House Tour: Period Style + Modern Glamour for Fall

Can fall style be light and fresh? If you combine bright color and natural accents it can be. As a well-known jewelry designer, Amanda Keidan has an eye for aesthetics. So when it came to decorating her own Venice Beach, California, cottage, she achieved what many people find impossible: the successful combination of 1940s architecture with clean, modern lines that adapt perfectly to fall.

The guest bedroom is classic beach chic with its light colors and coastal art. A bouquet of fall leaves adds a punch of seasonal color.

Amanda bought her home three years ago and set out to simplify what had become an almost jungle-like exterior. Using a neutral palette both inside and out, she changed the dark-blue stucco home to a smooth, white look and removed ivy from the outside to lighten the feel.

“Landscaping was a big part of the process as well,” Amanda says. “The house was ‘jungly,’ and I prefer a more streamlined look with lots of space to, for example, lie on the lawn and feel like you can breathe.”

Amanda’s charming backyard oasis features sitting areas with benches and flowers that can be changed out for the season to create an autumn or spring look with just the adjustment of a few plants.

She also benefits from a charming backyard oasis featuring sitting areas with benches and flowers that can be changed out for the season to create an autumn or spring look with just the adjustment of a few plants. A wooden fence and well-spaced trees offer privacy.

The upstairs loft den was a room where Amanda had some fun with her design. An aqua sofa, and yellow and brown geometric pillows are modern takes on her elegant style. A trio of pumpkins is all you need to add a seasonal touch.

Get the Right Light

When it came to designing the interior, Amanda used light colors to ensure a clean, minimalist look that was also relaxing. Adding to the warmth and light tones was an abundance of natural lighting that she achieved through several methods.

Because of the simple, clean décor, it’s easy to change out the style every few months to get into the spirit of the season. Pumpkins, colorful silk leaves, silver and orange painted branches, and other pops of autumn color give the home the essence of fall.

“There are big skylights in three parts of the house that let in a ton of light,” she says. “In addition to that, high ceilings and big windows in the front and at the sides allow for light to stream in.”

What is most unique about the home’s lighting is that the warmth changes throughout the day, thanks to an old-school touch and fortuitous positioning.

A soothing gray paint on the walls sets the dining room apart as a special gathering place in the home. Swedish-style chairs, a neoclassical pendant and nautical-inspired sconces combine harmoniously as a reference to the cottage’s beachy environs and casual elegance.

“Some of the vintage windows are made of leaded glass,” she says. “At different times of the day, they cast a warmer, more romantic light. I have to think the lighting has something to do with how the house is positioned as well. Light streams in so beautifully every hour of the day. It was what first made me fall in love with it.”

The bathroom is an oasis, thanks to white-on-white tiles and bead board. Moroccan-influenced art and a glass and iron pendant add a global touch.

Simple, Seasonal Sparkle

Because of the simple, clean aesthetic, it’s easy for Amanda to change out the style every few months to get into the spirit of the season. Pumpkins, colorful silk leaves, silver and orange painted branches, and other pops of autumn color throughout the home give it the essence of fall, but these touches can quickly be adjusted as the weather turns so it takes on a more festive holiday mood.

Here’s a chic and easy fall DIY project: Gather branches from outside and spray-paint them in silver metallic. For a pop of color, paint on a color-block technique with a bright, bold fall color, such as orange, chocolate or violet.

“Some of the vintage windows are made of leaded glass,” Amanda says. “At different times of the day, they cast a warmer, more romantic light.”

Pets Are Welcome

Amanda is not only passionate about design, she’s also committed to her work with animal-rescue groups. This means that four-legged friends are welcome to explore her home and she’s able to keep it looking sophisticated and charming despite their furry presence.

“I have two little rescue-poodle mixes named William and Woodruff,” she says. “When I return home, there are toys all over the place! I keep a basket of dog toys in one room and periodically just have to collect them around the house and put them back.”

Amanda’s simple, sophisticated living room revolves around a neutral color palette that changes easily with the season and metallic finishes that have a touch of glam. Woodruff and William take full advantage of the linen sofa; colorful throw pillows with autumn flowers add color while the nailhead trim provides a timeless quality.

Most would-be pet owners hesitate to adopt a dog because they fear dirt being tracked throughout the home, but Amanda has found a unique solution to that concern. “One of the best secrets to keep the house clean with pets is to have faux grass in the yard,” she says. “Their feet are never muddy.”

Artful Autumn

Even a home with neutral tones can benefit from a sophisticated fall style for the season—and you don’t have the break the bank to achieve it. Rather than changing out all of your décor or investing in autumn-hued slipcovers, you can use accents throughout your home to give it an autumn feeling.

Amanda created an escape in the master bedroom by using a deeper color palette and a mix of textures and global patterns.

“I like to keep cozy throw blankets around in every room when it gets cooler out,” Amanda says. “I won’t start making fires until December, but when fall comes around, I bring in the firewood—it makes the house feel cozy and rustic, even though it is Southern California!”

Amanda’s jewerly line, like her home’s decor, is sophisticated yet earthy.

5 Ways to Add Warmth to Any Room:

1. Natural décor, such as fresh pumpkins and autumn wreaths, will not only give your home a fall look but will bring in the seasonal scents.
2. Throw pillows are a great way to add autumn-toned accents.
3. Swap materials. Trade cottons for wool and fleece for instant coziness.
4. Change bedding from summer colors to darker fall tones.
5. Lighting candles will give your house a great aroma and will also lend a simple glow to the home for autumn.