Thanks to stellar design skills and great parenting, all remains civil in the teen quarters of designer Betsy Burnham’s Los Angeles home
Produced, written and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with styling by Burnham Design and photography by Sarah Dorio
Ever since my teenage brother stabbed me in the foot with a sharpened number two pencil, I’ve [a] hated him [b] avoided teenagers [c] used a keyboard. When my tortured tween sister was dealing with Floridian mean girls, I’d intervene at the bus stop—to disastrous results. At fourteen, I attempted karate moves in my own bedroom—resulting in my foot through a wall—hours after my mom had the sheetrock redone. During my senior year of high school, my “friends” disowned me claiming I was psycho for naming my Clownfish after their girlfriends. My point…and I do have one, is that dealing with teenagers is usually a nightmare—unless you’re Los Angeles designer Betsy Burnham.
The California-by-way-of-Connecticut fashionista invited us to photograph her latest work—the bedroom suites of son, Will, and daughter, Carson, at her family’s Hancock Park Mediterranean Revival. In two shakes of a lamb’s tail, my photographer and I were perched like eager puppies waiting for treats at Burnham’s back door. Both of us huge fans of her work, we jumped at the chance to see her team in action. While Carson made an after school appearance, Will, much like his stunning mother, preferred as much distance from the lens as possible. In true Los Angeles fashion, both the family AND their breezy abode were cool, calm and collected—not to mention insanely fit [says the guy sipping a glazed Christmas ham through a straw].
Not only were the teen rooms fresh, fun and practical, but like all Betsy Burnham creations, they were layered, worldly and effortlessly chic. High-end elements such as custom draperies were counterbalanced with checkbook-savvy West Elm purchases. Splurges on beds were justified by area rugs from IKEA and accessories from flea markets. After ten hours of shooting teen-related content, talking about inverted box pleats and chasing down gourmet sandwiches with red vines, I found myself pleasantly re-living the teenage experience…this time without Clownfish named Tina and Jennifer.
Carson Daily
Thanks to a superstar designer mother, great genes and a cover-shot-worthy bedroom, every day is like Sunday in Carson’s suite. Betsy put her signature layering expertise to good use here starting with inverted box pleat draperies in “Chinese Garden” by Hazelton House [trade-only, available through Keith McCoy & Associates, Los Angeles] custom made by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors. Walls splashed with “Ivy Enchantment” from Dunn Edwards [a goes-with-almost-everything tone] allow each unique element to soar, particularly the black four-poster bed from Lane. A similar model is available through Ethan Allen.
Pillow talk
Curfews are something to look forward to thanks to Carson’s crisp, white, embroidered bedding from Deborah Sharpe Linens. Betsy hit up Peter Dunham‘s design hotspot, Hollywood at Home, for the shiny, happy, vintage Suzani bolster. A discontinued fretwork-ish side table from Williams-Sonoma Home supports a cost-saving orange “Boka” lamp from Crate & Barrel. One last bedside penny-pincher, IKEA’s “STOCKHOLM RAND” rug, grounded the sleepy space without breaking the bank.
Read all about it
Carson’s homework/reading area is a mashup of retail therapy and multicultural bargains. West Elm’s Parsons Desk in white houses candles fit for the Vatican and a turquoise Asian Foo Dog lamp found on ebay. Framed graphic art from Village hung above the desk is a nod to teen valley girl lingo. The vintage swivel chair [discovered at L.A.'s oasis of collectibles, Nick Metropolis] was given the Burnham touch with a cushion made of Clarence House’s “Jembala Wool Crewel” fabricated by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors.
State of the union
Union Jack is a signature pattern in Betsy Burnham designs. Luckily, for Carson, Mom nabbed a one-of-a-kind hand painted dresser sporting the U.K. emblem, then used it to pop color and graphic in the room. An autograph from actress Amanda Bynes took it from its original state to an A-List keepsake thanks to a People magazine shoot that took place outside the family’s home.
The right stuff
Teens are always gonna have STUFF, so why not embrace it? From the looks of Carson’s built-ins, it appears that proper accessorizing may be genetic. Betsy designed the unit with a combination of concealed and open storage. Drawers below [adorned with polished brass pulls from Liz's Antique Hardware] keep the unsightly stuff out of sight so that fun objects can be showcased above. Betsy’s favorite place for the fun stuff? High Street Market which has its own fantastic blog, I might add. When I asked Betsy the story behind the hot pink hot mess sporting floral brooches, she replied “We had a period of heavy Chinese propaganda collecting and the Mao bust fit right in”.
Bath to basics
Beyond the bedroom lives a classic black, white and grey bathroom certain never to go out of style. For Carson’s floor tile and sink, Betsy brought in sheets of Parramore Basketweave Mosaic and a Palladio sink, both from Waterworks. Gerber Hinge was the designer’s source for the chrome, hand-shaped pulls. To splash pattern onto the walls, Burnham chose “Attendants” wallcovering from Katie Ridder, then topped it off with a pair of sconces from Circa Lighting. Although Burnham Design is big on custom pieces such as the faux-python clad mirror, the studio’s trusted retail showrooms for all things kitchen and bath are Ann Sacks for more fashion-forward products and Waterworks for the classics.
