When designer Jaqui Seerman’s clients purchased their 11,000-square-foot home in the Beverly Hills Post Office neighborhood—an exclusive area just outside Beverly Hills proper—the 1990s interior looked like an era-specific cliché. Black and white high-gloss finishes adorned every room, and Baccarat chandeliers hung from the ceilings. Needless to say, it wasn’t going to work for the young family or their toddlers.
Seerman embarked on one of her biggest projects yet, a gut renovation of the eight-bedroom, 11-bath residence, working around the clock for an entire year to get the home ready ahead of the birth of the owners’ next child. “The goal was a relaxed, California-style space that worked for chic dinner parties and children’s birthdays alike,” Seerman says. The two often don’t go hand-in-hand, which meant Seerman had her work cut out for her.
Most of the renovation went off without a hitch. Then came a last-minute request to separate the primary bathroom into two separate ensuite bathrooms—one for him and one for her. “It created personal sanctuaries: his with wet and dry saunas and hers with a freestanding marble tub, makeup vanity, and wet sauna,” Seerman explains. There’s no fighting over lengthy showers here.
The overall results blend the couple’s coastal California aesthetic with the warmth of traditional design. Seerman incorporated warm wood tones, plaster, and picture molding to soften the interiors. While every finish is intentional and beautiful, nothing is precious. The couple’s children are welcome on all furnishings—although they love the kid-specific spaces best—and the family dog roams free. The project didn’t conclude in time for the literal due date—Covid-19 delays, shipping mishaps, and countless city inspections got in the way—but the family was able to move back in just in time for the holidays.
Foyer
“My favorite part of transforming the entry vestibule was reframing the opening to the hallway with a fully arched design instead of a standard one,” Seerman says.
Paint: Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball. Stair railing: Majestic Flooring. Flooring: Gascon Flooring. Table: Eon Stone & Design. Sheep: Old Plank Road Antiques. Candlesticks: OK the Store.
Living Room
“The caramel, cream, and mauve hues create a perfect balance of neutral warmth,” Seerman says. “It’s ideal for cozy movie nights and game sessions.”
Side tables: Crump & Kwash. Lamp: Dumais Made. Sofa: JAB, Thomas Lavin. Ottoman: custom, in United Leather leather. Rug: Woven.
Family Room
Pictured on main.
“The client wanted a formal living room with cozy seating for all her family and friends,” Seerman says. “We created a refined space with slightly curved sofas, an oval coffee table, and stunning onyx shelves flanking the client’s own art.” Pine cabinets by Landon Cole on either side of the travertine fireplace hold glassware and supplies for convenient hosting.
Sofa: B&L Custom, in Myung Jin fabric. Chairs: B&L Custom, in MLI Sheepskin fabric. Art: Richard Prince. Rug: Lawrence of La Brea.
Kitchen
Seerman used a clever workaround to get the Lacornue range faster and avoid steep shipping costs from Europe. Working with Cooper Pacific Kitchens, her team sourced a pair of smaller ranges that were in stock and combined them into one seamless installation. That drastically cut what would’ve been a lead time of 12 months or longer.
Countertops: Marble Design by Lopez and Tristone & Tile Inc. Cabinetry: Danzo Group Custom Cabinets & Woodworking, in Clunch by Farrow & Ball paint. Hardware: Liz’s Antique Hardware. Hood finish: Peter Perez. Pendants: Currey & Company. Counter stools: Crump & Kwash.
Bar
A clever pass-through window makes it easy to hand drinks and snacks to people hanging out by the pool.
Paint: Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball. Door and window: NanaWall. Plasterwork: Peter Perez. Stone: Tristone & Tile Inc. Millwork: Danzo Group Custom Cabinets & Woodworking. Pendants: Una Malan. Counter stools: Modern Antiquarian.
Breakfast Nook
While some areas of the house got supersized (like the primary baths), others, like this corner, became smaller and cozier. It had the intended effect: “We downsized this breakfast nook from seating for 10 to six, and now it’s one of the most frequented corners of the house,” Seerman says.
Paint: Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball. Dining table: custom. Dining chairs: Burke Decor. Ceiling light: Stahl & Band. Artwork: Danny Fuller.
Dining Room
When Seerman’s clients bought the home, it was missing a formal dining room. She added one back by reclaiming space from the kitchen. The “moody” space with seating for up to 16 is “the perfect backdrop for holidays with family and intimate dinner parties.”
Paint: Purbeck Stone by Farrow & Ball. Flooring: Majestic Flooring. Doors: Pinky’s Iron Doors. Dining table: Eon Stone & Design. Dining chairs: CB2.
