Homeworthy recently had the pleasure of speaking with Andrea DeRosa, co-founder of Avenue Interior Design, about the thoughtful transformation of her 100-year-old home in Larchmont Village, Los Angeles.
Purchased five years ago, the home had undergone a series of uninspired renovations, but Andrea and her husband, David, immediately saw its potential. In our conversation, Andrea shares how the pandemic reshaped their renovation priorities, the challenges of blending modern updates with historic charm, and the personal touches—including café corners for her children and a curated art collection—that make their home uniquely theirs.
From embracing original Batchelder tile to creating a warm, Southern California-inspired aesthetic, Andrea offers a glimpse into the design process that turned their house into a beautifully functional family home.
HOMEWORTHY: What initially drew you to this home, and how did you see its potential despite past
renovations?
ANDREA: We always joke about superpowers with our children, but seeing potential in a home or
interior is an Interior Designer’s superpower. Larchmont Village has been a long-time favorite neighborhood of ours since moving to LA 20 years ago. It’s a neighborhood that has maintained much of its charm over the years and we knew we’d ultimately like to raise our family in the neighborhood. Compared to surrounding homes, this house lacked curb appeal and had been through a series of uninspired renovations. I could clearly see the subtle Spanish details in the architecture from its origin over 100 years prior, but the façade especially had been diluted over time – it lacked a cohesive aesthetic. Since the detailing was so subtle, it allowed flexibility in the design direction we could take – we didn’t have to lean into overtly Spanish aesthetic.
HOMEWORTHY: How did the pandemic shift your renovation focus, and what impact did it have on your
design approach?
ANDREA: Essential renovations – like replacing the windows at the front of the house – had started
pre-pandemic and got us thinking about the bigger picture plan for the interior. We had moved in so quickly that we’d not fully envisioned the home’s full potential until we were living in it. When the pandemic hit, we halted the interior plans and focused on renovating the yards to maximize on our exterior space. Once things eased up a bit, we realized how imperative it was to renovate the interior and make it more functional for our family. Since we were primarily working from home during this time, I was able to be more present and make modifications on the fly – a blessing and curse – as I was able to pay more attention to details, but it also meant that the scope kept growing.
HOMEWORTHY: How would you describe the overall style of your home?
ANDREA: Like all our residential interiors, we like to keep the overall vibe, comfortable and relaxed
– even if there are formal elements. A natural color palette as the base, with terracotta and ochre accents, give the overall interior a sense of warmth. All of this is very inherent to a Southern California sensibility. It’s impossible to define the overall design of the interior as any one style- and like any good interior, it’s always evolving!
HOMEWORTHY: What were the biggest challenges in blending modern updates with the home’s original
character?
ANDREA: For better or worse, what remained of any original Spanish influence was minimal-
making where we could go aesthetically pretty far reaching. The one element I had to
learn to love was the tile around the fireplace. The fireplace was clad in original Batchelder tile that defined the era in which the home was built. Ultimately, I embraced this original element and developed a terracotta color palette to better incorporate this historical element into a more modern mix of furnishings.
HOMEWORTHY: How did you create spaces that balance daily family life with entertaining?
ANDREA: As is the case with most historic homes, we simply did not have enough storage prior to the renovation. For me personally, clutter really detracts from my ability to feel at ease and relax so it was imperative that we build out the kitchen, dining room and pantry to their maximum capacity. Most of my entertaining these days involves more children than adults, but over the years I’ve made a habit of collecting place settings, silverware and glasses from my travels. It was this same philosophy that inspired the design of the café corners for our kids in the dining room. Our son and daughter each have their own set of drawers that house their workbooks, art project, sports cards, tech, etc. It’s easy for them to access – and put away – on their own. It also allows for casual dining and keeps the dining table free for more formal set ups.
HOMEWORTHY: How did you incorporate personal touches throughout the home?
ANDREA: Often personal touches naturally get incorporated into homes over time – things become
curated and collected as years go by. When you move or renovate, it’s often a time in which you naturally reflect on what you have or notice trends in your selections. In terms of pattern, I’ve always loved a checkerboard pattern. While it’s imperative to have some organic elements in every design, I really love symmetry and order. When my son was younger, he started playing chess so now I consider the pattern a little homage to him. I naturally gravitate to the pattern time and time again (even one of the flowers for the photoshoot even had a little checker pattern) so when designing the pattern in the bathroom, I created a checkerboard out of a stack of three tiles to get a looser, natural look to offset the more formal direction of the rest of the bathroom. Nature is also a reoccurring theme I gravitate to. Usually in a fairly abstract way, but you’ll notice botanical references here and there – in artwork by Philipe Cardon, the white “twig” chandelier from Made Goods and the cloud wallpaper from Sanderson.
HOMEWORTHY: How has your art collection influenced the design of your home, and how do you decide where pieces go?
ANDREA: I purchase art rather impulsively. I just purchased a piece by Loralee Jade today (her
work was featured in my kitchen). When I see something I love, I have to have it – whether I have a place for it or not. It’s a challenge! Our last house had all more wall space – and they were all white – so the art was really the focus. With this home, the artwork definitely shares the stage with multiple elements so its been a bit of an evolution finding a home for each piece. I did commission the dining room artwork specifically for the areas above the kids’ benches. The artist Claire Salvo created somewhat of a tribute to each of the children’s personalities by highlighting their current food favorites. Kind of culinary snapshot of this moment in time.
HOMEWORTHY: What’s your favorite space in the home, and why is it your favorite?
ANDREA: I’ve always enjoyed cooking and baking – so I love spending time in the kitchen more
than ever. Baking, start to finish, is like completing a mini project. So satisfying. We lived
through the renovation and most nights I would spend time looking at the kitchen under
construction and think of how it would operate as well as how it would look. I made a lot
of small tweaks that made huge improvements to the overall function. It’s a small kitchen
all things considered, so every inch counted.
HOMEWORTHY: What does home mean to you?
ANDREA: Home is where you feel most yourself, most at peace – be it with yourself, your family or
your friends.
