This mid-century Studio City home was updated for family life, without losing any of its original charm – take a tour to find out how

This historic home in Studio City, CA, dates back to the golden age of Hollywood. Its new owners were delighted to secure a family-friendly home in this residential LA neighborhood, still within the hustle and bustle of the area's attractions.

The original house design created a generous footprint on an expansive plot that lends itself well to California's legendary indoor-outdoor lifestyle. The interiors, though charming in places, hadn't been touched for 58 years and were in serious need of an update. Los Angeles-based interiors studio Jaqui Seerman Design was tasked with redesigning the home, with a view to preserving its mid-century details while bringing the comfort levels and lifestyle options more in line with the current century.

Take the tour to discover how Jaqui and her team created a series of characterful, storied interiors that still reflect the home's origins.

The property was something of a time capsule – the previous owners had lived there since it was built in the 1960s and had left it untouched since then. 'It provided a rare customization opportunity,' says designer Jaqui Seerman. 'The floor plan, typical of its era, featured a closed-off kitchen, live-in quarters, and dark passageways.'

'We opted for a light remodel, focusing on updating communal areas, converting the guest/live-in into a bright office, and increasing natural light throughout. It was also important to our clients to preserve its original charm. In the entryway we refurnished and restored the original slate floor and the existing door hardware, including the ornate brass backplate on the front door.'

The walls have been given a fresh look with Farrow & Ball's Wevet. A striking new ceiling light from Jason Koharik and mirror from Oly Studio give the space a more contemporary flavour without losing the period charm.

The living room with full-height ceilings showcases a diverse art collection curated by local art expert Cris McCall. The same Farrow & Ball shade has been used to lighten the walls.

Vintage William Layman side tables provide the midcentury detailing here, alongside a custom deep blue Maharam Fabric sectional sofa, Hollywood at Home's Melrose Chairs, travertine coffee tables, and a large Royere-inspired daybed in Josef Frank Fabric from Svenskt Tenn.

Jaqui Seerman

Jaqui Seerman, founder of Los Angeles-based Jaqui Seerman Design, creates sophisticated, personalized interiors for luxury private residences, hotels, and commercial spaces. Her award-winning work blends elegance with architectural character.

The central kitchen has a smart new look that leans into the mid-century aesthetic, all the while giving it a contemporary twist. The dark wood cabinetry with black detailing is reminiscent of mid-century Scandinavian design.

With sliding doors for seamless indoor-outdoor living the new wooden kitchen revolves around an extra-large walnut island designed for cooking and entertaining. 'Warm honey oak floors, dark walnut cabinets, and black soapstone countertops complement new Wolf appliances and a custom copper hood crafted and installed by a local artisan,' adds Jaqui.

'The family room is bathed in rich port red (Book Room Red) from top to bottom and is undeniably the coziest space in the house,' says Jaqui. 'Featuring a sumptuous velvet wide rib corduroy sofa and a playfully upholstered ottoman, it serves as the perfect sanctuary to indulge in favorite films and TV binges.'

The designer chose sconces from Visual Comfort and a coffee table by Nickey Kehoe in Claremont Tree Of Life fabric.

Making use of one of the original layout's smaller service rooms adjacent to the kitchen, Jaqui and her team created a practical but very pretty laundry room. The thought being, if you're going to do household chores, make the most of the setting.

'We custom fabricated all new cabinets and countertops for the space but were able to repurpose original cabinet hardware previously installed elsewhere onsite,' Jaqui explains.

The wallpaper is the Jaipur design, by Antoinette Poisson.

Living in LA, it's just as important to nail your backyard ideas as it is to get your home's interior design on point. So for the perfect California indoor outdoor lifestyle, the living room's glass doors open to a backyard designed for entertaining, featuring a new lap pool by Bradly Gordon McClelland, vintage-inspired chaise lounges and bold umbrellas. Additionally, there's a central dining area with a new outdoor kitchen, and a distant lounge zone with a fire pit and colorful Marni Stools.

The spacious primary suite also offers lush backyard views. The room includes Lawson Fenning bedside tables, a custom upholstered bed in caramel velvet, and a vintage area rug from Lawrence of La Brea. Farrow & Ball's Stony Ground lightened the walls and ceiling.

On the face of it, including wallpaper in your nursery decorating schemes may seem a little unusual, or over sophisticated but a design like this one from Svenskt Tenn, featuring clover leaves, not only gives the scheme longevity at the child grows, but in the meantime provides an absorbing pattern to capture an infant's attention. The area rug is from Nordic Knots.

There's another beautiful leafy wallpaper design in the bathroom. WallShoppe's 'Pacifico Palm' design by Nathan Turner creates the perfect counterpoint to a modern vanity and wall tile combo, along with on-trend flooring from Concrete Collaborative.

In the bathroom and throughout the property, there's been a sensitive updating of this midcentury home, mindful of its original details but also of the fact that this belongs to a modern family with their modern lifestyle. It's the perfect balance.

Interior Design: Jaqui Seerman
Photography: Madeline Tolle