How an Interior Designer Designs Her Own Home

Interior designer Alex Azat shares the deeply personal process of designing her family’s fire rebuild. After the 2025 Los Angeles fires destroyed the house where she and her husband built their life together, Alex is rebuilding from the ground up.

Today, Alex walks us through the design vision guiding the rebuild, from the very first mood board to the architectural details that will shape the home. Inspired by historic architecture and old-world interiors, her plan embraces rich, saturated colors, custom millwork, French doors and windows, vintage lighting, and carefully layered materials like walnut, stone, and unlacquered brass.

Throughout the home, thoughtful details—from a restored mosaic entry floor to a kitchen designed around a French stove and handcrafted tile—reflect Alex’s belief that a house should feel timeless, personal, and deeply lived in. Using detailed 3D renderings and meticulous planning, she shares how every element—from crown moldings and baseboards to lighting and cabinetry—comes together to create a home that honors the past while beginning a new chapter.