Lara Sanderson and Jeff Sanderson wanted to avoid hiring an interior decorator. The 11,000-square-foot house they had recently purchased on Mercer Island in Washington desperately needed a total overhaul. The couple felt underwhelmed by their internal designer meetings. They wanted an artist. They turned to Kelly Wearstler.
Wearstler is the center of the decorating world for the casual observer. Many hailed her as the heir apparent of Hollywood’s grand Regency style and are a master of its glitz, glamour, and glamor. She’s a free-spirited person who hasn’t achieved her success by being safe. She has confidence in her creative abilities, which allows her to make decisions based solely on instinct and eye. Wearstler says, “I am not an intelligent designer.” “I’m a very emotional designer. I take what my clients say to heart.
The Sandersons moved to a house in 1946 clad with split-cedar siding, clinker brick and 11 hundred miles north of Wearstler’s Los Angeles studio. The Sandersons wanted to enter a world that was equal parts Parisian gem box, scholar retreat, and natural marvel.
“I’m a very emotional designer. I listen to my clients and take their words to heart.
Jeff and Lara have been married for four years. They share a wide range of interests. Jeff was educated at Harvard and Princeton and joined Microsoft in 1984. He stayed there for 17 years before leaving to teach middle school math for several years. He is a music manuscript collector and plays the piano when he has time. Lara, who trained as a dancer and grew up in an artistic environment, changed careers from dancing to politics. The couple launched Sanderson Ventures two summers ago to support small businesses in their local communities.
The Sandersons’ house reflects their passions, with an art-filled lounge, a music-filled room with pages filled by Beethoven and Mahler, and a large, warm kitchen.
The kitchen island is brass, the cabinets are ceramic oak, and the countertops are marble.
The double-height library is a room that seems to have been imagined into existence. The ceiling of a small bedroom upstairs was punched to create the double-height library. Wearstler created the massive partner’s desk and the spiral staircase with brass railings. Wearstler says, “That spiral staircase got so many loves,” who worked with first a metalworker then “the guy that gave it the perfect patina.” It was like adding jewelry to the room.
See Inside This Dramatic Washington Home
The Sandersons wanted their home to reflect them and show the passion and work of those who worked on it. From the stonemasons that set the marble floor in the entrance hall to the artists who painted the wallpapers by hand. Jeff says: “If those who build your house have a wonderful soul, this spirit will be carried on in the house by their workmanship.”
Wearstler is a person who is passionate at every moment. Lara describes the entrance hall as the “Kelly special” because Kelly has “infinite creativity.” Jeff says, “Shazam!” when asked about its first impression on visitors.
Lara’s earthier sense of style complements Wearstler’s exuberance. The designer has created a guest bedroom in a neutral color palette with a large pattern of concentric circles splashed on the walls and ceiling. The cross-section of tree trunks inspired this.
Kelly Wearstler’s Sferra linens are used to dress a custom-made bed for a guestroom. The vintage side tables and hand-painted wallpaper are by JF Chen. The light fixture was found at a Paris flea market.
Mikkel Vang
It is no different in the dining room. The client and decorator have created a truly unique space. Wearstler says, “I had never done a dining room in purple before.” She made the palette on Lara’s behalf and purchased the Venetian glass pendants from a New York dealer. She adds, “I love being challenged by my customers.” There are millions of combinations to get to the perfect solution. The exploration is what makes it so enjoyable.
The sense of discovery did not stop for the Sandersons once their house was finished. Lara says, “Jeff walks around with me, and we say, ‘I cannot believe it’s that beautiful.’ When something is designed well, it has harmony, but there’s also something that makes you feel off-balance. It stimulates the intellect.”
