Coastal-European Silk Drapery & Upholstered Cornice Boxes — Laguna Niguel, CA

A young Los Angeles–based family had purchased a newly built home in Laguna Niguel as a weekend retreat for themselves and their two children. They wanted custom drapery and cornice boxes that felt elegant, sophisticated, and timeless — informed by classic European interiors and traditional detailing — while still carrying the relaxed atmosphere of a coastal Orange County home. The program needed to blend three design worlds (coastal, European, traditional) into one cohesive composition that would also stand up to everyday family life.

Olga began with conversations rather than fabric. Multiple visits to the home were used to study the architecture, furniture layout, natural light, and how the sun moved through the rooms during the day, and several long meetings on the patio were spent understanding how the family wanted to live in the house and entertain guests. The resulting program pairs full-length silk drapery panels with custom upholstered cornice boxes designed in proportion to the architecture. Soft gray and turquoise tones in the drapery and cornices introduce a quiet coastal feeling without becoming thematic, while two-times fullness, refined headings, and considered trim work give the rooms the layered elegance of a European interior.

Silk face fabric in a soft gray and turquoise palette, fully lined with solar-protective lining to guard against the strong Orange County sun exposure and preserve the silk over time. Drapery panels are fabricated at generous two-times fullness so the folds carry the weight and movement of a classic European treatment.

Custom upholstered cornice boxes hand-built in the studio, with intentionally clean lines and quiet detailing so the architecture and the silk panels remain the focal point. Concealed traverse hardware behind each cornice carries the drapery; coordinating holdbacks dress the panels for daytime use.

Cornices were fabricated in the workroom, then installed on-site at full height to align with the home's millwork. Silk drapery was hung after the cornices were set, then steam-trained and dressed so the folds broke evenly at the floor across the program. Each room was reviewed with the homeowners after installation and refined together — a collaborative final pass that the family was involved in from start to finish.

The finished home blends coastal California living with European elegance and traditional craftsmanship, and remains comfortable and functional for a young family. Five years on, it is still one of the studio's favorite projects — a reminder that the most successful interiors come from listening first, then designing: collaboration, trust, and a willingness to think across traditional design categories.