If you haven’t already heard of Vanessa De Vargas or her interior design services, shop, or blog (all named Turquoise after her favorite color), believe me, you are going to be hearing much more from her. Why? Because the girl is amazingly talented, with a luxurious, yet accessible style. She counts Kelly Wearstler, Jonathan Adler, and Betsy Burnham among the designers that inspire her, and their influence is evident in her love of high contrast, vintage pieces made new (especially if they are Asian-inspired), bold shots of color, and an overall sophisticated, happy vibe, but her approach is her own.

At the top of this post: a vignette from her Venice, CA showroom on Abbot Kinney (can’t wait to visit there someday), including four dining room chairs ($2400 for the set), Saarinen-style table, metallic wallpaper, and eclectic equestrian accessories, presided over by a bold turquoise pagoda-style chandelier. Above, the entryway in Vanessa’s own home (which has been featured on HGTV’s Small Space, Big Style) sets an elegant but youthful tone, featuring an oversized elaborate mirror, ottomans covered in funky fabric, and commanding coral lamps, all contrasted against her signature warm gray wall color.

From the showroom, this vintage bamboo and cane armchair ($500), has been completely redone with fresh coats of black lacquer and new blue-velvet tufted upholstery. Many (if not all) of the pieces in the Turquoise showroom are vintage items that have been “saved” and re-worked to unveil their inherent lovely qualities. For one-of-a-kind pieces in good to excellent shape, the prices are truly accessible and include vintage and mid-century furniture, art and accessories. Turquoise also regularly hosts events in the space for designers to showcase their wares (and thus launch their careers).

Another way Vanessa differentiates from the pack is by bringing her design process out in the open. It is so interesting to see how talented minds work and Vanessa enjoys sharing the evolution of her projects on her blog. Pictured above (left) is a poster that inspired the entire look (presented on the inspiration board to the right) for a client’s office project currently underway. The photo below is a sneak peak of the progress so far. I love seeing how the ideas translate from object to concept to implementation. I can’t wait to see the finished room—and what further greatness will come from Turquoise!

All photos from Turquoise blog or website.