Standing tall among the modest bungalows of Los Angeles’ westside, this contemporary two-story blockhouse attracted the new homeowners with its expansive rooms, modern appointments and abundance of light. But the ubiquitous white and “greige” palette reflected none of the ebullience of a young couple expecting their first child.  With the clock ticking down on month seven, we embarked on creating a warm and inviting nest for the burgeoning family that includes two feisty cats and a sweet pup.   As we happily embraced the client’s receptivity to bold color, the vast, generic spaces became intimate and interesting with the addition of patterned textiles, richly-hued rugs, vibrant paint and tile, new and vintage furniture, unique abstract art and perhaps the pièce de résistance, a whimsical, hand-painted mural in the lovingly-adorned nursery welcoming the newest family member to her now delightfully transformed home. (photography by Michele Thomas)