Explore Tommy Lei’s Serene, Sophisticated LA Abode
“The most treasured items in my home aren't gauged by monetary value but rather sentimental.”
Tommy Lei is a Los Angeles-based visual storyteller, interior design expert, and founder of MYBELONGING. Read on for details of his warm, cleverly curated home in Los Angeles’ San Gabriel Valley.
What are some words you’d use to describe your home?
Modern leisure with eclectic, mid-century meets Scandi-Japanese influences. There's layers of cozy and easy sophistication that's interwoven through the details. I aspire to create that atmosphere with every home I touch, whether it be mine or a client.
Who lives with you in your home?
My partner, Braden, who is a film composer and music educator. And a whole lot of furniture.
What initially attracted you to your home and the area you live in?
As a starter home, I love that there is a rich amount of history in the build of the house and plenty of windows to boot. The house is flooded with natural light until the sun sets. There are charming details that date the house to its 1920 roots up until a mid-century expansion in the 1950s. What sealed the deal for me was a bold, curvaceous stucco wall in the living room that creates a unique and stunning flow throughout the home. Have I mentioned the windows yet?
To be honest, the San Gabriel Valley wasn't my first choice of neighborhood. I have close ties to the area, and my family is in close proximity. I was pretty hesitant at first! But those same aspects that initially turned me off drew me in. The quarantine really reinforced how important it is to be in an area with an immediate sense of community, where people look after one another and family isn’t too far away.
“The kinds of items I find myself gravitating toward are fine objects that have personal resonance and value.”
What kinds of items do you love to surround yourself with? How do these items identify with your personality?
It's tempting to fill in every corner of the house with something, and I am here to tell you — as a recovering impulse purchaser — you don't have to. The kinds of items I find myself gravitating toward are fine objects that have personal resonance and value. For instance, my dining room gallery wall is comprised of my own fine art photography and along with a rare, signed lithograph print by Ansel Adams. Every detail is meticulously curated and considered thoughtfully. We believe this is also the most sustainable: To design a lived-in home, where everything has its place and purpose.
What's one of your favorite rooms or corners of your home?
All of the south-facing rooms. There is such an abundance of light and warmth that comes from my primary bedroom, powder room and tea room — essential spaces to my sanity while in quarantine. We also spend an inordinate amount of time in our refreshed living room, streaming all of favorite shows (which are currently The Mandalorian, Bridgerton, The Queen's Gambit and Raised by Wolves, in no specific order). The Mario Bellini Camaleonda is a dream to unwind on; the pillowy luscious leather contours perfectly to our bodies as we relax and unwind for hours on end.
What changes have you made inside your home over the course of living there?
We're actually hitting the one year mark this month, and there's been a multitude of changes. There was a gut renovation right after the house closed escrow. It was an intense process of me being on site at the house every day, jaws clenched and anxiety levels through the roof as we discovered many unexpected surprises from the house. I call this the 'Phase 1' of renovations, where you pretty much tackle the core problems of the home. The kitchen and primary bathroom were the most troublesome spaces — particularly with water damaged flooring and layout issues.
With that chapter closed behind us (a sigh of relief!), I've gone into interior design hyperdrive. There is an overall design arc, but each room has its own personality that feeds into the story I am trying to tell. For instance, the dining room and kitchen are largely Scandinavian inspired with mid-century undertones and details throughout. I really wanted to pay homage to my travels throughout the years as well as the home's original details and characteristics, while enhancing and modernizing them!
What item in your home do you treasure the most?
The most treasured items in my home aren't gauged by monetary value but rather sentimental. There is a vintage screen divider — a hand-me-down from my mom — that sits in the sun room. It’s a reminder that so much of furniture can be familial and generational. They are just as much as a family heirloom compared to the likes of jewelry, watches, and clothing. Other than that, I have a few fine photography prints of my global travels I had produced through my local printer and Framebridge that I am very much fond of.
“Every detail is meticulously curated and considered thoughtfully.”
Where are your favorite places/sites to shop for art and interiors?
My list of preferred design retailers and vendors have grown so much over the past year. For clients, I usually direct them to Design Within Reach, Finnish Design Shop, and Rove Concepts as a starting point in renovating or designing their homes. I also love sourcing from small business, home boutiques on Instagram (@homeunion, @claudehome, @lichennyc, @modernminer). For the mid-century modern lover like me, I am obsessed with Eternity Modern. I recently customized a Mario Bellini Camaleonda from them and it arrived impeccably!
For art, it really comes down to your budget. Artsy is primarily a blue-chip artist heaven. There you can find exquisite works from Ed Ruscha, Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, David Hockney, and Jean-Michel Basquiat being auctioned off. It's unreal. If money was no object, I'd spend it all there.
Then there's Tappan, Saatchi Art (where I currently sell and exhibit), and Absolut Art, where independent and emerging artists are establishing a presence. The prices are much more affordable and vary from artist to artist on these platforms, but that doesn’t make the art any less intriguing or collectible.
All photos by Tommy Lei (besides the portrait with his partner, which is by Azusa Takano). Follow along with Tommy at @mybelonging.
Feb 9, 2020
By Ashley Tibbits