Latest news with #Dazey
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside Dylan Mulvaney's Whimsical, Maximalist L.A. Home Filled with Pink, Prints and Personality (Exclusive)
Dylan Mulvaney teamed up with designer Dani Dazey to turn her first L.A. home into a dreamy, cottagecore-inspired sanctuary Each space blends playful maximalism with cozy charm, from a bubblegum pink couch to a bath bomb-filled bathroom The design reflects Mulvaney's personal evolution, embracing 'dopamine décor,' vintage finds, and joyful self-expression in every she needed to design her first house, Dylan Mulvaney turned to designer and friend Dani Dazey to transform the empty rooms of her two-bedroom, two-bathroom Los Angeles home into a sophisticated sanctuary. From an excerpt of her new coffee table design book, The Maximalist: Coloful Interiors for Bold Living, Dazey writes of working with Mulvaney, 28, "With a little innovative design, this basic rental became a true reflection of my client. This project proves that home decor can be both an act of self-expression and self-preservation." In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the social media star and designer share how the private abode became a dreamy, cottagecore escape — beginning with them meeting in the most Hollywood way possible: through their shared management. 'We had the same manager, and we met the day before she posted her first video,' Dazey recalls. 'So I'd been cheering her along since day one.' The two instantly clicked, bonded by their bubbly, upbeat personalities and love for all things 'very girly, very colorful, cutesy,' according to Dazey. So when it came time to design the Paper Doll author's first home, her agency-mate was the obvious choice. 'It was a very emotional process, more so than other clients,' Dazey recalls. 'She was having this meteoric rise to fame and kind of finding herself as a woman in the public eye.' Cautious of what some may think of unnecessarily flamboyant decor, Mulvaney wasn't aiming for pointless blasts of feminine touches everywhere. 'Dylan didn't want to go for a super over-the-top girly space,' Dazey remembers. 'She really wanted it to feel like her first phase as a woman.' Her biggest inspirations? Miss Honey's cottage from the 1996 Matilda and Eloise's room from the 2003 Eloise at the Plaza — references that blend images of dreamy, retro femininity with charm and character. 'A lot of L.A. is new construction — it can feel cold,' Mulvaney says. 'I've always had an affinity for old Hollywood, colorful pops of pink, and pink is my favorite color of all time.' Ahead, we're taking a tour of the newly-designed cottagecore dream house — complete with decor details, personal touches, and the stories behind each cozy corner. Before any paint swatches were chosen or furniture was sourced, Mulvaney started with a feeling — and a few handpicked songs to match. 'It was a lot about how I was going to feel in this space,' she tells PEOPLE. 'I travel a lot for work, and I think L.A. and the industry can be kind of negative when it comes to mental health. So I wanted a place that felt like the safest, warmest, coziest vibe that there ever has been.' To capture that, she created a playlist for Dazey — a musical mood board, of sorts — filled with nostalgic, heartwarming tracks. 'One was 'Our House,' the demo with Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell,' Mulvaney explains. 'It's a song that just sounds like two lovers sitting at a piano in the Hollywood Hills, and it just makes me smile every time.' Other picks included 'Kiss Me,' 'Dance With Me,' 'Chiquitita,' 'Something Stupid' by Frank Sinatra, and plenty of Sufjan Stevens, creating a collection of throwbacks and soft, tender sounds that grounded the entire design process. For Mulvaney, the heart of the home begins with one bold choice: a bubblegum pink couch. 'I was really keen on a pink couch,' she says. 'We went to Joybird, and it has storage in the ottoman, which made me so happy — I'm such a hoarder. I like to hide everything under random closets and beds.' The practical-meets-playful piece anchors the living room, a space Dazey says was the trickiest — but ultimately most rewarding — to bring together. '[The living room] probably took the longest,' Dazey admits. 'There's just a lot going on in there — a bar cart, a chair area, a book stand. And the room itself has kind of an odd shape. But it might be the cutest out of all of them.' Still, landing on that pink couch wasn't without hesitation. 'Even some of the conversations we had early on were about her fear of going too girly because of what people online might say,' says Dazey. 'She was getting so much hate at the time, and I kept saying, 'You love pink — let's get the pink couch. Don't let outside perceptions stop you from creating your dream space.'' The space strikes a clever balance between fun and functional — a necessity, given that the house is a rental. 'We used peel-and-stick wallpaper, painted a half-wall with an accent, and even did a faux molding effect on the ceiling,' Dazey explains. 'All those little tricks added color and dimension without needing major renovations.' Across the room, formerly a dining nook now serves as Mulvaney's home office, complete with soft felt wall tiles for pinning her visual project notes. 'I'm super visual,' she says. 'Now I can map everything out right where I see it.' For Mulvaney, the bathroom had very few negotiables. 'I'm really into bubble baths,' she says. 'So we put a lot of effort into making it special — and the fact that it's a rental and we didn't break the bank feels kind of iconic.' The standout fixture is a clever three-tier dessert tray she repurposed to display edible-looking bath bombs from Lush Cosmetics — including her own custom scent, Late Bloomer. 'They sent me 100,' she says with a laugh. 'Now I get to pick one out like candy at the end of the day.' Inspired by Eloise and her time in The Plaza, the room is full of decadent touches that call for relaxation. 