Two for the money
Although we were specifically focused on Betsy’s teen room designs, it was hard to resist shooting her runway-ready project managers, Max and Alyssa. Not only did my photographer and I learn about their professional backgrounds, we discovered that [a] Alyssa hates photos of herself and is not on Facebook [b] Max is not a fan of the Darren Aronofsky film, Requiem for a Dream, but he does own a dog named Dynamo. Notice how the duo of design dreamboats rock ensembles similar to the layered interiors they help create? Coincidence? I think not.
Where there’s a Will
When it came to the design of son Will’s room, Betsy opted for overall neutral territory. Farrow & Ball’s “Drab” was Burnham’s wall color of choice. Supermom chose Schumacher’s “Galloway” in Navy for Boy Wonder’s inverted box pleat draperies which were fabricated by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors and installed with hardware from Iron Art by Orion. Will calls it a day, nightly, sprawled out on a discontinued bed from Land’s End dressed with dreamy bedding from Deborah Sharpe Linens.
It’s a man’s world
From the sleeping area to the study space to the rock show in the middle, Will’s room is a man’s world. Designer-Mom’s palette of taupe, burgundy and navy is sure to buck all trends—and look uber-masculine while doing so. When retail is a must, Betsy prefers both West Elm [source for the red Parsons Desk] and IKEA for kid spaces. Pops of yellow adrenalize the study space in the form of a Jonathan Adler lamp resting below a framed print by Lichtenstein. Pattern pops up once again courtesy of a Vivienne Westwood for the Rug Company pillow perched against the back of an Eames desk chair. The Rug Company’s “Ponti Red” area rug carries the burgundy tone over to the bed space where it’s greeted by a lacquered side table from Ji Gallery. Union Jack makes a cameo in the form of a custom “Big British Flag Lamp” lamp from Burnham Design.
A fresh approach
While Will’s bedroom layered brute colors with timeless patterns, Betsy went fresh, clean and nearly colorless in his bathroom. Rohl was Momma Burnham’s source for almost everything from the mirror to the sink/faucet combo to the polished chrome tissue dispenser. The Carrara marble surround is from Jerusalem Stone. For a dash of pattern, Betsy brought in a roman shade made from “Oakfield Tartan” by Ralph Lauren. I wonder how well Clownfish would do in that farmhouse sink.
Interested in hiring Betsy to design your home? Check out Burnham Design for full design services and Instant Space for Betsy’s do-it-yourself approach.
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sweet jesus. i am so copying that fucking union jack on a dresser thing.
in love…betsy burnham has always been a design idol of mine. her attention to detail and ability to mix styles and colors is flawless. you can’t find this stuff in textbooks!
*clutching my pearls*
well, i’ve always known betsy totally rocks as a designer, but i didn’t know she was the coolest mom in los angeles. lucky kids, right?
I never tire of Betsy’s INCREDIBLE style. She is so smart in her approach and so chic, she just never misses. Love seeing the kids rooms. Great idea!
love Betsy’s use of color.
What an amazing post!! It seems like everything BB touches turns to gold. (or leopard. or plaid.) and I LOVE it/want it all.
Thanks for sharing all these gorgeous photos and the resources.
Wowie! I am bowled over, in love with what fun a space can be.
BB has got it going on.
pve
Love it Brian!
Putting the Jack on my dishwasher as we speak.
xo xo
What perfect teen rooms, they will never want to leave ! I wouldn’t anyway.
i had to come back to oooogle again.
although for some reason this time around that amanda bynes signature is chaffing me. amanda bynes?? really? i would be right there with my fucking magic eraser working hard to erase her sloppy signature.
other than that…still love it.
Teen rooms are always so much fun to do (and look at!)because it’s a space where risk taking is expected and all convention can be thrown out the window (but not good design principles!) Loved this post. Found you through Rhonda’s post on All the Best…and my trip here has been! I’m going to become a follower….me thinks I like it here.
Betsy has done it once again, pure genius….her decor is amazing and spot on!
What an incredible blog post. The writing is genius, and the photos and rooms are fabulous. You’ve set the bar high for the rest of us. I loved it all. Thank you.
Jenny and Holly—your eloquent prose always leaves me f$cking speechless, touched and $hit. The rest of y’all: thanks a million for checking out Ms. Burnham’s feature slash visiting our site. Betsy is a true professional. In fact, she, Max and Alyssa PRE-STYLED the entire shoot before Sarah and I even stepped foot on the property. Hence getting 37 shots in ONE day. Lastly, she has a dog named Nina Garcia AND she uses good china when entertaining outdoors.
What a great spread! Wonderful interiors, photos and interview. Thank you!
