home ideas: Style Profile: Moises Esquenazi

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Style Profile: Moises Esquenazi

I recently learned of Colombian-born designer, Moises Esquenazi for the first time and have been mesmerized ever since. The jack of all trades has been an architectural renderer, animator, photographer, and now focuses on his interior design business which includes creating spaces for clients as well as designing furniture and wallcoverings. Instead of focusing on a particular style, he strives to integrate the client's background with the style of the architecture and the local surroundings, and always allowing function to guide the design. Having the focus on function permits the client to drop some pre-conceived ideas of what the space should look like, resulting in a more creative use of elements, such as the daybed which has become a signature element. The idea of a daybed allows families and friends to take off their shoes and gather in a cozy area to relax and visit.

Esquenazi, who has been featured in publications such as House Beautiful and Metropolitan Home often mixes many different styles and price ranges in order to make the home feel cozy and inviting. "I try to find pieces that are elegant but not formal. That's the through line. If you feel like you can't put your feet on it, it's too rigid. I want things that you can scratch or dent or eat ice cream on. But I want them to look like they came from all of these different places and times in my life and travels."

Esquenazi's Los Angeles bungalow was featured in House Beautiful.

I love the suzani and ikat pillows he used in his living room.

Sitting Area

Esquenazi's dining room features a mixture of styles.

This bathroom is great! I love the paint color, the dark cabinetry, inlaid mirror, oval shower curtain rod, and the gorgeous blue seltzer bottles.

When asked by House Beautiful if he thought his choice to paint the bungalow's small bedrooms in dark shades made them feel even smaller, Esquenazi replied: "Not necessarily. And besides, I don't mind a bedroom that feels small, especially since its primary use is for sleeping. Why should it not be dark, moody, or sensual? It really is a kind of sanctuary — even if you still can hear the helicopters zooming overhead, going to Paris's house."

The guest bedroom features rich jewel-tone colors.

Because his bungalow is very small, Esquenazi opted to utilize the outdoor living space to the maximum. He divided it into several "rooms" in order to take full advantage of the beautiful California weather year round. "The yard was grassy and all one level, so I put in a deck near the house, then created these different areas so it unfolds as you walk back toward the cabana. I put in a lot of plantings around the deck area. I wanted you to be in the house and see all these plants, and then to look beyond and see more garden. That makes it look more expansive than seeing it all at once."

Esquenazi's Palm Springs home was named as one of Metropolitan Home Magazine's "Best Homes in America". How fabulous is this entrance?

While the look of his Palm Springs home is just as eclectic as that of his Los Angeles home, the furnishings here are decidedly more mid-century. I do like some of the elements in this room, but I am not a fan of the carpeted bench/sofa thing.