written and edited by florence kane photographed by mike gardner

MARCH 2011 C 95

The decorator and his client in her Laurel

Canyon living room.

homeCEasyDesigner Nathan Turner and Ione Skye work closely to create an inviting, colorful L.A. home for the actress and her family

Living

’ve had different lives in this house,” says Ione Skye of her ’60s-era Case Study House. The actress bought the Laurel

Canyon abode 15 years ago, and her past de-cor has included a “sexy green library” and a living room full of B&B Italia. But now, with help from L.A.-based designer (and a star of Bravo’s “Million Dollar Decorators”) Nathan Turner, she has a dwelling that perfectly fits her current roles: mother of two girls (Kate, 7, and Goldie, 1); artist (ioneskyepaintings.com); and wife of musician Ben Lee.

“You can’t take a house like this and make it something completely new,” Turner says of the Mid-Century structure, “but I wanted to warm it up, make it colorful.” He did so by bringing the outside in. Hues in the living room, with sofas by Ames Ingham and NK poufs, echo the outdoor flora. Turner also split what he calls “an airport hangar of a bedroom” into two spaces for the girls. Their “wing” also includes a family room for play and schoolwork. The home has a studio for Lee and a bright master for the couple. “I used to only be in the kitchen or my room,” says Skye. “Now, I want to be everywhere.” •

I

clockwise from top left skye and her family’s dog, John. “it’s kate’s room, her own wing,” she says of the brightly hued family room. the living room has a bar from the Venice store french 50s60s, a coffee table from lawson-fenning in silverlake and a wood-burning fireplace. the master bed is modernica; drapes and uphol-stery are by peter dunham.