Primary Bedroom
“The home’s original primary bedroom had a dark, moody feel, with charcoal seagrass walls and a black marble fireplace,” Seerman explains. “We transformed the space by introducing buttery plaster walls and a light marble fireplace.” New steel doors and luxurious drapery enhance and refine the tonal palette.
Ceiling light: Lumfardo. Bed: custom, in Rose Tarlow fabric. Bedding: Scandia. Pop-up cabinet: Cabinet-Tronix (at foot of bed). Sofa: custom, in Holland & Sherry fabric. Floor lamp: Fair. Drapery: Interior Specialties, in Otis Textiles fabric. Paint: Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball. Plasterwork: Peter Perez.
Fireplace: Ritcher Stone & Tile and Tristone & Tile Inc. Mirror: Lulu & Georgia. Rug: Woven. Side table: Amber Interiors. Sofa: custom, in Holland & Sherry fabric.
Closet
Bunk Room
Paint: Card Room Green by Farrow & Ball. Bedding: Grande Hotel and Scandia Home. Sconce: Etsy. Chair: Soho Home. Light: Imprint House. Drapery: Interior Specialties, in World Linen fabric.
Daughter’s Room
“Creating this girl’s room was a dream,” Seerman says. “We repurposed a crystal chandelier from another room and paired it with playful marbled blush-and-cream Rebecca Atwood Designs wallpaper. The fuzzy teddy upholstered bed and fringe sconces flanking the headboard are particular favorites of mine.”
Chair: Soho Home. Sconces: Rewire Gallery. Bed: Eternity Modern. Rug: RH. Drapery: Interior Specialties, in World Linen fabric.
His Bathroom
Seerman reconfigured this portion of what had been an overly large shared primary bath, replacing the bathtub with a marble steam shower and the shower with a dry infrared sauna. The space now doubles as a dressing area with a walk-in closet and a separate floor-to-ceiling shoe closet.
Paint: Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball. Vanity: Danzo Group Custom Cabinets & Woodworking. Hardware: Specialty Hardware & Plumbing. Mirror: Robern. Ceiling light: Gallery L7. Sconces: Lumfardo. Ottoman: Amber Interiors.
Her Bathroom
Seerman’s favorite feature in this relaxing space is the rose quartz. “Not only is it visually stunning, but it also possesses inherent healing qualities, providing the perfect foundation to start and end your day.”
Paint: Wimborne White (walls) and Slipper Satin (trim) by Farrow & Ball. Hardware: Liz’s Antique Hardware. Drapery: Interior Specialties, in World Linen fabric. Mirror: IBM. Sconces: Atelier De Troupe. Vanity: Marble Design by Lopez.
Office
Seerman’s client envisioned a space with a golf simulator, lounge, desk, and bar. Taking inspiration from the Polo Lounge, she transformed it with deep green walls and copper-backed bar area.
Paint: Troubadour Flat by Portola Paints. Cabinet: Danzo Group Custom Cabinets & Woodworking. Hardware: Liz’s Antique Hardware. Sofa: Crate & Barrel. Pillow: Bloom Home.
Playroom
“My favorite part of the playroom is this enormous cuddle sofa upholstered in plush teddy fabric,” Seerman says. “It’s perfect for the kids to jump, lounge, and nap on—it’s so much fun!"
Paint: Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball. Cabinet: Danzo Group Custom Cabinets & Woodworking. Hardware: Liz’s Antique Hardware. Storage, sofa, rug, and ottomans: RH. Table: Crate & Barrel. Drapery: Interior Specialties, in World Linen fabric.
Q&A
House Beautiful: What was the most memorable detail for you in this home?
Jaqui Seerman: Converting the original primary bathroom into separate his-and-hers spaces. It was a last-minute decision with a big impact.
HB: What five tips or takeaways from this project that readers could apply in their own home?
JS: First, optimize spaces for different experiences. The original home had an overly large kitchen, so we downsized it to have a cozier breakfast nook and to make room for a larger formal dining area. This allowed for intimate family meals in the kitchen and larger gatherings in the dining room.
Carve out personal spaces. Creating his-and-her bathrooms and closets was a special change. Although not all homes have room for this, we relished in reworking the floor plan to create private retreats off the primary bedroom for each to enjoy.
Strategically refurbish and reuse. Not everything needs to be new in construction and furnishings. Due to our limited lead time, we strategically decided what to refurbish and what to replace, applying this approach to windows, doors, vintage furniture, and lighting.
Be flexible. A full gut renovation is stressful, especially on a tight timeline. Be prepared to pivot and adapt to changes in the original plan to keep the project on track.
Avoid cutting corners. It’s tempting due to budget and timeline pressures, but a full renovation is your chance to get it right. Consider how you’ll feel in the space years down the road, and prioritize quality over quick fixes. Your future self will thank you for choosing what you love over what’s immediately available.
