Design house: A chic and colourful home in California, designed by Fiorella Design

The homeowners were stuck in rut before hiring Mary Jo Fiorella of Fiorella Design.

THE PROPERTY

'The hundred year-old home in Palo Alto, California was in the same state they had purchased it in the 1990’s,' says Mary Jo. 'The home was poorly renovated and in desperate need of modernisation.'

'When I walked into the home I could see the potential to create a quaint, colourful home that the owners would cherish,' explains Mary Jo.

'They are couple are empty nesters, with a son in college. They are well-traveled and highly-educated, and they wanted a home that would suit their current lifestyle.'

We speak to Mary Jo Fiorella about the design project.

LIVING ROOM

The living room is a masterclass in colour. A combination of black and white walls are the perfect backdrop for an abundance of jewel tones, brass furnishings and marble.

SeeDesign house: Small family home with a playful colour palette, designed by Raina Henderson Interiors

DINING ROOM

The decorative black scheme from the living room continues into the dining room. Here, a combination of jewel tones and brass accents add a glamorous element to this dining space.

Shining brightly, the resurgence of brass in design has been a growing trend in recent times. With warm, tactile qualities, this gleaming metallic lends a polished edge to any interior.

KITCHEN

The materials used in the kitchen are warm and durable, bringing through the black, taupe and brass accents used in the dining and living room.

Beautiful and sleek, we used Luce Di Luna quartzite for the worktops, which work to complement and enhance the neutral tones on the cabinetry and wall tiles and glazed ceramic splashback.

SeeDesign house: This traditional home in California has been given a modern update

POWDER ROOM

One of this season’s favourite looks, the relaxed and expressive painterly-effect wallpaper is perfect for a cloakroom or powder room. Based on brushstrokes, a muted palette and dappled pattern to give a bit of movement, it’s perfect for softening a hard interior.

MASTER BEDROOM

The homeowners wanted bright, light and colourful master bedroom. Our aim was to create a one-of-a-kind look with a dazzling mix of colours and patterns, that wouldn't clash with the rest of the home.

MASTER BATHROOM

The homeowners were adamant that they wanted to use pink tones in the master bathroom.

Often seen in homes in Miami, this controversial hue can actually form a reliable background colour that channels anything from a contemporary to a classical country-house spirit, as long as you find the right tone for the space and the light.

GUEST ROOM

The guest room is the brightest room in the house. The stalwart of any decorating scheme, wallpaper is abeautiful way to add colour and print to your home.

CHILDREN'S ROOM

We went for a cool, calm and collected look in the bedroom. Black and white can completely alter the feel of a room but getting the balance right is key. We used black in moderation to stop it from dominating and have broken it up with subtle pattern and texture.

SeeDesign house: 1928 Tudor home in California, designed by Anyon Design

GARDEN

The key to creating a successful garden of this type is to choose the two main elements – planting and paving – carefully. This space makes use natural materials to create a calming oasis in a big city.

The majority of the furniture and art is from our online store Clementine Living.

Photography/ Joy Coakley

Interior design/ Mary Jo Fiorella of Fiorella Design