For the past six months, I’ve been remodeling a house in Santa Monica Canyon that has required all of my creative energy. The most incredible part of this journey is how I start with one vision and end up with a completely different one if I tune in to what the home wants to become.

This house is an aesthetic departure for me because I used to live in an Old World Spanish house, while my new home is developing into an industrial ranch house. I’m going for a blank, pale canvas accented with industrial details and antique fixtures. Here, I share some of the most helpful places I have discovered over the course of my home-renovation journey. 

1. Heath Ceramics for tile, books and ceramic plates and cups. I love this place because I get the same feeling I do when I’m in Big Sur—a sort of Zen-like peace where I want to just play groovy music like the Eagles or Joni Mitchell while I toss a salad of organic greens. 7525 Beverly Blvd. LA

2. The Long Beach Outdoor Antique & Collectible Market, which takes place every third Sunday in Long Beach, for finding vintage midcentury pieces that can be upholstered. Long Beach Veterans Stadium, 4901 E. Conant St., Long Beach

3. My friend Ursula Brooks is an interior designer and is always taking me to fantastic Moroccan rug stores. One of my favorites is Amadi Carpets, for vintage ones. 408 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood

4. Calypso Home in Brentwood Country Mart for gorgeous cowhide rugs in silver and white. They also have a beautiful walnut-slab bed that isn’t astronomical in price. 225 26th St., Santa Monica

5. French 50s60s, a vintage-furniture store on Abbot Kinney in Venice, for lamps. 1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice

6. Lomeli’s Upholstery—Alfredo is the man for reasonable prices. 3525 Emery St., LA; 323-263-4976 

7. At Anderson Plywood you can sometimes find a raw slab of wood to make into a gorgeous dining table. 4020 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City

8. I go absolutely nuts for the old copper windows turned into mirrors at Olde Good Things in Downtown LA. They also have a selection of original industrial sinks. 1800 S. Grand Ave., LA 

9. Marble yards have become my home away from home. My favorite fabricator is Leonardo at Van Nuys Marble and Granite. He has been cutting, honing and fabricating for 49 years, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. 6160 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys; 818-781-2923 

10. Restoration Hardware for cabinet hardware that feels both rustic and modern. 1221 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica

11. Liz’s Antique Hardware for doorknobs that have beautiful, worn patinas. 453 S. La Brea Ave., LA

12. George’s Pipe and Plumbing Supply Company, Kitchen & Bath Showroom in Pasadena—the man to speak to here is Joe, and the selection is huge. I was educated on the differences between all the finishes. 99 Palmetto Dr., Pasadena