City Homes
March 12, 2024
California Cool: Step Inside A Luxe LA Home That Brings The Outdoors In
If you’ve ever heard of furniture and design brand Muskoka Living, then you know Cory DeFrancisco, the designer of the luxe, laid-back look that perfectly reflects one of our big trends for 2024. Muskoka Living has showrooms in Toronto, Port Carling, Ont., and L.A. so, naturally, Cory’s Canadian-Cali lifestyle has, in some ways, shaped his design aesthetic. His overall look is light and bright, crisp and tailored, and always infused with warmth and authenticity.
He counts Spanish style, olive and citrus trees, pea gravel, texture, arches as a form and the imperfection of plaster amongst some of his California influences. “One of our first inspiration pictures was of olive and citrus trees in Santa Barbara,” says Cory. “What I took from that was a soft, feminine feel, and that guided the overall look.” Sure enough, the interior is an appealing blend of contemporary and traditional design, with a host of rounded architectural elements and curvy furniture. With light woods, natural textures and a neutral, sun-kissed palette, the design feels integrated into the landscape — soft, dreamy and organic.
But Cory hasn’t forgotten his East Coast traditional, cottage country roots, a style he worked in for 15 years. “We looked at this backyard like our lake, which, in cottage design, is your sacred space,” he says. “You take the key elements of the build and try to have them all either touching the water or having a view to it.” In this case, a pool stands in for the lake, while olive and citrus trees take the place of Muskoka’s white pines and sugar maples. Some things, though, transcend geography. “We always try to make a home feel cosy,” says Cory. “And we really focus on the layers and the details.”
Scroll down for a look inside this luxe LA home!
You need only look at the exterior of this two-storey, seven-bedroom, 10-bathroom house in L.A.’s Brentwood Park area to see these influences in action. Built to better show off Muskoka Living furniture and accents to local design professionals, the home is wrapped in brick that has a slurry treatment, a wash that coats the exterior in a layer of mortar, creating a dimensional, aged look.
The textured, Spanish-style vibe continues inside, where the designer brings the outdoors in for a style that’s refined yet casual. Over the past few years, living and working in L.A. has evolved Cory’s design aesthetic. “Just like Muskoka, there’s an authentic, appealing quality to California — the water, the windows and doors always being open, and the emphasis on outdoor living,” he says. Case in point: floor-to-ceiling glazing often shows up in his projects. The 1970s-style “chubby” armchairs are perfect for casual conversation in the living room.
Canadian-inspired elements still find their way in. One of his typical California builds, for example, might include panelling and trimwork that’s pure Muskoka. “We continue to be inspired by the cottage characteristics of slamming screen doors, kids running around in their bathing suits and cocktails on the dock,” he says. “Our designs are a unique marriage of these two environments. Clients are realizing that, even though their neighbor may have a traditional or contemporary home, they can do something different, something more personal. It’s about whatever speaks to them in the truest way.”
The focal point of the great room is a magnificent curved fireplace finished in hand-fluted plaster. A dwarf olive tree recalls Cory’s inspiration for the design.
The centerpiece of the kitchen is a rounded island with hand-fluted plaster details. A row of pendants continues the curvy motif and heart-shaped stools add a touch of whimsy.
An arched niche with shelves backed in Calacatta marble takes kitchen storage to the next level.
Built on a lot that’s extra wide but not particularly deep, the house is designed to give important rooms access to the gardens and pool.
The soothing palette of natural tones carries through to the office, with chalky white built-ins and an oak-clad ceiling and floor.
The media room is designed for cosy comfort with an oversized sectional and drapes for movie night ambience.
The bedrooms are layered with texture, from rattan light fixtures to nubby blankets to soft rugs. In this main-floor guest bedroom, ball-shaped feet on the bed frame are a subtle nod to the home’s curvy motif.
In this second-floor guest bedroom, an undulating bed frame is nestled between the windows. A bench with the same profile is a fun end-of-bed flourish.
The principal bathroom’s refined details include statement lighting and warm metal accents.
The pool house is L.A.’s answer to the bunkie: a separate 800-square-foot structure that could also function as a recording studio, gym or office.
“I designed this house for how I’d live here with my family,” says Cory, adding that his own home is just a few streets away. “The place had to be right for a family living in California; we thought of them and the house in unison. The furniture follows that lead.”
To see more of Cory’s work, see inside his Muskoka cottage.
Petra Ford
House & Home
Cory DeFrancisco