Absolutely ridiculously divine. Man, to have had a mom with a design style like that?! Every darn detail is so well orchestrated but looks like effortless. Carson’s bathroom is incredible. Love the wallpaper with the snakeskin mirror and those pulls are nuts!!
Thank you for the great fun this a.m., your blog is fabulous ~
Fun post – I love Betsy’s youthful yet classic style. The perfect mix. I am also digging the bathroom soap pumps…that’s true style to have compagnie de france or luxe banho in place of softsoap. Details make all the difference. Thanks for bringing us the pics and great copy to boot!
pretty fantastic post, i think
The bathrooms are stunning! Great Post!
I’ve lived in my apt for 2 years now without pulls on my cabs cause I can never find anything I like…and now I gotz TWO killer sources. Thank you.
This one rocked my face off…espesh Carson’s room.
And I hope MFAMB hurries her ass up and copies that union jack dresser pronto so I can then copy her ass and figure out how the fuck to do it.
i LOVE the effortless style of bb. great photos and fab writing, as always!
FANTASTIC!!!!! As always!!!! Love it! Can they adopt me! I want my own room.
Betsy rocks it again! Love all the lamps. x
stunning! thoroughly enjoyed this piece… so inspiring.
This post is epic! I need to come back and read it all over again once I wipe the drool off of my keyboard. GREAT job! I just posted about Union Jacks this week but the dresser! Oh my god, that dresser! I so need that in my house.
Erica/Holly/Jenny…your comments…they are edgy. And I like it. I LIKE IT A LOT. Everyone else, you are amazing human beings who deserve millions of dollars, daily massages and Schumacher fabrics. Thanks VERY MUCH for making this site NOT a waste of my time/money/energy. Now I have to go. There are Housewives performing lyrical atrocities on TV and I need to watch them…multiple times.
This was my favorite post of yours – ever. Amazing! The photography is so gorgeous…and love that Union Jack dresser. I have heard murmurings of a British invasion in the design scene, and this just sealed the deal.
I agree with MFAMB about Amanda Bynes – I like her, but she ruined that dresser. Now I feel like watching that movie where she went to London and dated a prince.
Woohoo! With two teens of my own, there is a lot here I can ….um…I guess the word would be “steal”….but I promise to credit Betsy, since she is one of my design heroes.
wowza! those are two lucky kids!
Beautiful! I’d take either room!
Thank you for working with me for over a decade of fun.
You are the best interior designer ever!
lov u
These rooms are beautiful! I love the photographs. If only I had such a nice space when I was a teen. I know I should have listened to my mother back then. It was always an argument to not put poster straight on the wall, and only to frame them. Oh well, learn from your mistakes and envy Betsy’s kids!
I just discovered your blog today…I am beyond impressed with your ID skill. The photography on your site is incredible – composition, color and consistency.
I would hire you to do my spare bedroom / or at least creat a design for the space …I doubt I could afford you.
PS I’ve already shared your blog with two friends who I know are gonna really enjoy your work.
Big fan of Betsy’s style and now a big fan of your site! So well done!
Ok, I am in LOVE….!
))
This was a great post. My favorite part was perhaps seeing the two young and fashionable project managers…. But that bathroom os hard to beat. Love that Ridder paper!
Not sure if I’ve been living under a rock, but I just discovered your blog and I am smitten! You all do such fabulous work. So glad to have found you!
Rachel
xoxo
[...] of California, I loved getting a peek at Betsy Burnham’s kids’ rooms, especially the use of the Union Jack. I think the only way I might ever stop liking Union Jacks is [...]
Unstoppable!
I too had to come back for a second look. This is dynamite, can’t wait for Betsy to add more to her portfolio.
How nice(!) a fellow film maker in the design blogging world. I’m also developing a web series. So happy I found this blog!! Great design, great articles, awesome vibe and yes Betsy Burnham rocks!
I love the white flip clock. Where is this from? Thanks and wonderful work
My son is 9 and I am in love with the colors of that boy’s room….thanks for the inspiration amd all the details! Any one jenny from MFAMB likes I like:)
My son is 9 and I am in love with the colors of that boy’s room….thanks for the inspiration amd all the details! Any one jenny from MFAMB likes I like:)
I have been umming and arghing over painting my bedroom green for a while now and I think this may be the perfect shade! Perfect inspiration. Thank you x
Terrific post. I found it to be especially instructive and gave me the information I was hunting for. Will come back – thanks for the advice.
I’m from Brasil and I have a beaultiful work that you can know
[...] WESTERN CIVILIZATION | Decor Demon West Elm's Parsons Desk in white houses candles fit for the Vatican and a turquoise Asian Foo Dog lamp found on ebay. Framed graphic art from Village hung above the desk is a nod to teen valley girl lingo. The vintage swivel chair [ discovered . Designer-Mom's palette of taupe, burgundy and navy is sure to buck all trends—and look uber-masculine while doing so. When retail is a must, Betsy prefers both West Elm [source for the red Parsons Desk] and IKEA for kid spaces. [...]