Known for working with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, designer Brigette Romanek invites est inside her Los Angeles family home, embodying her self-described style and monograph, ‘Livable Lux’.
Designer Brigette Romanek initially designed the Los Angeles home she now shares with her family for a like-minded client. At the mention of their moving to Miami, Brigette says she immediately said, ‘I’ll take it’, knowing there wasn’t really a thing she wanted to change.
In this interview, Brigette recalls what appealed most about her circa 1929 abode, how the custom details throughout reflect how she and her family live, and the story behind some of her most beloved vintage pieces.Â
 The bar’s walls feature a mural by James Mobley. A Danny Ho Fong dining table and stools are also featured in this space. The bar itself is custom-made, accentuated by the reclaimed French tile floors.Â
You first designed your home for a client before they suddenly relocated to Miami. What made you decide to move into a home of your own design?
Brigette Romanek: I knew these clients well, and we spoke so much about what was important to them. We were so like-minded, and the ideas flowed. They loved pieces I loved, and some I sold to them from my inventory. So when they said, ‘We’re moving,’ I said, ‘I’ll take it – I’ll take it all! ‘
Did you make any changes to the home before moving in with your family?
Brigette Romanek: All the changes I had just made for the family were those I would have made for myself, so the house was ready to go. The biggest change was the floors, which went from dark to light. That was a huge change.
Accordo coffee table by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina, Polar Bear armchairs by Jean Royère and the Vitra Akari 75a pendant.
"When a home has history, you’ll find some things you love and some quirks you have to live with to keep the integrity of the home. I love that."
– BRIGETTE ROMANEK
Your home dates back to 1929. What were the features you were drawn to most when originally taking on the design?
Brigette Romanek: The crown mouldings, the size of the rooms, the staircase, the history, the soulfulness. I could go on!
How do the custom interior details and furnishings reflect how you live in your home?
Brigette Romanek: The house has a grand feeling, which can be attributed to the staircase, the foyer ceiling height, and room size. So I wanted to ground the house with warm, rich colours, vintage pieces, textures, and scaling according to the room height so there’s a relationship between it all. When a home has history, you’ll find some things you love and some quirks you have to live with to keep the integrity of the home. I love that.
How does your personal style manifest in your own home?
Brigette Romanek: ‘Livable Lux’ always! Living with kids and animals, everything has to be usable and durable. So vintage, performance fabrics, and the high mixed with the low are big in the house. To me, it’s not low; it’s smart, and the items I love are still there.
Arrow pendant by Apparatus and Cassina Il Colonnato dining table by Mario Bellini.
Le Minotaure armchair by Pierre Augustin Rose
A pair of Franco Albini PL19 chairs feature in Brigette’s living room.Â
Your home features a curation of vintage pieces. Could you share the story behind sourcing a couple of pieces and why they are personal to you?
Brigette Romanek: The Hans Wegner chaise; I wanted that for so long. It’s a classic piece that I loved for years. I looked for one for a long time, then I found one in great shape, circled it for a bit, and then it was gone. I found another one and bought it right away. It arrived a bit beaten up, so I restored it, and it’s become an old friend.
A pair of Franco Albini PL19 chairs—also classics! When I saw the pair, I passed by them because I wanted something modern. I was looking for fabrics for a client, but I stopped when I passed by the alpaca. Then it clicked. The Albini chairs in the alpaca. They became showstoppers. We all love them and get cosy in those chairs. It was the right pair, after all, for sure. I love it when that happens.
Living in a home of your own design, is there anything that has surprised you about how you use the space?
Brigette Romanek: What’s so nice about it is that it’s curated for my family and so everywhere we look, it’s something that has meaning to us. The den has surprised me the most. It’s filled with pieces I love, and it’s just a thrown-together room with bits and bobs and things that shouldn’t work together but do. I’m in there all the time, to read, work, relax, all of it. I didn’t know this would be that room for me.
What do you love most about your neighbourhood?
Brigette Romanek: It’s walkable, has a history, and has a main strip of shops and restaurants where you can see your friends and neighbours. I can also walk to the weekly farmers market. The history of the homes reminds me of being in Europe.
"What’s so nice about it is that it’s curated for my family and so everywhere we look, it’s something that has meaning to us."
– BRIGETTE ROMANEK
