A Room Of Her Own

It’s a fact of life that teen and tween girls spend 95 percent of their lives behind the closed doors of their bedrooms. Or at least so it seemed back in the 1960’s when my friends and I were growing up. Our rooms represented safe harbor from a turbulent world that couldn’t possibly begin to know what made us tick. They were the comfy havens in which we poured out our hearts onto the pages of pink diaries, crammed for algebra tests, daydreamed about movie stars we wanted to marry, and wistfully speculated whether our real parents – gypsies or exiled royals perhaps – had dropped us off on the front doorstep long ago and would return at any moment to whisk us off to a more colorful life.

One thing is certain. If Adrienne Mascaro, owner of Studio Blu Interior Design, had been around at the time and charged with the task of fashioning the perfect bedroom for yours truly, I most likely would never have moved out of it.

I had the opportunity this past spring to meet Mascaro in the context of the annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design tour. Since 1965, the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts (PSHA) has invited approximately three dozen area design studios to transform the rooms and gardens of a selected San Gabriel Valley mansion into elegant, sophisticated, breathtaking and inviting vignettes that respectively capture their signature styles and distinct personalities. Mesmerizing colors, eclectic textures, innovative lighting, timeless furniture and unique fixtures and accessories that maximize the assets of each space seamlessly come together in a tableau befitting the definition “star quality”.

The designers’ three-dimensional canvas for 2007 was Descanso Gardens’ Boddy House, a two-story, 22-room Hollywood Regency style that was completed in the late 1930’s for the princely sum of $140,000. Its original owner, E. Manchester Boddy, was the publisher of the Los Angles Daily News and purchased 160 acres of what was once land deeded to Corporal Jose Marie Verdugo in the 18th century by the King of Spain.

In keeping with the glitz and glam theme of “Hollywood” that Southern California is so famous for, Mascaro set out to create “Great Expectations” – a teen girl’s bedroom that harkens back to 1930’s Paris and the sleek glamour of Art Deco. Many a mother during the tour, of course, was overheard to remark that she wouldn’t mind taking up residence in this stylishly vintage tableau herself!

Mascaro took time from her busy schedule to graciously share an insider’s view of what it’s like to perform architectural alchemy for a living.

Q: When did your interest in interior design first ignite?

A: I’ve wanted to be an architect interior designer for as long as I could remember. In fact, my interest in interior design probably began in kindergarten. I kept wanting to build forts with the boys in my class even though the teacher kept directing me back to the little girls’ area and insist that I play with dolls.

Q: Whose work (or what design period) was the most influential on your own style?

A: I have yet to find one favorite because I love so many periods in design! Each great designer and time period has their own signature style. My sense of style is a mixture of past and present. For instance, classic pieces with a modern touch. Nothing is purist in my rooms and that’s what makes them fun.

Q: Which is more challenging for you: to redesign an existing space or to start completely from scratch?

A; Starting from scratch is a wide open canvas. Wow, the possibilities! There are many more challenges with recreating a present space and making it work for the client’s wish list. In my experience, these challenges always seem to bring a great deal of uniqueness to the project.

Q: Was this year your first appearance at Showcase House?

A: Yes! I was so honored that they even selected me to be a part of this event, but to give me a teen bedroom to create was really a treat.

Q: What were some of the challenges you faced in integrating your vision of a star struck/fashion-conscious teen's bedroom into the space you were allocated?

A: The biggest challenge for me since this was my first year was having a limited budget and trying to create a look that was very high-end. The walls I had to work with were brown wood paneling and although I hate painting wood, they just weren’t feminine and fresh for a young lady. So I utilized the existing panels with a fresh coat of paint and giving a face-lift of sorts.

Q: Do most of your clients already have a preconceived idea of what they want when they first come to you or are they somewhat clueless?

A: My clients are so very different from each other, not only in taste and style but also in personality. Each client has an idea of what they want to do; they just don’t know how to get there. I really try to listen to their needs and create a space that is for them. This is why each one of my projects is so different in style. My portfolio is all over the place, but it is an example of my range.

Q: What do you feel is the most unique aspect about Studio Blu Interior Design?

A: I am a designer who is really all about the needs of my client. I am just a tool to create the space that they dream of living in. With my skills I get them there. I won’t hesitate to say “No, that won’t work”, but I will always give them a reason that makes sense to them. Most designers just design for themselves. This is a service-based business; I truly believe that a good designer is to be of service.

Q: If you could live in any country/century, describe the dream house in which you feel you would be most comfortable.

A: That’s easy – the 21st century! Living in the world today is the best place and time to be in. Anything and everything is a “go”; if you like modern or if you prefer French Country, you can live exactly the way you want to and enjoy being in a space that is just perfect for you. Nothing about a style is right or wrong; it is just how you feel. If I had my dream house, it would be all white with an ocean view as its only source of color. I think about color all day long, actually. I just want to come home to white walls, white furniture, and white sheets. White is so clean, peaceful, and calming.

Q: What is your favorite room in your own abode?

A: Hmm…can’t answer this as I live in a place I would love to redecorate. I am the classic shoemaker who walks barefoot!

Q: For do-it-yourselfers, what is the single biggest mistake that most people make?

A: The biggest mistake people make is not planning enough. Making impulsive buys just because something is on sale will only end up costing you money. That floor sample piece you found on sale may end up in the garage because you didn’t know where you wanted to put it. Plan, plan, plan! Know the exact size of furniture piece you need before you buy. Also, have a budget and stick to it.

Q: If you could have anyone in past history as your celebrity client, who would it be and what room in their house would you most like to design for them?

A: What a fun question Christina! I really don’t want to be obvious and say Audrey Hepburn but I will. She comes to mind because I put her picture above the bed in my teen room. She was classic. She had impeccable taste and was strong yet very feminine. I see her living space being water-inspired such as off a pool or the ocean. Clean lines, a modern room with feminine touches. Unique pieces like a chandelier or artwork are the source of strong color. A place that is calm, peaceful but yet has a touch of personal style.

Q: What's the best way for new clients to contact you and set up a consultation?

A: The best way to contact me would be to call me. It’s important to have a clear understanding of what your wishes will be and how it fits with your projected budget. You also need to have a realistic timeframe of when the project is to be completed. The more information a client can give me, the better. My first step is to see someone’s home before I can give them any information on costs. That first visit isn’t a consultation; it’s actually to sit down and hear what the client’s wishes are so that I can provide a complete scope of services. I am very honest about what the project may cost, not only for my services but also for the home they desire. My approach is direct and with first-timers to construction or design services the numbers may be shocking to hear. In the long run, however, it’s always best not to be hit by any surprises. With me, clients always know up front exactly what they’re getting into.

Studio Blu is located at 4040 Del Rey Avenue, Suite 12 in Marina Del Rey, California. Phone: (310) 823-1720.