Californian Glamour: How to Infuse Your Interior with a Luxe Boho Vibe
by Carlisle Homes
Simple styling and understated luxury, with a touch of decadence – the Californian glamour look translates beautifully to Australian homes. Here’s how to incorporate it into your interior.
Part glam, part boho, a little bit coastal – meet the Californian glamour look! A fusion of three fashionable styles, this casually cool aesthetic draws its roots from America’s west coast. But with its focus on simple styling and understated luxury, it translates beautifully to Australian homes. And it’s just one of the many stunning looks you’ll see in our Carlisle display homes. So come along and get inspired!
In the meantime, here are some tips from our expert interior designers on how you can incorporate some west coast cool into your own abode.
Dress to impress with a hallway that sets the tone for the rest of your home. Consider an elegant glass-topped table with a gold metal frame and introduce various textures such as a timber feature wall and a tactile sculpture to match.
A statement entrance
First impressions count, so if you’re looking to imbue your home with Californian glamour, start with your entry.
Set the right foundations with textured wallpaper in a light, honey tone on the walls and hard-wearing tiles in a tonal hue on the floor. This creates a sense of intimacy, while keeping this busy part of the home functional and easy to clean.
Then dress the area to impress by adding in an elegant glass-topped hallway table with a gold metal frame. Focus your decorative attention on the tabletop and walls in order to keep the floor clear to allow for traffic flow. Create an elegant tabletop vignette with gold accessories, a couple of neatly stacked coffee table books and a petite potted plant.
Bring your walls to life with a groovy, round mirror (it will also help reflect the light and make your hallway appear bigger) and beachy, timber wall art. Add a pair of gold-framed wall lights with frosted-glass shades that cast a warm, welcoming glow across the space.
Bring the corner of your hallway to life, while taking up minimal floor space, with a lush, trailing plant.
And voila! Low-key luxury from the moment you walk in the door.
An eclectic yet polished feel, the Californian glamour look boasts the perfect blend of glam, boho and coastal cool.
Laid-back luxury in your living areas
When it comes to colour, the Californian glamour look is all about sun bleached, coastal tones – think sand, pebble and warm white. Layer these shades across your walls, floors and soft furnishings to create a laid-back and cocooning feel.
Texture is another key ingredient – add a tactile, loop- or cut-pile carpet underfoot and consider topping it with a retro shag pile rug. Keep the look comfortable and inviting by choosing a generous, modular sofa with plenty of space for everyone.
Look to introduce luxe touches, such as glass- or marble-topped coffee and side tables with brass or brushed-gold legs, silk cushions in tonal shades, and an oversized, buttoned or velvet ottoman (great for extra seating when you need it!) Seek out artwork with a glamorous feel, such as gold-foil prints.
And don’t forget the boho element to this look; add one or two quirky elements, such as a sculptural mid-century floor lamp, a beaded coastal-inspired chandelier or a vintage, velvet-upholstered armchair. Up the cosy factor by covering the walls with grasscloth or fabric wallpaper.
Make sure the room receives plenty of light by opting for sheers at the window, and draw the outside in with a medley of indoor plants and fresh flowers. Discover how to create the perfect indoor-outdoor flow here.
Clean lines and metallic touches in the kitchen
Equal parts casual and elegant, Californian glamour is a versatile look that works equally well whether you’re hosting a casual weekend barbeque or an elegant, candlelit soiree.
The key is keeping it simple. In the kitchen, mix clean lines and minimalist detailing with a few carefully considered decadent touches. You might, for example, pair sleek Caesartone benchtops in a light oyster shade with matching handleless joinery and touches of dark timber in open shelving. Then add in a dash of opulence with bar stools with bronze-finish legs and marble tops, and a statement pendant over the island finished in gold or bronze.
When introducing multiple styles into a space the key is balancing touches of decadence with simplicity! Keep finishes understated with laid-back neutrals and organic materials, then, add a dash of opulence with hints of gold or bronze in tapware and furniture accents.
Texture and tone in the bedroom
Create a contemporary, Hollywood-inspired retreat in your master bedroom with texture, layers of soft, earthy neutrals and touches of bling.
Make the bed the focal point of the room with a good-sized, upholstered bedhead. This is also a great spot to introduce pattern – have your bedhead upholstered in a retro-inspired geometric print in a sandy shade; or, if you favour a more low-key look, specify sumptuous velvet upholstery.
Add softness with plush carpet underfoot, textured wallpaper and sheers at the window.
The Californian glamour look is a melting pot of different styles, which gives you license to have fun with playful contrasts. Pair opulent, brass-framed furniture and lighting with slubby bed linens and cushions with raw edges. Keep the space balanced by setting decadent mirrored and brass accessories alongside simple modern prints of palm trees and other coastal motifs.
Your ensuite should feel like a retreat you return to after each day. Ground the space with timber and layers of soft, earthy neutrals, then add a level of luxury with a sumptuous bath matt and touches of bling.
A casually elegant ensuite
Set a sophisticated tone in your ensuite with a vanity in dark timber laminate with brass handles, paired with beautiful gold foil botanical prints on the wall. Make a feature of your countertop with an eye-catching display consisting of a beautiful candle, a chic soap dispenser, and a tray in natural stone or a gold finish for your jewellery.
Create a visual connection with the other parts of your home by specifying the same colours for floors and walls, such as honey-tone porcelain tiles and white-washed walls. Keep the space feeling open and airy by specifying a large vanity mirror that bounces the light around and simple white venetians or plantation shutters at the window.
Finish off the characterful, luxe look by pairing fluffy white towels with a few fringed linen hand towels in a sandy hue
The Californian glamour look is a melting pot of different styles. Have fun with playful contrasts to create a striking balance of simple styling gestures and moments of opulence.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore the entire gallery of interior styles Carlisle has on offer here.