Spanish Bungalow with a Contemporary Twist

At first glance, this California bungalow with a Spanish/Mexican influence might seem quite predictable. But as you approach the entry and courtyard, you are at once intrigued by whimsical elements from the modern metal gates and brilliant colored Adirondack chairs to the contemporary mosaic designs set in a colored concrete patio floor, and you begin to suspect that the interior will have some surprises, too.

When Kay Heizman Design entered this project the walls were framed, spaces defined, and the owner needed help pulling together all the finishes and furnishings. Not intimidated by color, Heizman and owner Phyllis Blackburn wasted no time developing this palette of saturated earth tones reminiscent of Mexico and Spain.

The living room looking out directly over the lush, tropical backyard landscape invites you to sit down and relax on the overstuffed custom sectional Heizman designed in a rich rust chenille with a Giacometti print for the throw pillows. She found the apple green Ming vase and fabricated it into a lamp, knowing it would be the unifying element in the room.

Blackburn’s great collection of artwork and unique accessories made it a dream project to stage. It’s just one of those “feel good” houses—fun and whimsical, not too pretentious. When featured on the A.I.A. Home tour to benefit Habitat for Humanity, more than two hundred people passed through the front doors, and the biggest compliment to Heizman is that they never wanted to leave.