See Inside Aimee Song's Effortlessly Laidback Coastal-Cool Home in West Los Angeles

In an excerpt from Los Angeles Interiors, the tastemaker shares how a blend of contemporary styles and cultural makeup revived her two-story home that hadn't been updated in a hundred years

modern coastal-style living room with stone fireplace surround and exposed timber ceiling beams
(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

In her new hardcover book Los Angeles Interiors, author, artist and local resident Corynne W. Pless takes us inside some of the neighborhood's most inspiring homes, where design and self-expression takes center stage.

Capturing the locale's sunny climate and patchwork of design styles, she shares the stories behind each space — which includes the kaleidoscopic home of Tame Impala's art-obsessed Kevin Parker — alongside imagery from renowned interior photographers Tim Hirschmann and Ye Rin Mok.

In this excerpt, she takes us inside fashion entrepreneur Aimee Song's effortlessly laidback West Los Angeles home, that channels modern coastal interior design, pulling inspiration from the iconic coastlines bordering Italy and California.


'It’s always been my dream to live in this neighborhood,' says Aimee Song, a fashion entrepreneur whose family used to drive from their apartment in Downtown Los Angeles to the idyllic tree-lined street each holiday to trick-or-treat and peruse its festive decorations.

Several years ago, Song’s childhood wishes came true when she moved into her first home, a small fixer-upper in her idolized neighborhood. This was it, she thought, until a few years later she walked by yet another fixer-upper that was on a slightly better street with a slightly bigger yard (and pool) something she couldn’t let pass her by.

So Song and her partner Jacopo Moschin, a creative director, made the switch. Their new Spanish-style home, built in the early part of the twentieth century, was beautiful and captivating, but a bit dated. 'Once we saw past the ‘oldness’ of the house, we fell in love with all of the original arches and beautiful doors,' says Song.

hallway outside bathroom with chair and contemporary artwork

The framed print Kristen 1996, by Inez & Vinoodh, was purchased from Matthew Marks Gallery. The chair is from De La Espada.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

Before moving in, the couple called upon Moschin’s childhood friend, the interior architect and designer Antonio Forteleoni, to help with its revival. Moschin and Forteleoni are both from Italy and had worked together previously on Moschin’s Milan apartment.

For this project, they delicately considered how everyone’s personal aesthetics and furniture (such as the George Nakashima chairs and nineteenth-century Chinese bench) would co-exist within a space that they wanted to cohesively feel raw, gentle, and beautiful.

european style dining room with maroon rug, curtains and round black dining table

In the dining room, the elegant ‘En Forme Libre’ table, by Charlotte Perriand from Cassina, is surrounded by original nineteenth-century George Nakashima chairs. The mauve rug is from Armadillo. The black cabinet is from Korea and dates back to the 1800s. The ceramic vase was designed by Moschin and fired by Chie Fuji.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

Italy’s rugged coast line was a point of reference and inspiration for the redesign. 'We wanted to keep that Mediterranean soul, but make it modern,' says Forteleoni.

Song and Moschin also referenced their travels to Antwerp and contemporary buildings by Axel Vervoordt and Vincent Van Duysen, which also became a pocket reference during the design phase.

That eclectic mesh of styles, influence, designer pieces, and wishful aesthetics was then brought to life (all in consideration of the home’s original style) and completed one room at a time.

neutral dining room with round table and indoor plants

The breakfast room’s table is from RH and the chairs are by De La Espada. The bench is from Olive Ateliers and the glazed Chinese vases are from Berbere Imports.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

In the living room, Forteleoni designed a fireplace cut from one large, partly unfinished block of travertine that perfectly captures the home’s aesthetic. The rock’s exposed rugged edges gracefully transition into a polished square frame that surrounds the firebox.

'The result is unique, raw, yet very refined,' adds Song. The soft, delicate textures found within the room’s curation of vintage pieces and works of art also offer that sought-after coastal tranquility.

And the kitchen and primary bathroom’s variegated marble, wooden walnut cabinets, and travertine floors continue to parallel the ageless beauty that reflects the striking shorelines bordering Italy and California's coastlines.

living room with exposed ceiling beam and travertine stone fireplace surround

A twentieth-century Indonesian dish from Timor Island is on display above the Senufo coffee table. The vintage mid century ‘Chandigarh’ chair was designed by Pierre Jeanneret. The artwork is by Japanese artist Kiyoshi Nakagami.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

modern living room with exposed ceiling beams and a stone fireplace surround

Song’s vintage Mario Bellini ‘Camaleonda’ sofa sits across from the travertine fireplace custom-designed by Forteleoni. The marble table behind the sofa was designed by Song. Above the table, a ceramic vase by Philip M. Soucy is on display. An olive tree grabs light from the room’s corner windows.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

As the project unfolded, Forteleoni noticed and embraced the social (and in return architectural) differences of these two coasts. He then hemmed in their subtle polarities within the design schemes whenever possible.

For example, in the kitchen, he opened up the space under the countertop so guests could easily pull up a chair and be part of the conversation at any angle and any edge. This small but notable design concept gives in to the European way of congregating around a kitchen, where everyone comes together and has an open seat at the most important moment of the day: mealtime.

'It is the most used space and the heart of the house,' adds Song.

modern kitchen design with marble counter and timber cabinets

Calacatta Viola marble has been used for the kitchen’s island, backsplash, and countertops. The custom wood cabinetry was designed by Forteleoni and made of walnut. The faucets are by Briz.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

And when it comes to the West Coast way of life, 'of course we made it very Californian, in the way of that being very big walk-in closets,' says Forteleoni, who converted a sixth bedroom into a walk-in closet for Song and Moschin and opened up the lower-level social spaces so they flow in and out of the backyard — a West Coast necessity.

That expanded use of space and the comfort it embodies is something Forteleoni says he’s now bringing into his European projects.

Forteleoni, Moschin, and Song’s beautiful collaboration of backgrounds, expertise, and practical must-haves was cautiously and creatively placed within a century-old home that speaks to each creative’s personal ambitions, something they can all raise a glass to – Saluti!

modern home office with dark timber cabinets, leather chair and daybed

The classic ‘Barcelona’ leather daybed, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and produced by Knoll, and the Charlotte Perriand chair, made by Cassina, are both from Design Within Reach. The custom walnut library keeps the couple’s literary keepsakes. On the shelf is an unframed, unfinished portrait of the French novelist George Sand, circa 1800.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

minimalist bathroom with freestanding bath, stone-clad shower, roman blinds and black stone counter with timber cabinets

In the primary bathroom, the soothing palette of marble and walnut continues. The sink is made of Cipollino marble and the shower of travertine. An original nineteenth-century George Nakashima chair sits in the corner. The faucets are by Brizo.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

minimalist bedroom with burnt orange bedsheets

The wooden nightstands are from the Rose Bowl Flea Market. The rug is by Armadillo and the artwork was gifted from Japanese artist Kiyoshi Nakagami.

(Image credit: Ye Rin Mok. Design: Antonio Forteleon)

Los Angeles Interiors by Corynne W. Pless is available to pre-order now.

Freelance Writer

Corynne W. Pless is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and artist, specializing in all things architecture, interiors and travel. She has authored three hardcover books: Los Angeles Interiors, New York Interiors, and Art & Design Hotels, and also regularly contributes to online design publications including Architectural Digest and Clever. Whether it's a home tour, breaking design trend or road trip itinerary for the design-obsessed, she's a trusted source of intel when it comes to our homes.

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