English text by Angela Feng
Photography by Brittany Ambridge and Nick Onken
As one half of the Chainsmokers, a Grammy-winning DJ duo, Alex Pall has built a career based on creativity and innovation. Therefore, it makes sense that he would be drawn to a house made of a mash-up of different architectural styles. This classic Hollywood Hills bungalow was built in the 1930s, with renovations made in the ’80s and ’90s to give it a dash of industrial edge.
Such a distinctive home requires an equally remarkable designer. Who would be better for the job than Peti Lau?
Peti was born in Israel to Chinese-Vietnamese parents. From opera singing, to opening a restaurant, to starting a clothing line—she has truly done it all. It wasn’t until 2005, when she unexpectedly took on the assignment of designing a resort’s restaurant, that she discovered her passion for interior design. “It all came very naturally,” Peti recalled.
To explain her signature style, Peti coined the term “AristoFreak”, which she describes as “old-world charm with a flash of the unexpected.” AristoFreak developed during her early career in Thailand, Mauritius, and Europe, and is inspired by her love for traveling. Through bold colors, patterns, and textures, Peti is able to express her worldly inspirations while creating eclectic spaces full of personality.
Pall’s home embodies the AristoFreak concept. Peti didn’t shy away from using vibrant colors and busy patterns, even within the same space. “The house had this build-in eclecticism,” Peti explained. “It felt appropriate to approach each interior space as its own unique environment.”
Before Peti took on the project, Pall had already installed palm-leaf wallpaper and an orange-velvet couch in the family room. Continuing with the tropical theme, Peti added a natural-fiber coffee table and assorted leopard- and tribal-print pillows. The orange, green, and blue of the Hassan Hajjaj painting ties the room’s color palette together. To offset the bright colors and patterns, Peti kept the ceiling a clean white and added a vintage Turkish rug. “A classic antique rug is a nice way to stabilize all the stuff that’s going on.”
The master bedroom is open and airy, with a high sloped ceiling and floor-length windows. The neutral color scheme feels intimate and elegant, with the painted velvet drapes adding a touch of drama. To soften the room’s initial industrial feel, Peti gave the plaster on the walls a thick, layered look, imitating aged European interiors.
As expected for the home of a musician, many rooms contain musical references. The dining room pays homage to the 1980s and rock ‘n’ roll, with the graffiti-like Channels wallpaper by Wearstler, a neon rainbow lightbox, and plush vermilion chairs. Casting a hot pink glow over the kitchen is the neon sign that accompanied The Chainsmokers onstage at their first “SNL” performance. In the great room, the duo’s Grammy Award takes center stage, sitting proudly atop the polished brass credenza.
People say that “the house should mirror the soul.” With her eclectic taste and well-traveled eye, Peti certainly accomplishes this goal, crafting a one-of-a-kind home fit for a rock star. Despite being a jill-of-all-trades, she has found design to be her true path. “Design is about listening to your inner voice and having the courage to follow it,” Peti said. “I hope to be doing this until I’m 90 years old!”