'If I'm having a hard day, I throw myself in the bath. I can process things, talk to myself, call a friend. It's my reset button,' she says. 'I really feel like my house puts rose-colored glasses on me — and I don't think that's a bad thing.' Mulvaney's home is a physical manifestation of her identity — layered, joyful and deeply personal. Dazey calls it 'maximalism with intention.' 'What I love about maximalism is that it's about self-expression,' Dazey says. 'It takes confidence to create a space that reflects who you are — not what's trending.' Her version of maximalist design doesn't mean clutter, though. 'There's still breathing room. You can mix prints and colors and power clash, but keep it strategic. It's about creating joy, not chaos.' That joy-first philosophy, which Dazey outlines in The Maximalist, aligned with Mulvaney's desire to embrace 'dopamine decor' — the idea that our spaces should literally lift our moods. 'It's harder and harder to find dopamine these days,' she says. 'So much of it comes from quick hits online, but for me, it's things like taking a bath, going to a garden, being with people I love. I wanted my home to feel like that kind of joy — something real and tangible.' Her bedroom, in contrast to the more energetic common areas, leans into quiet cottagecore. 'Once I transitioned, I finally allowed myself to lean into softer, feminine things,' she says. 'In college, I had this Western vibe because I didn't think I was 'allowed' to do cottagecore. But now, I'm giving myself the space to enjoy the decor I dreamed of as a kid.' That includes a 'wall of women' in her bedroom — a personal collage of inspirational female icons that Mulvaney handpicked and framed herself. 'Getting to wake up every day and see their faces is so special,' she says. The guest bedroom features a meaningful piece of art from a home Mulvaney once tried to buy. 'There was this picture above the bed that looked just like me,' she says. 'I didn't get the house, but I tracked down the artist and now it lives here — a little piece I got to bring with me.' From flea markets to Facebook Marketplace, many pieces were thrifted or upcycled — a testament to both women's creative problem-solving and Dazey's flair for accessible design. 'Dani made it all feel so collaborative,' Mulvaney says. 'There were no egos. Just two friends making something beautiful.' Excerpt from the new book, The Maximalist: Colorful Interiors for Bold Living (Abrams), by Dani Dazey Read the original article on People
Los Angeles Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Inside the colorful, over-the-top home of L.A.'s maximalist queen — and her fave tips
The dining room ceiling, adorned with an unexpected burst of orange floral wallpaper, breathes new life into the 100-year-old house. Similarly, the living room's coral, pink and green wallpaper, the den's bold blue and yellow stripes, and the red pattern-filled speakeasy lounge are delightful surprises that keep you guessing what's next. Standing beneath a glittering tiered chandelier in her pink 'cloffice,' designer Dani Dazey shares the essence of her colorful style: 'From the wallpaper to the artwork, my home is a reflection of me right now,' she explains. 'It's a personal and hip twist on traditional design.' Rather than embrace rustic farmhouse style or minimalist Midcentury Modern design as is often the case in Los Angeles, Dazey has taken the Highland Park home she shares with husband Phillip Butler and given it an over-the-top maximalist spin. Their home is proof, as Dazey outlines in her new book, 'The Maximalist: Colorful Interiors for Bold Living,' out May 20, that our homes should make us happy by reflecting who we are. In Dazey's case, that translates to bold color, lush textures and retro vibes. 'Throughout my career, my core message has been to empower people to be who they are and not be afraid to embrace the things they love,' said Dazey, 34. From the outside, the couple's home exudes a subtle charm. However, stepping through the front door unveils a captivating burst of vibrant color and Dazey's signature flower prints, all surprisingly harmonious. 'I worked as an apparel graphic designer and I applied all that to interior design,' she said. 'I know how to put all these things together and make them look nice.' The 'fifth walls,' as Dazey calls the ceilings, are painted bright orange, red and turquoise blue. Floors are lined with vibrant green checkerboard patterns and wall-to-wall carpet. Likewise, the lawn in the back is decked out in checkerboard artificial turf. The speakeasy lounge, accessible through a hidden door sliding bookcase, is a '70s-inspired sanctuary with a modular sofa, curtains and wallpaper in the same floral pattern. Underneath the living room ceiling, Dazey has created a plant-filled ledge that cascades over the dining room, adding a touch of nature to the vibrant spaces. Everyone — including the couple's two dogs, Franklin and Yuki, who luxuriate on a pink velvet daybed in the sun — is happy here. 'Living in a maximalist space brings me joy,' said Butler, who handles operations for Dazey's interior design business and their Airbnb and Peerspace rentals. 'Even just looking at the ceiling makes me happy.' Like the Madonna Inn, where the couple recently hosted their wedding, their home is 'fun and quirky and anything but traditional,' Dazey said. 'As a creative person, you get burned out by doing the same thing over and over again.' The couple discovered the 2,300-square-foot, two-story home on a 3-acre lot two years ago. Dazey said there wasn't a lot of interest in the house, as it featured an unusual floor plan with a separate apartment on the first floor with its own entrance. 'The house blew us away,' she said, 'but the strange floor plan confused us.' The house they purchased for $1.75 million was 'turnkey,' and Dazey had fun adding skylights to the beamed ceilings in the living room and redoing the kitchen to feel like an old Italian villa. The couple worked quickly over six months so that Dazey could share her projects on social media. 