At the foot of the mountains in California, a chalet of dark wood and stone sits perched on a velvet green lawn. Built in 1906, the architecture is a quixotic combination of a traditional Swiss mountain lodge and Californian arts and crafts styles.
Its owners for the last few years, actress Anne Hathaway and her husband, jewelry designer Adam Shulman, were eager to embrace the chalet’s 'old money' style. An aesthetic and interior design trend that has taken over our homes, fashion and social media feeds this year.
Indeed, their choice of interior designer reveals much about their creative instinct – Pamela Shamshiri of Studio Shamshiri was a production designer on films before she moved into interiors and a sense of 'timeless and traditional' narrative is key to her work.
Pamela was brought on board to restore and renovate the weekend retreat, collaborating closely with the couple on the interior schemes, which were to be influenced by fashion, 20th-century design, and the films of Wes Anderson.
Wood paneling is a pivotal focal point in the home, and is especially notable in the living room. In the past decade, wood-based wall treatments have undergone remarkable transformations, fueled by increased creativity and resources. It's no longer a mere afterthought; allocating a portion of your budget to customized or dynamic wall decor features is a worthwhile investment, as Anne's home demonstrates.
The days of relying solely on drywall are long gone. By investing in thoughtful craftsmanship for your living room walls, your entire space will gain a sense of substance, strength, and soul. Whether through creative wainscoting, intricate moldings, or the use of quality wood or plaster-treated surfaces, the spatial quality of your home or room can be profoundly enhanced.
However, the wood paneling all over the property, originally designed as a hunting lodge, made the interiors feel dark, so the house was swept with the lighter touch of soft pastel shades,
It is the Wes Anderson-inspired room colors that bring this dark and cozy corner to life. To replicate this look, use colors found in nature. This season's decorating is inspired by the global traveler's expeditions, with a rich palette of brown, ochre and gold.
Before you recoil in horror at the thought of decorating with brown, throw out any preconceived notions of the brown rooms you may have seen in the past. This once-detested color is back, and better than ever.
This season's decorating is inspired by the global traveler's expeditions, with a rich palette of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and ochre adding warmth and depth to interiors.
Considered a dark neutral, earthy brown is grounding but also has an elegance that is truly sophisticated. Versatile, it can be striking on its own or allow other hues to stand proud.
In case you needed anymore convincing, brown is also surprisingly versatile and could act as the perfect foil to existing furnishings and accessories. Edward Bulmer, interior designer and founder of Edward Bulmer Natural Paint agrees: ‘Being polychromatic, brown goes with everything, but in deeper, very rich hues it is particularly good at flattering beautiful, well-drawn patterns.’
-
How to make your own pothos potting mix – a DIY solution to keep this trailing houseplant happy for longerGood drainage, plenty of nutrients, and a slightly acidic pH will keep your pothos plant going
-
Diana Vreeland's iconic 'Garden in Hell' living room demonstrates the timeless power of decorating with redGiven the popularity of the 'unexpected red theory,' we revisited one of the world's most famous all-red rooms – the socialite's living room
-
Anne Hathaway’s unexpected kitchen cabinet color will take over our homes in 2025, say expertsLike a gentle summer breeze, this alluring pale green hue is refreshing and uplifting...
-
Anne Hathaway's living room furniture is a masterclass in 'conversational seating' – her method could transform how you socialize, say designersThe right furniture arrangement is central to a space that's ideal for entertaining – Hathaway's living space masters this perfectly
-
Anne Hathaway's bedroom uses simple, farmhouse furniture as a grounding backdrop for bold accents – I will never think about furnishing in the same wayThe actress's bedroom proves that furniture doesn't need to be the accent in a room, I plan to use the same technique in my future home
-
Anne Hathaway breaks the rules in her living space by pairing ‘two colors that should never be seen together’ – and quite honestly, it worksThe adage that 'blue and green should never be seen' is simply not true...
-
Anne Hathaway's unorthodox kitchen lighting brings new life to a classic style – I was over the modern farmhouse look until I saw it
Recessed lighting gets a makeover in Anne Hathaway's modern farmhouse kitchen – her unique and whimsical take has renewed my interest in the aesthetic
-
Anne Hathaway's inviting kitchen countertop material is replacing white surfaces – experts swear by the durable and welcoming stone
Anne Hathway's warm and cozy kitchen is defined by her dark countertop material – it transforms her space with a functional, natural twist
-
Anne Hathaway's good-looking kitchen storage is stylish, practical and one-of-a-kind – it's the most important thing in a cooking spaceKitchen storage should never be an afterthought. Make the most of this essential element by putting pretty objects on display, and hiding anything less so...
-
Anne Hathaway uses this task lighting trick to bring a boutique hotel ambiance to her bedroom – experts explain its powerDesigned by Studio Shamshiri, Hathaway's bedroom is a rose-tinted haven – but there's more to this space than its color, as designers explain
