I’m exactly the kind of person who finds home-renovation shows relaxing. I know renovations are never relaxing for the people who actually have to go through it, but just watching a kitchen get redone or an entire cottage get an update, it just makes me happy. I’m not a Brad Pitt-esque architecture geek or anything, but I appreciate an expensive, well-made home or mansion, even if I question the cost and the need for all of that sh-t. Anyway, Dakota Johnson covers the latest issue of Architectural Digest and I found her LA home to be a complete surprise. I’m surprised because I really love her taste in decor and in architecture. Does her home have too much wood? Yes. But otherwise, it’s gorgeous. I love the simplicity of her green and white kitchen (she even has simple white subway tiles), I love all of her old, halfway faded rugs. And I love all of the sh-t she’s collected over the years. You can see the full cover package here. Some highlights from the interview:
The LA story of her home: The house was built by architect Carl Maston, and Johnson bought the residence four years ago, the second one that her realtor showed her on the single day she went to see L.A. properties. “I was immediately drawn to how it was clean but also cozy. I thought, I’ll never want to sell this place.” She also liked the backstory: “Maston was buddies with Lautner and Neutra, and they’d all go to Musso & Frank’s together because there was a hostess that they were all in love with. Carl ended up marrying her, and this was the house they lived in.”
She bought it with her first Fifty Shades paycheck: She admits one reason the first major purchase she made with her salary from the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, which she started filming when she was 24, was a place to put down roots: “I thought it would be healthy to have a base. And, at the very least, have one place where you know your stuff is, as opposed to 10 places.”
All of her stuff: “I guess I’ve had a big life already.” On a single shelf in her ground-floor office, she has the following framed memorabilia: a seating card Patti Smith gave her with her phone number on it; a photograph of writer Hunter S. Thompson, who was a close friend of her father’s; a note from Hedren signed, “Love, Mormor,” which is “grandmother” in Swedish…The most surreal memento: a photograph from her appearance on Saturday Night Live’s 40th-anniversary show in 2015, where she’s surrounded by Taylor Swift, Derek Jeter, Sarah Palin, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and 50 Cent. “Isn’t that the craziest photo of all time?” … The David Hockney piece in the master bedroom was a gift from Griffith, and in a cabinet in her living room is a vinyl record collection, which she sheepishly admits to having recently alphabetized.
She redid the bathroom: Her other two requirements for the master bath were a big tub and two separate vanities. “Candle, book, and a salt bath, every night I can. Also, I think the key to a healthy relationship is double sinks.”
Her anchor: “With my job and the velocity at which my schedule can change, it’s important for me to have a place to go to and it be mine. Psychologically, I’m moored somewhere. This place is my anchor.”
I like how casual she is about being third-generation Hollywood royalty. Chris Martin certainly… goes for a certain type, I guess, although I prefer Dakota and her energy. I do wonder why she’s showing off her home because she is, in fact, looking to sell and what that means. Chris and Dakota are still together and there’s always talk about how they could get married or have a baby. I wonder if Dakota is looking to get a bigger home? Because as beautiful as her little place is, it does seem very much like her cool (and small-ish) bachelorette pad.
Photos courtesy of AD, Backgrid.
Without any shade whatsoever, I’m just looking at these and thinking how nice it must be to grow up and live your entire life in wealth and comfort, like it’s a novel or something. Yeah, yeah, I’m sure we all have sad days and all that, but that doesn’t negate the fact that when you are born into luxury and opportunity, your have a very different perspective on things and life in general.
I was thinking the same. Also, no shade. Just that it must be really nice to not worry so much about bills and rent and everyday stuff like that.
Same. I was just daydreaming a bit after seeing that lovely garden (I see some commenters below think it’s unkept- I guess, but it sort of fits her style), her pool in the afternoon sunshine and all that beautiful furniture. Especially now in these difficult times of quarantaine, it must be nice to have such a beautiful house to curl up in.
Yes indeed. Although if I could have a house anywhere it would be on the water. I really love her place though and she seems like an unpretentious, low key person. It suits her.
I totally agree RHOS. I’m a lawyer (not private practice) and a single mother and so much psychic energy is spent poring over my budget and bank statements… Between mortgage, food for 2 teens (my god, they can eat), health insurance premiums, college funds that are currently bleeding, I think about money all the time, and I’m one of the lucky ones. To have those worries disappear would be so life changing.
beautiful
I’m 28 and I’m so looking forward to buying my own house. A place that’s mine
I hope someday
I like her home and style.
Her home is so beautiful. Love the kitchen.
I was struck by how unkempt & messy her yard, gardens and pool were. It seemed really trashy outside. Inside was nice though; outside was a hot mess.
Agree! Her backyard looks so unloved! She has all the money in the world, why not hire a landscaper to fill in some of the balding grass spots and have actual flowers in her pots. I got the sense that she’s hardly in her backyard at all since she mentioned moving those delicate chairs and recently buying patio furniture. BUT STILL.
I’m guessing that this is why her yard looks more wild. I live in Cali and we are so draught prone that a lot of landscaping choices are made based on what conserves water. So lots of flowers and green green green are sort of passed over in favor of other looks.
I love her house! While it’s not my personal style, I do love that sort of renovated 60s modern, blended with the antiques. The green kitchen is great too.
While I’m sure it’s expensive, it’s not huge or at all pretentious, it looks like a comfortable, lived in house.
Love her and love her home! So beautiful.
It’s a beautiful picture. And I’m glad she can point to items and give a backstory. She’s growing up. But I can’t believe she completed anything close to what we’re seeing. If she did, I’m impressed. More likely she, her designer and architect had meetings over lattes about how she wants to be perceived lol. She’s a bit vapid, so let’s go modern mid-century for class and rich, warm and worn fabrics for depth. A bit of mystery? Crystals. The wood is in keeping with the house and its original architecture. She’d have been crazy to lose the main selling feature. Especially in LA.
She is adorable and her house is cute. I have periods where I get too busy and let my backyard fall into disrepair, but surely she can pay someone to tidy up a bit and plants some herbs.
She does seem rather likable and down to earth for growing up how she did. The house is cute as well and something I would want if I had a few million dollars hanging around and no guilt on spending my abundance.
My mother-in-law gets Architectural Digest, and I always get enraged by the excessive consumption and spending. That being said, I did click through to see the pictures because I find wood very calming and wanted to see what she’d done with it. Those walls are absolutely gorgeous!
You got to respect the wood.
LD
I really like her house, I like the masculinity of it while still having feminine touches.
I really like her home! I’m not a big fan of dark bedrooms, but it goes with the rest of the house.
My daughter just moved and her house is wood paneled, which she loves. Hers doesn’t have the mid century vibe, instead it feels quite 70s ski chalet with fondu. Everything except the bathroom is floor to ceiling wood, so she’s going with the boho/multi patterned look to brighten it up. I sent her this video for a little inspiration.
I’m with you, Kaiser. Articles about houses, before and after; renovation, floor plans, decor . . . are my porn.
I’d also recommend a website called “Hooked on Houses.”
I’m going to look at that website,thanks.
Just now started to watch a marathon of shows on HGTV called You Live in What..so far I’ve seen people living in converted barns,mills,various industrial buildings and my favorite-converted firehouse.So enjoyable.
I’m always jealous of American houses and Americans in the suburbs how they can live in those beautiful houses and places. my wish is to live there one day.
I’m swooning over that bathroom! 😍
Love her house so much!
The house is lovely and looks so comfortable and unpretentious. It’s the most interesting thing about her – she seems so bland and boring. If not for her connections, I don’t see how she ever would have made it big.