CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Nathan Turner; Mary McDonald; Amy Kehoe and Todd Nickey; Kari Whitman
Nathan Turner
Self-confessed collect-aholic Nathan Turner has amassed what might be described as a globetrotter’s treasure chest in West Hollywood. In one corner of his eponymous décor shop, stacks of vintage Suzani textiles line an antique armoire; in another, handmade ceramics top a Provençal table. Photo prints adorn the walls. Cowhide ottomans embellish the floor. “A minimalist I am not,” says the Californian. “I love layers, a mixed Anglo-ethnic look.” For Turner that translates into a fusion of patterns, tones and pieces with history that collectively yield an eclectic, high-low effect well suited to the neighborhood in which he’s based. He may be a man on a mission to bring a certain joie de vivre westward, but Turner was recently introduced to the world of green design while helping Adrian Grenier with his Los Feliz home. Turner outfitted Grenier’s LEED-certified pad with renewable materials such as jute and flax and used touches like fallen-tree stumps for seating. “There’s a ton of resources out there,” says Turner, who also designs a line of furniture for Elite Leather Company. Perhaps a sign of new boutique booty to come.
Mary McDonald
Los Angeles might be known for its airy beach houses and canyon bungalows, but to think of the city as solely a beacon of casual living would overlook those who favor all of Tinseltown’s glamour. Enter Mary McDonald, a Brentwood native who likes to put the posh in Angeleno interiors. “I’m kind of the odd man out here,” she says, referring to her preference for primness in laid-back LA. “I love something formal in every room.” McDonald, a former milliner who once made couture-style hats for high-end boutiques such as Maxfield, is equal parts drama and decorum. Though she may temper spaces with modern touches—a bit of Lucite here, some stainless steel there—McDonald has a penchant for old-world glamour and its furnishings (think Chinoiserie wallpaper, elegant draperies and 18th-century French furniture). “I prefer the faded elegance of days gone by,” explains the interior designer, who now aptly calls Beverly Hills home. With a new book, Mary McDonald: Interiors, due out from Rizzoli later this year and her line of ’40s- and neoclassically inspired lamps for Robert Abbey. debuting this spring, McDonald has a lot to look forward to. Still, it seems she just can’t help but feel nostalgic for the past.
Kari Whitman
Kari Whitman will be the first to admit she’s a tree hugger. But that doesn’t mean the Earth-minded interior designer is prone to daisy chains and patchouli oil. It’s quite the opposite really. With an A-list client base (Jessica Alba and Emilio Estevez for starters), she mingles superstar swank with eco-activist credibility and often makes it hard to differentiate between the two. For example, Whitman outfitted Alba’s entire backyard in ForeverLawn, a synthetic turf made from recycled plastic. “It looks just like grass,” says the designer, who favors a modern eclectic aesthetic, but one that is environmentally responsible above all else. The result is a lush, manicured exterior that eliminates pesticides and water use. Whitman’s also a fan of green drywall, non-VOC paint and Trex—a recycled-plastic and wood-fiber alternative to traditional wood. “It’s not hard to be green,” says Whitman, a onetime actress who founded Ace of Hearts dog-rescue foundation. In a true Hollywood story, Whitman once sat next to musician Don Henley at a dinner party. She was unhappy with acting and had recently started doing some design work; he was in the market for a decorator. They decided to give it a go. Since then Whitman has had her own shows on WE: Women’s Entertainment network and the Discovery Channel, garnered a celeb following and launched products such as eco-friendly dog beds with filling made from—what else—recycled plastic bottles.
