Three L.A. Homes for Design Lovers
Step inside these Los Angeles Airbnb Plus homes where a strong sense of composition plays a starring role.
Photographs by Alpha Smoot
From a Topanga Canyon retreat to a Beverly Hills estate, these Airbnb Plus homes reveal that great design can span a wide range of styles. Whether you’re into rustic bungalows with outdoor showers or glamorous estates with chandeliers and pink velvet sofas, these Los Angeles homes are sure to satisfy the design lover within.
An architect’s mountainside retreat
Meet the Superhost
Michael Sant
Neighborhood
Topanga
Design style
Modern
Decorating plan
“I reflected on what makes a night aboard a wooden sailboat so lovely and realized that the boat is a frame for experiencing the world outside the vessel. Everything is thoughtful and considered. The goal was to make the home comfortable without distracting from the main event: the stuff outside the windows. To help achieve this, the material palette was limited to concrete bearing walls, steel beams, wood, and glass.”
Perks of the area
“It’s quiet, like a nature retreat. You can hear a pin drop. Driving up here along the coast is almost like a cleanse. It’s a nice reset.”
“One guest wrote in her review that she felt like a better person for having stayed here. When the architecture of a home can spark that kind of joy, it’s so rewarding.” — Michael Sant, Superhost
Natural beauty
“The palette is earthy, but with a few sparks of color. If a room is excessively neutral, your eye doesn’t have an opportunity to pause.”
Styling by Rebecca Buenik
A movie pro’s refined-rustic bungalow
Meet the Superhost
Mathias Fain
Neighborhood
Hollywood Hills
Originally from
Queens, New York; moved to Los Angeles 23 years ago with two of his best friends from college to work in movies.
Current job
Cinematographer and set decorator
Design style
Relaxed boho
Perks of the area
“You have a country living feeling here, and at the same time, you’re less than a half mile from the epicenter of Hollywood.”
“There are tons of spots to squirrel things away. Giving guests a chance to personalize the space is an important aspect of their stay.” — Mathias Fain, Superhost
Go-to spots
“Kettle Glazed has the best donuts. Nobody will say a bad thing about it, ever. They have a really great cronut and apple fritter, but the cruffin is my favorite. The Upright Citizens Brigade comedy venue is at the bottom of the hill. It’s hilarious and great for people-watching. It gets a big line around the corner every week. Gelson’s is an awesome market. I’m an avid chef, and they have the best produce in the city.”
Living the high life:“The house is charming and funky. This vantage point is what sold me. It gave me a sense of calm that I still feel to this day when I sit here.”
Circular logic: “With globe pendants, light falls evenly, not directionally. I’m a cinematographer, so I always think soft lighting is ideal.”
Bath from the past: “The tub is vintage. I reglazed it and updated the hardware. I always enjoy a mash-up of the old and the new.”
Good, clean fun: “Who doesn’t love showering outside? This was the best $12 I ever spent in my life.”
An entrepreneur’s chic Beverly Hills estate
Meet the Superhost
Nathalie Dahan
Neighborhood
Beverly Hills
Originally from
Paris; moved to Los Angeles 18 years ago.
Current job
Interior designer; also CEO of Coco Queen, a French rotisserie.
Design style
Glam meets French country
Perks of the area
“It’s a great neighborhood to walk around in and look at the pretty houses. There are a lot of hills, so it’s good exercise.”
Go-to spots
“HD Buttercup is this whole big thing for furniture. You can find all kinds of pieces from different designers. Sunnin Café has incredible Lebanese food — fresh salads and delicious dips. And there’s a great no-frills spa down the street from our house called Soul to Sole. You can get a really good one-hour massage there for like $30.”
Sparkle strategy
“I love chandeliers! I put one in every room. Just like a great handbag helps you look put-together no matter what you’re wearing, a chandelier makes any space look polished.”
“I knew this was the home for us instantly. The energy was good, and it was a big, open space. We added a pool to make it more like a resort.” — Nathalie Dahan, Superhost
Pattern play: “I loved this wallpaper design. It feels more special when you use it in a small way instead of everywhere.”
Reflection point: “This bedroom is my masterpiece. Behind the mirrored bed is a wall of mirrors, and the headboard is made of Chanel fabric accented with Swarovski crystals. It’s quite special.”
Shining example: “I chose black metallic paint for the walls and gray metallic for the ceiling, to add dimension.”
“Sometimes I’ll think of a color and just do it. The house is a balance of the whimsical and unexpected with quieter, all-white elements.” — Nathalie Dahan, Superhost
About the author: Betsy Goldberg is the Deputy Editor (Home) of Airbnb Magazine. Previously she was the Deputy Editor of Real Simple and HGTV Magazine, Editorial Content Director at Bed Bath & Beyond, and an editor at UsWeekly, Modern Bride, and New York Magazine. She is co-author of BusinessWeek’s Guide to the Best Business Schools and her writing has also appeared in Glamour, Health, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Money.
