Celebrity Homes: The LA Abode of Samira Wiley & Lauren Morelli

Step inside the home of Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli. The LA home has been beautifully designed to merge their two contrasting styles, by renowned designer Stefani Stein.

When Samira first moved into Lauren’s home in 2016, it felt like Samira was living in Lauren’s space, instead of the home being co-created.  Three years later, recently married and ready to start a family, the couple decided to find a new home—one that reflected both of their design sensibilities.

But there was a catch: Wiley had no idea what her sensibilities were. In an interview with Architectural Digest, she explained: “My previous places were pretty spare; I never really did anything with them,” says the Emmy-winning The Handmaid’s Tale and Orange Is the New Black actress. She added that she used to spend more time living in hotel rooms than in her former New York City apartment. “I don’t think I understood the importance of interior design, so a big part of the experience for me was trying to figure out what I liked.”

With the help of Stein, who the couple already knew and trusted, Wiley discovered she gravitated toward earthy hues, laid-back vibes, and certain elements of classic East Coast style. Morelli, on the other hand, was all about bright colours, bold patterns, and feminine motifs.

However, having a space without colour was not going to be an option. Ultimately the couple needed to evolve and invest in a home to suit them both. This new look was described as California meets the Cotswolds.

Indeed, the home displays hints of the English countryside. This is cleverly combined with more fresh urban touches, and a colour palette that’s strong but not loud. with deep blues and mustards softened by pastels and neutrals. “It was a process to figure out our aesthetic as a couple, because we gravitated toward different things,” says Morelli, who gave birth to the couple’s first child, a daughter named George, in April. “But we agreed that if one of us really cared about something, we’d go for it.”

A gorgeous layout

Something they both immediately loved about the property they purchased—a renovated 3,700-square-foot, two-story house with fairly traditional bones—was the layout of the ground floor. All of the common areas were distinct but connected.

The ground floor, to this day, is a sort of enfilade that leads from the main parlour by the entrance into a dining room and then into a kitchen with a breakfast nook and another sitting room. “When I first walked in, it felt really open. One room was connected to the other, and I imagined our friends hanging out there,” Wiley says. “We love throwing little get-togethers; it’s something that we pride ourselves on.”

These days, they do most of the hosting outdoors, at their poolside patio. This is cozily furnished with vintage Italian rocking chairs, a wingback sofa with bleached teak legs, a marble coffee table from the 1960s, and assorted ottomans and side tables.

It’s a home that is perfect for indoor and outdoor entertainment.

Via