Atelier Katayon
201 North Robertson Blvd. No. 204
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Katy Naghavi - (310) 271-1206
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www.atelierkatayon.com

EAST MEETS WEST IN NEWLY RENOVATED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HILL TOP HOME

May 31, 2007 -- When Los Angeles-based designer Katy Naghavi first visited her clients’ new Westlake area home, she was struck by the dramatic views from the family’s main living spaces. With the changing light playing on the cypress-studded hills, she was reminded of the work of the early California Plein Air painters.

“It was absolutely breathtaking,” she recalls, “and quite Mediterranean looking, in a romantic, Impressionist kind of way.”  In contrast with the softness of the landscape, the architecture is clean-lined with a strong, asymmetric geometry.   “My clients were keen for their new home to have exotic, Asian-inspired interiors, so to blend the styles together would be an interesting challenge.”

The result is a wonderfully warm, elegant home, exuding both the relaxed appeal of the casual, Southern California lifestyle with the refined, delicate sensibilities of the Asian influence. It’s a subtle balancing act that works well and Naghavi’s clients could not be happier with their newly completed, private retreat.

“It was a completely different design direction for us,” they explained  “ but we knew we could trust Katy to do a wonderful job. She came to us highly recommended and right away she understood exactly what we were looking for.”

Naghavi put together a palette of architectural finishes that combines smooth, polished surfaces with natural, nubby textures. Furniture, rugs and lighting sourced through local showrooms were supplemented with hand-crafted antiques and custom-made pieces designed by Naghavi to work in specific locations.
 
The family’s personal collections were incorporated into the overall scheme and to complete the look, the designer brought in an eclectic mix of art and artifacts – including a few surprises, like the vintage Thai farmer’s hat that now hangs on the living room wall above a contemporary, silk-covered lounge chair.

“We would never have thought of that,” smiles the owner “but it just works. Now, whether we’re alone on the patio with a glass of wine, or throwing a Holiday party for a hundred guests, we have found that we simply love being here. Katy did a fabulous job!”

Naghavi, who has an extensive background in international, luxury hotel design, was able to draw on her years of valuable experience working on high-profile hospitality projects around the Pacific-rim.

An innate sense of balance and proportion, confident handling of color, attention to detail, and a passion for art and antiques, are clearly evident in her work.  She moves easily between styles and periods but tends to avoid current trends or themes, favoring classic lines and pieces with a timeless quality.

The only thing that pleases her more than a tricky design challenge is a truly satisfied client. She now has many, and in a town that tends to be characterized by big egos and self-styled “experts”, that’s a pretty major accomplishment. 

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