This cinematic Italian-style villa in Los Angeles took inspiration from Call Me By Your Name – as you can imagine it's dreamlike

Crafting a calming, inspirational space for two TV and film writers and their newborn son to create memories and inspire new stories was the brief for Tiffany Howell, founder of Los Angeles-based house design studio Night Palm.

The property in question was a Mediterranean revival property circa 1930s in the LA neighborhood of Hancock Park. It was the perfect project for Tiffany as, apart from the criteria of tailoring the interior so that it was calming and inspirational, she had carte blanche to express her vision.

Tiffany has many talents and boasts a multi-hyphenate career, having started as a music video producer. Before turning to the world of interiors, she also worked as a director for fashion photographer Herb Ritts. Now her interior designs cater to a portfolio of A-list clientele.

This project seemed meant to be. When the opportunity arose, Tiffany was designing a nursery for the couple’s best friends who had just had a baby – it seemed a fortuitous coincidence.

The TV and film writers were also expecting, and it was during the redesign process that their baby boy arrived, creating some challenges for Tiffany whose work had to be carefully scheduled to avoid too much noise around nap time.

Called Villa Grecco, the house features a layout that stays true to its Mediterranean design roots, with a rectangular floor plan and lush gardens. In a move designed to make it easy to forget the glitz and glam of LA, Tiffany’s scheme evokes a romantic European ambiance, echoing the tranquillity and elegance of the 17th and 18th centuries with a contemporary twist.

The reception rooms feature French doors that open to greenery along the ground floor. ‘This home is an evocative, warm space reminiscent of a timeless Italian villa,’ says Tiffany. The harmonious palette of soft blues, greens, and golds reflects the smoky hues of Luca Guadagnino’s 2017 film Call Me By Your Name, which takes place in Italy, in a 17th-century villa in Lombardy.

For the aesthetic of the interiors, Tiffany also drew inspiration from an iconic Gucci floral editorial, dressing each of the different areas in a refined and eye-catching way. ‘We wanted the space to feel quite cinematic and romantic to offer inspiration to the owners,’ she says.

A mix of textures and nature motifs infuses sophistication throughout. To give the feeling of being immersed in a forest, the walls of the main living space were covered in a wallpaper reminiscent of a tapestry from the 17th century, which seamlessly blends with the vegetation beyond the windows.

Sculptural light fixtures were placed in every nook as if they were precious jewelry pieces. In the dining area, the 1940s-era vintage chairs provide a striking yet harmonious contrast with the vintage Murano crystal chandelier and moody walls. Altogether, they weave a tapestry of coziness and chicness, accentuated by mesmerizing golden and amber touches.

The reading room channels the ambiance of a Scottish castle with its deep green tones. The color combines with a mirror evocative of Sleeping Beauty, continuing the journey to another era while displaying a modern allure. Tiffany achieved a tour de force of giving its own personality to each one of the areas while making sure they feel cohesive and flow together.

Contrasting with the primarily moody atmosphere, the kitchen features an earthy plaster pink which creates a cosseting feel on the elegant Shaker-style cabinetry. Always striving to create interactive sensory experiences through design, Tiffany did that through this renovation.

Intentional visuals and lush materials complemented by the smells of plants and flowers bring everything into place in a kind of poetic alchemy. This home feels exactly as the owners dreamed it would be, balancing exquisiteness and functionality at every turn

Meet the designer

The designer shares her style inspiration

BIGGEST SUCCESS
Creating an intentional space for our clients to find inspiration.

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT
We love using glossy paint instead of traditional flat to play with the reflectiveness of light and create a glow in our spaces.

GO-TO COLOR
Villa Grecco is drenched in smoky blues, soft rose, and silvery greens. I tend to be drawn to lush tones that feel sun-faded.

FAVORITE DESIGN DETAIL
Murano lighting is my go-to design detail as I love the reflective, warm glow of the glass. I look at lighting as the jewelry of a room.

YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Lush, cinematic, and seductive.

INSPIRATION
Music, poetry, and the story of unique objects.

I KNOW I’M A CREATIVE BECAUSE...
I’m more interested in the creative flow of things. I love to lean into the mystery of the questions themselves.