There's something about Zooey Deschanel's vintage style that feels preppy, in the best way possible. As you might expect, this ideology is equally reflected in her Los Angeles home, specifically a 1938 Georgian Revival, affectionately named Park House. Alongside its 'twee' style, however, the home offers a blueprint for personality-driven design.
Let's start with the living room storage, for example. The whimsical, wallpapered space features a stunning arched, glass-fronted cabinet that isn't outshone by the other colors in their space.
Using an arched cabinet like this one from Amazon, Zooey and Jonathan turned their storage into a focal point. They beautifully mixed wood tones, cane textures, and sentimental accessories – moving away from sterile, hidden storage ideas. It's a celebration of those who live in the home.
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Shop the Deschanel-Inspired Edit
Just like Zooey’s cabinet, this has two spacious drawers built into the bottom portion, complete with sleek, brushed-gold ring pull hardware. It features a softly rounded arched top and double doors with tempered glass to showcase your treasures.
Inspired by Zooey’s cabinet, which transitions from glass display to hidden storage at the bottom, the Clementine cabinet features tempered glass up top for displaying items and a lower concealed cabinet section to tuck away clutter.
For a vintage-style twist on Zooey's look: This has the same split layout, double glass doors on the top to display your pieces, and rests above two built-in drawers at the bottom (for hidden storage). It's an antique alternative.
If you look closely at the image of Zooey’s cabinet (on the lower glass shelf), she has a light, rectangular woven cane box to store away some accessories. This is a close alternative and is chic enough to never be hidden away.
You may notice that Zooey has framed photos and prints that sit directly on the wooden shelves, layered alongside other objects. Using a deep frame (like this one) lets you replicate her shelf styling for just over $10.
The handcrafted scalloped edging and wooden handles give this basket so much character. It feels more like a decorative piece than simple storage. I'd happily use it all over the house, from corralling books in the living room to a glass cabinet shelf, like Zooey's.
With the right cabinet for your living room, you, too, can replicate Zooey's look without creating visual chaos. Designers note that the revival of the glass cabinet is all about reclaiming connection in our spaces, and this is what makes it so beautiful.
'Glass-fronted cabinets offer a way to display the things that make a home feel personal without actually having to 'put them out' on display where they become visual clutter,' notes Blanca Sanchez, the director of Halo Design Interiors.
'For a long time many interiors moved towards completely hidden storage with everything tucked away behind solid doors, and while this can create a clean look, it can also make rooms feel less connected to the people who live there. Glass cabinets bring back the idea of showing personality through carefully chosen objects, and my advice would be to treat a glass-fronted cabinet as a curated display rather than simply another storage space.'
When curating the accessories in your cabinet, Blanca says we should think practically.
The most effective displays have a balance of practical and decorative pieces. A living room display could mix books with artwork, photographs or objects that have sentimental value,' she says.
'The glass creates a sense of openness, but the cabinet itself keeps everything contained and prevents the room from feeling busy. They’re also useful because they allow people to enjoy items that might otherwise spend years hidden away in cupboards. A beautiful collection only adds character to a home if you can actually see it.' We're taking this from Zooey, who has already perfected the look for years.
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