John and Krista Everage’s Santa Monica studio, Everage Design, has been creating custom designs for timeless interiors since 1986. Their signature “California Romantic” style features layered light, large-scale art, lush views, and lyrical accents. Explore how they create a space, along with favorite finds from their Chairish shop.
SHOP EVERAGE DESIGN’S CHAIRISH FAVORITES >>>
What makes you passionate about interior design?
We love creating luxuriously delightful and romantic spaces, indoors and out, for our exuberant clientele. Elegant living environments elevate our everyday lives, and inspire all aspects of life! Designing chic and cozy spaces that reflect our clients’ dreams and lifestyle is our great joy, and our “super-power” is blending lyrical furnishings, both modern and vintage, to create layers of visual detail and depth.
How did you get your start?
We grew up (separately!) in lush, verdant environments of towering hardwoods and shimmering lakes and rivers. Our towns featured historic architectural treasures, like John’s jewel-box Art Deco church and Krista’s classical library with Corinthian columns and 19th century stained glass windows. Both of our families were artistic and industrious, often renovating their historic homes in bucolic settings.
After we each pursued advanced degrees in design, art, and art history, and completed apprenticeships in Chicago, we married and moved to the Eden that is Los Angeles. The light and color that drenches Southern California is the magic ingredient for our “California Romantic Style.” Our first residential project, a modern “art house”, was published in Architectural Digest, and Viola, Everage Design was born.
What do you find most compelling about Chairish?
We love collecting and curating from Chairish’s international treasure trove of vintage and antique furnishings, as well as unique made-to-order pieces. Our very own Everage Design Chairish Shop offers an array of vintage furniture and accessories, contemporary artwork, and our bespoke furnishings line. We are very grateful for the Chairish platform. Recently, the Los Angeles fires claimed many of our clients’ treasure-filled homes. Through Chairish, we were able to source a set of rare vintage chairs to replace our clients’ exact set that was lost to the fire. You can imagine the joy!
Three current favorites are in our Everage Design Chairish Shop: a pair of luminous coral-colored swirled Murano lanterns, a dreamy faux-“lambs wool” ottoman, and a pair of vintage Ilana Goor counter stools. We also have a set of gently-used ebonized wood and rush dining chairs that are a bargain.
How does sustainability factor into your design choices and love of vintage?
Vintage and antique furnishings, along with gently-used contemporary pieces, offer a rich vocabulary for designers to draw from, bringing high craft, gravitas, and detail to our compositions. The immediate availability and sustainable re-use are a win-win-win: Happy clients, kindness to the Earth, and originality and quality delivered from the designer!
Favorite way to create a statement-making moment in a room?
We create a wow-factor in each room by layering the space with light, color, texture, and scale. We love large-scale, gorgeous artworks; framing a verdant view with luscious drapery; and featuring lyrical, colored-glass chandeliers. A luxurious area rug or patterned floor materials and a glazed, carved, or vaulted ceiling give character and warmth to a room. Live trees and flowers add life and texture to all rooms. Very importantly, a well-considered lighting scheme highlights architectural features and artwork, as well as creates a luminous glow. Sparingly-used overhead spots, balanced with chandeliers, pendants, wall sconces, library lights, floor and table lamps, uplighting from the floor, and candles for entertaining all add up to our California Romantic style.
Go-to color palettes and color combos?
Our painterly approach runs the spectrum from ethereal whites and neutrals, to lusciously rich palettes. Blues and greens bring the garden in, and we love adding strokes of warm pinks, corals or red for sumptuous romance. Each client and architectural style, as well as the climate and landscape, are unique and therefore define the project’s palette. An architecturally significant home that is thoughtfully detailed can be a wonderful backdrop for whites or neutral textures; and if the client prefers color, this can add layers of beauty and enchantment. Homes without much architectural interest can benefit from a rich color palette that speaks to the client’s tastes. Generally, large rooms with views and good natural light, soar with a light palette, whereas libraries, dining rooms, and powder rooms, especially those that don’t have much natural light, love a moodier or vibrant palette, which creates warmth, interest, and drama.
What advice do you have for first-time clients to make their home truly personal?
We advise clients to identify any family pieces, collections, and artworks that might be important and emotional for them. Mixing these pieces into the vocabulary keeps the conversation about the client, and builds a room that will always speak to them. Artwork is a wonderful first purchase that can provide inspiration for a beautiful palette of color and texture. We also advise purchasing quality items that have character, be they antique, vintage, or newly made. True lasting luxury begins with gorgeous materials and craftsmanship. Working with a talented design team that listens to the client’s desires, and has an intuitive, open spirit will result in personal haven that is timeless.
Lead Image: Interior by Everage Design, Inc. | Photography by Anthony Peres.