'Much of our work comes from social media so having a project to share was helpful. That's a big part of our job — creating these spaces.' Her efforts paid off. The entrepreneurial couple now rents their home, along with a pink California bungalow and a bungalow in Palm Springs, for celebrity photo shoots and music videos. (Janelle Monáe, Camille Cabello and James Marsden have all been featured in their rental homes.) It's a unique side hustle, and the couple's success is impressive. 'They are such fun, wacky rentals,' Dazey said. 'Between our Palm Springs Airbnb and L.A. photo shoots, we made $30,000 last month — our biggest month ever.' Added Butler: 'People tell us their kids love our houses.' The home's unconventional layout allows the couple to reside in the adaptable space downstairs while renting out the top floor for photo shoots. Following the recent fires in Los Angeles, they were able to provide housing for families in need on a monthly basis. 'It's been rewarding to be able to help in this way,' Dazey shared. Dazey grew up in Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains. Her parents were creative, encouraging Dazey and her sister to be 'colorful and engage in art and pursue' their passion. Not surprisingly, the family had a raspberry-colored kitchen. 'My mom just painted the cabinets in her condo bright yellow,' Dazey said. 'It's wacky. I appreciate it.' After studying fashion design, she made a name for herself in Los Angeles as a fashion designer for Dazey LA and, most recently, as an interior designer. She started her clothing line with $4,000. Over eight years it took off on social media and she eventually sold to stores including Anthropologie. 'There were a few years where it nearly grossed a million dollars in revenue,' she said. 'It helped me purchase the Palm Springs house.' Still, she is best known for her collaboration with drag performer and singer Trixie Mattel on the design of the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs.'Trixie's aesthetic is similar to mine,' Dazey said with a laugh. 'We both love bright colors and florals and retro design.' The collaboration opened doors for Dazey, including an opportunity to design her first collection of home textiles and wallcoverings for Spoonflower and a furniture line for Joybird, which are featured in her home. It also attracted clients who appreciate her fun-loving aesthetic. She has since worked for Andy Hurley of Fall Out Boy and TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney. 'I've been lucky to work for cool, interesting people,' Dazey said. 'I think that people with a quirky sense of style and taste are interesting and dynamic.' Despite her colorful interiors, Dazey knows what it's like to struggle in a sterile work environment. 'I used to work as an apparel graphic designer in a corporate office and didn't feel inspired as a creative person,' she said. 'When I went out on my own, I worked in coffee shops and I loved it.' Today, she works out of a wall-to-wall pink velvet alcove covered in floral pink wallpaper and dog hair. 'I've designed some office spaces since then and try to make offices feel like a living room,' she said. 'It can affect you creatively and inhibit your productivity. Now that I work from home, I love it.' When asked what it's like living with a maximalist, Butler said he trusts his wife's instincts. 'She went running with color when we got our first place together in Beachwood Canyon. It took a little arm twisting, but it all made sense when I saw it all come together. I learned to trust her process. There hasn't been a single project where it hasn't worked for me.' Dazey, having shifted her focus from fashion design to creating happy interiors, sees the two processes as deeply transformative. 'In my creative journey, whether it's fashion or interiors, I've discovered the power of self-expression. It's about defining who you are and sharing that with the world. The right outfit can change your entire day, just as the act of decorating your home can significantly impact your comfort, productivity and happiness. I love relaying that message — self-expression is more meaningful than aesthetics.' (Excerpted from 'The Maximalist: Colorful Interiors for Bold Living,' Abrams). The old one-two punch When mixing prints, I always like to think of a primary and secondary print. The primary is the main character print, which is more complex and illustrative. The secondary is the companion print — something less bold and usually a different scale. Get some plants already! A houseplant adds color and makes a space feel more homey without making any drastic changes to any of the walls. Plants breathe literal life into a space and help it feel complete. If your rooms don't have any greenery in them, get yourself to your local plant shop — stat! Make your home a gallery This house is bursting with my personal design — and it feels so good. People are often hesitant to display their own artwork, but I say use the walls of your home to broadcast your creativity. Stripes cut sweetness I designed some almost-old-fashioned floral wallpapers for this house, but they're often purposefully paired with a stripe. A strong, graphic pattern, like a stripe or a check, has the power to temper the sweetness of a floral-y-print. Double the fun Half walls abound in this home because I wanted to max out my opportunities for pattern and color play. Adding a half wall to a room in your home is a great way to start experimenting with design on a more complex level. Appreciate the bedroom set Matching bedroom sets have a very 1980s reputation (and not in a good way!), but if the furniture is cool, a coordinate set can be a smart strategy to help a maximalist bedroom feel more uniform. Reconsider wall-to-wall I am predicting a carpet comeback. People love rugs, so why not consider a completely carpeted room? Everything in design circles back around, and I think wall-to-wall is due to be done in a new way.
