How Did Nina Dobrev Renovate Her 1920s Spanish-Style Home? | Open Door | Architectural Digest

TL;DR

Nina Dobrev refreshed her 1920s Spanish-style home while preserving its original architecture and choosing organic, aged-looking materials. She and her boyfriend painted the mustard-colored exterior white, removed a kitchen wall, and combined reclaimed European terracotta, butcher block, honed dolomite, green cabinets, and an Italian ILVE stove. Read on to discover the design decisions behind the home’s distinctive balance of lightness, texture, and bold contrast.

Transcript

well hello a.d i'm nina welcome to my home hey maverick say hi to everyone at home watching this is my puppy maverick and this is my spanish style home so it was really important to me because the house is from the 1920s i wanted to pay respect to the original architecture and the spanish style influence and even though we were redoing certain thin... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫡 Nina prioritized respect for the original architecture while updating her Spanish-style home.
• 😒 The use of organic materials and reclaimed elements adds an authentic and lived-in feel.
• 🐝 Nina's kitchen showcases a mix of textures and materials, such as terracotta tiles, butcher block counters, and a honed dolomite slab.
• 👾 The green cabinets bring a touch of French-inspired charm to the space.
• 🫅 The house features original details like crown molding and 1920s tiles in the bathroom.
• 🎥 Nina's home reflects her love for movies, with a dedicated movie room adorned with a handmade charcoal artwork.
• 👾 The outdoor areas of the home provide a slice of heaven and feature entertaining spaces and a pool.
• 🏋️ Nina's gym, converted from a pool house, showcases stylish oak weights and neon signs.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Nina Dobrev renovate her 1920s Spanish-style home?

Nina Dobrev updated the house while respecting its original architecture and Spanish-style influence. She selected organic materials that could have belonged in the home before, preserving historic character while giving the property a facelift.

Q: Why did Nina Dobrev paint the exterior of her home white?

The exterior was originally a yellowy mustard color commonly associated with Spanish-style homes, but Nina had always wanted it white. She and her boyfriend painted the entire exterior themselves, a project that took about a month.

Q: Why did Nina Dobrev make the fireplace a statement piece?

Nina preserved the fireplace’s existing detail but wanted it to contrast with the home’s mostly light and airy fabrics, linens, and carpets. Its bold appearance adds texture and moodiness to the lighter surroundings.

Q: How did Nina Dobrev create an open-concept kitchen?

A wall originally divided the dining room from the kitchen, so Nina removed it during the previous year’s renovation. She added an island where she could cook and entertain while continuing to talk with friends.

Q: What materials did Nina Dobrev use in her kitchen?

The kitchen combines reclaimed terracotta floor tiles from Europe, an imperfect subway-style backsplash, smooth butcher-block counters, and a honed dolomite slab. Nina chose these contrasting surfaces because she enjoys mixing materials and wanted texture, durability, and visual appeal.

Q: What inspired Nina Dobrev’s green kitchen cabinets?

Nina recalled seeing a beautiful French kitchen from the south of France on Instagram and becoming obsessed with it. She used green cabinets to bring that inspiration into her own kitchen.

Q: Why did Nina Dobrev choose an ILVE stove?

Nina selected an ILVE stove manufactured in Italy and had it shipped from there. Although it is newly constructed, its brass details and knobs give it a vintage character, allowing it to function as both an appliance and an art piece.

Q: How did Nina Dobrev keep the range hood from obstructing the open kitchen?

A conventional hood would have hung down and blocked views across the newly opened space. After researching alternatives, Nina chose a flush-to-the-wall hood from the Canadian company Zephyr, which removes odors and fumes without compromising the sightline.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Nina's home is a Spanish-style house from the 1920s, and she wanted to pay respect to the original architecture while giving it a facelift.

• She painted the exterior white, contrasted by bold statement pieces like a standout fireplace.

• Nina renovated the kitchen to create an open concept space with a large island, mixing materials like reclaimed terracotta tiles and butcher block counters.