For the furnishings, "I did not want the pieces I chose to compete with the walls and floors, because Ward's design is so special and gorgeous," recalls the designer. Taking great care to keep things neutral, Ford introduced soft, textured fabrics and materials—layered Moroccan rugs, plush sofas, sheepskin throws—and worked to make the minimalist interiors feel lived in. "When there's so much concrete and harder lines, we tend to continue with that vibe, but by doing the complete opposite, I was able to make the space feel welcoming and easy," she says. While that was quite the design challenge, there was one moment that most certainly wasn't: moving in.
"I absolutely loved working on the kitchen," says designer Leanne Ford of the Santa Monica home she created for still life and landscape photographer Tatiana Botton. "I love mixing species, shades, and shapes of wood." Wood veneer cabinets from Bulthaup are topped with a poured-in-place concrete countertop done by Los Angeles-based Patrick Dowd Construction. Local boutique LiveStyle imported the unique wooden bar stool, while the cylindrical glass pendants were handmade in New York by Niche Modern. The art piece leaning idly on the worktable is by local illustrator Brittney Banks.