist gems as well as historically significant homes. Annie also traces the evolution of the city's architecture from the early influence of the film industry to the innovative mid-century structures still inspiring interiors today.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode:

• The inspiration behind Annie’s book, City of Dreams: Los Angeles Interiors.
• How the topography and terrain of LA helps foster different and often quite eccentric design choices.
• More about the influence of the film industry and influx of architects and artists after WWII on past and present design in LA.
• Annie shares more about how she chose the homes featured in the book to be more about interesting and captivating stories rather than just celebrities.
• Mid-century modern architecture in LA.
• More about Annie’s venetian-gothic home.
• Outdoor living and garden spaces that expanded entertaining areas.
• The evolution of LA's architecture from the grid pattern of flatlands to hillside communities.
• Renowned LA design stores and the characters behind them.
• Restoring iconic Case Study Houses for a new generation to appreciate.
• What is next for Annie and Tim? A sneak peek into a very exciting upcoming project.

Ballard Designs

City of Dreams: Los Angeles Interiors

@anniehkelly

@timstreetporter