Designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano in her Laguna Beach home.
Photo: Courtesy of Ohara Davies-Gaetano

Office Hours: Ohara Davies-Gaetano’s Home Work Space in Laguna Beach

The designer’s Southern California office isn’t so much a study as “a pretty room that I work in”

Designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano says her home office isn’t so much a study as “a pretty room that I work in” nestled inside her Laguna Beach residence. From here, she crafts extremely personal spaces that are always sophisticated, timeless, and a reflection of her clients’ lives. But to execute at this level, Davies-Gaetano needs “a space that’s calming and reconnects me with what gives me inspiration and drive.”

Since she grew up in a family of artists in New York, art also plays a major role in the home office she’s created for herself, as it inspires and informs her aesthetic. Galerie spoke with Davies-Gaetano to learn more about the details of her personal work space in Southern California.

A gallery wall in Ohara Davies-Gaetano’s home work space features drawings by her father, grandfather, brother, and herself. Photo: Courtesy of Ohara Davies-Gaetano

ARTFUL ATMOSPHERE

“I surround myself with art. I just hung a small Ron Gorchov painting that my brother gave me a few years ago. I love the shape and form of his canvas and the way it moves on the surface. Above the desk is a wall with a collection of drawings by me, my dad, grandpa, and brother. It’s an homage to my family, and it reminds me that we’re all driven and passionate. There’s even a piece of paper I crawled on top of and tore when I was just one that my dad framed. It reminds me to always challenge my artistic side.”

EARLY RISER

“I get bogged down in the daily operations of running a business. So I like to start my day when everyone else is in my house is still asleep—sometimes even before the sun comes up, and I watch the sunrise as I work.”

A Ron Gorchov artwork hangs above an antique Louis Vuitton trunk. Photo: Courtesy of Ohara Davies-Gaetano

COLOR PALETTE

“I’m relatively neutral. The only color I have is an antique Louis Vuitton trunk I use to store things I need to hide away. I have a lot art books, design books, architecture books.”

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ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

“I sit at a big farm table made out of a reclaimed piece of wood with a Thomas Pheasant chair from Baker that used to be in my dining room. It’s really comfortable. I use as much natural light as possible and try not to rely on overhead light. But there’s an Italian blown-glass chandelier above as well.”

Davies-Gaetano in her Laguna Beach home. Photo: Courtesy of Ohara Davies-Gaetano

TECH TALK

“I’m on a MacBook Pro and iPhone. I don’t have a landline, because I’m so mobile. I have a little stereo so I can listen to music, which is important to me. I create a daily written to-do list that gets chucked in the wastebasket if I make it through.”

DAILY DOSE

“Usually, I’m constantly on the go. It’s nice to be home and not have that feeling you have to be somewhere and take advantage of these daily rituals. I burn Ciré Trudon candles and have fresh flowers. I drink my daily tea out of beautiful Japanese ceramics. I’m a sucker for rituals.”

Cover: Designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano in her Laguna Beach home.
Photo: Courtesy of Ohara Davies-Gaetano

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