Five interior design lessons to steal from Leonardo DiCaprio's fashionable new Los Feliz home
This 1920s Spanish Colonial-style property oozes Cali-style and sophistication – this is how to mirror its ambiance into your interiors
Leonardo DiCaprio just purchased one of the prettiest homes in Los Angeles from Modern Family star Jesse Tyler for $7.1million. The actor, who is best known for his roles in The Titanic, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Great Gatsby, reportedly bought the home from the TV star and his husband Justin Mikita, who purchased the property for $4.6 million in 2013.
Leonardo is said to have an affection towards Spanish-style homes – but it is certainly easy to see why he was attracted to this alluring property. With its ornate high ceilings, quaint Juliet balconies, and exotic tiled floor, there is a lot to love about this Los Feliz jewel.
But while we can't all decorate our own Cali-paradise, we can still mirror some of its finest interior quirks in our modern homes – wherever we are in the world. Here are five key things to take away from Leonardo's stylish new haven.
1. Blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living
We don't need the Los Angeles sun to draw inspiration from this outdoor living space – complete with a large sofa, coffee table, and patterned rug that zones the lounge away from the rest of the garden. This outdoor lounge creates an effortless flow between the interior and exterior spaces – thus blurring the walls and making the home feel even bigger.
This super stylish technique works in homes of all sizes, whether you're continuing a color scheme between your apartment and balcony or creating a whole new exterior living space. We'll be spending our interior summer enjoying its benefits.
2. When in doubt, embrace maximalism
What do Abigail Ahern and Leonardo DiCaprio have in common? Let's begin with their mutual love for maximalism – including the rich dark hues that cover both their living room walls. Dare to follow their maximalist lead, and inject these bold tones across throughout your interiors, then crown the room with vibrant art pieces, sofas, and statement flooring.
3. Make sure your gallery wall is personal
It appears we're not the only ones who spent our free weekends creating a gallery wall – as Leonardo's new home boasts one of the biggest art walls we've had the pleasure of admiring. However, whilst still looking indisputably chic, the gallery wall boasts a collection of personal images – from pets and cars to pieces of art that are guaranteed to spark joy.
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Whatever you do, fill your gallery wall with pieces that create pleasure and allow your home to feel instantly happier – but no less stylish.
4. The power of a chandelier is timeless
There's a reason why chandeliers have spent centuries at the forefront of the grandest locations in the world – and Leonardo's home only reinforces their eternal glory. Create a luxe statement that will impress within seconds of entering your home by bringing a chandelier into your hallway, and rest assured that these fixtures are not going out of style anytime soon.
Plus, some of our favorite interior experts have recently suggested that chandeliers can make small hallways look bigger, so absolutely no hallway should be denied the benefits of this ornate furnishing.
5. Kiss your exteriors with kaleidoscopic paint
See: Five interior tips to steal from Bette Davis's oceanfront home in California
While these are interior style lessons, we couldn't help but draw attention to what is, perhaps, the home's most notable asset – its bright blue windows and doors. These vibrantly painted features stand in stark contrast to the home's white walls and bring this historical property firmly into colorful, contemporary California.
Mirror this bold look by taking the paintbrush to your own exteriors – whether you match these tropical hues or opt for a more subtle grey or dark red. Leonardo would surely approve.
Photos courtesy of TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team.
Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US whilst studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site.
Megan currently lives in London, where she relocated from her hometown in Yorkshire. In her home, she experiments with interior design trends and draws inspiration from the home decor ideas she observes in her everyday work life. Her favorite pieces include her antique typewriter and her expansive collection of houseplants. When she isn’t writing, she is browsing London’s coffee shops and bookstores to add to her ever-growing library, taking over the open shelving in her apartment.
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