Nestled in a valley in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles sits a home so graceful it looks as if it was plucked from the English countryside. The unassuming yet flawless exterior blends in perfectly with the lush hills, and the classic green Mercedez-Bens in the driveway completes the picture. The house is easy to miss in the midst of sprawling mansions, but step inside and you’ll find it’s a breed apart.
The decor represents the kind of of rustic simplicity that looks easy to achieve but is hard to pull off. Owners James Rosenfield, a real estate developer and Country Mart proprietor, and wife Heather Whitney Rosenfield, co-owner of Poppy Stores, have curated their home with exquisite taste. Relying on quality pieces and natural, organic accents — including French antiques, George Smith arm chairs, hand printed textiles, wool blankets and a set of vintage leather suitcases — they’ve created a space for easy, joyful living.
While great materials pervade the home, so also does great literature. Every room contains stacks of books or bursting-at-the-seams bookshelves with first and early editions of classic literature, from J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in The Rye to Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. And hidden on a top shelf in the living room you’ll find a few holiday gifts: books beautifully wrapped in Kraft paper and tied with a simple ribbon.
The Rosenfields, who live with their two-year-old son Alden and big brothers Finley and Truman, are known for their annual holiday party complete with roaring fireplaces, hearty food, great company and a delicious glass of eggnog greeting you at the door. With Thanksgiving around the corner, here’s to celebrating the season with simplicity, style and heart!
The Rosenfields (above) with one of James’ classic Mercedes-Benz. The front door is decorated with a lush pine wreath in honor of the holiday season.
The marble dining room table is flanked by vintage leather dining chairs (above left). The home is always decorated with simple flower arrangements throughout — peonies are a favorite — in vintage flower containers.
The living room coffee table — a large ottoman covered with a wool blanket — is a perfect reflection of the couple’s laid-back style (above). Large windows let in an abundance of natural light, and the fireplace keeps the rustic wooden floors warm.
Books are not only held in bookshelves, but are placed around the house for everyone — including their children — to peruse (above).
Son Alden takes a quick run from the kitchen through the living room (above).
Wool blankets are found throughout the home, from the orange Hermes blanket on top of the arm chair (above, right) to the classic tartan plaid blanket covering the ottoman.
The room next to the kitchen (above) has a comfortable leather couch and large windows with a view of the lush backyard. The fireplace makes it a cozy nook for an afternoon of reading.
No plastic toys! Heather keeps a selection of natural toys from her store Poppy around the house for son Alden to play with (above, left). The handmade look blends in perfectly with the organic feel of the home.
Son Alden in an outfit from his mom’s store (above). The sprawling backyard contains easy wooden furniture and chairs for a quick lunch or casual evening cocktail parties.
• Ulrica Wihlborg.
All photographs by Ulrica Wihlborg ©2013. You can visit Poppy Stores, which Heather co-owns with friend Jenny Belushi, at the Brentwood Country Mart, the Marin Country Mart or at www.PoppyStores.com.
