At Jennifer's California residence more serene glamour prevails. In the foyer, a dramatically sweeping staircase greets visitors. Beneath, a lunette sofa graciously invites them to stay. A white lacquered piano makes a striking statement in the living room, but it's the ethereal blue-grays, velvet sheens and shimmering silvers that truly captivate. In the pale mauvedining room and pastel peach guest bedroom, crystal and blown-glass chandeliers gleam like pieces of jewelry.
"It's sort of Jennifer in a nutshell—she has a romantic streak," says interior designer Michelle Workman of her multi-talented client, who becomes a judge on American Idol this winter. "It's tastefully glamorous, like Jennifer herself. That approach goes along with my whole design philosophy, which is about capturing the personalities of the homeowners."
Michelle based the entire home on a color palette of grays subtly infused with color. We would definitely say this is a glamorous home. So what makes it so glamorous?
Workman, who enhanced the allure factor by adding Art Deco touches throughout the house, says the key to keeping everything in balance is the subtle gradations of color across the generously scaled rooms. It starts with the subtle color scheme, brought to life through luxurious velvet and silk fabrics and contrasted with curvy black details and shiny metals.
The classic furniture is combined with modern twists, and the huge Art Deco influence.
This little brass top hat-and-cane table actually turned out to be a champagne cooler. How fun is that?
Now onto Jennifer’s drop dead gorgeous dining room. Again we see the strong influence of Art Deco in the glass console table and the beautiful powder pink wallpaper.
While many rooms feel feminine, the family room hits a masculine note. "It's a comfortable space that invites you to come in and kick off your shoes."
Lopez made design decisions with confidence, Workman says. "She expects you to be fast, and she's fast in getting back to you. So often with clients, you are waiting and waiting for approvals. But not Jennifer. She knows what she likes."
In another designer's hands, all of the grays and blues could feel like a cold draft. Workman chose fabrics such as silk, velvet and leather that have a highly tactile and welcoming character. She used chandeliers that warmly reflect light. She also added brass and bronze accessories to raise the temperature in the rooms.
"I love to mix gold and silver tones. It's warm and cool together. Gold is traditional, and silver is modern and sleek. It's a great marriage of feminine and masculine.
"Jennifer and I wanted elegance, but we didn't want it to look stuffy or conservative or serious," says Workman. "We wanted it to be graceful, with just enough sparkle."
