Header: Clemens Kois
High up in the Hollywood Hills, overlooking the historic Zappa House, sits a guest home with a serious musical pedigree. Known as the Zappa Nest, this space was once part of the compound built by American guitarist Frank Zappa in the 1970s. Today, it has a new purpose as a retreat for visiting musicians to live and record.
While the architecture and furniture nod to history, the real energy of the renovation comes from a specific design choice: the bold use of Tonester Paints. This project marks a major step for the Florida-based brand, as it features their first-ever bespoke exterior paint job along with a complete interior colour overhaul.
Setting the mood with colour first
The revival of the Nest was led by owner Chris Behlau and mid-century expert Lars Triesch, the founder of Original in Berlin. Triesch had total freedom to design the space, and his goal was to build an environment that would spark creativity for artists during their sessions. Instead of picking out furniture and then finding a paint to match, he flipped the process.
The deep, rich pigments from Tonester became the starting point for the entire look. Triesch used these colours to decide the rhythm of the house. The specific shades dictated which materials were used and how the furniture was arranged. A mix of custom colours made just for the Zappa Nest, along with popular shades from Tonester’s current collection, was used to give each room a specific feeling. These colours were chosen because they shift and change throughout the day, depending on the natural light, giving the home a living, breathing character.
The ceiling strategy
One of the defining details of the Zappa Nest is how the paint is applied. The design team followed a key piece of advice from Tony Piloseno, the founder of Tonester:
“A white ceiling cuts the room in half. Color on the ceiling brings everything together. It wraps you, it balances the light, and it gives the room a vibe you can actually feel.”
In the Nest, the colours wrap around the visitor. By painting the ceilings to match or contrast with the walls, the team created a cosy, enclosed vibe. This technique balances the light in the room and turns the architecture from a neutral box into an energised space. Against this saturated backdrop, the sculptural mid-century furniture and collectable design pieces stand out clearly. The walls do not just sit in the background; they actively support the mood of introspection and experimentation that musicians need.
A new exterior for a new era
While the interior creates a specific mood for recording, the transformation begins before one even enters the building. This project represents the only time Tonester has created a custom exterior paint project. The outside of the home now reflects the same creative spirit as the inside, signalling to guests that they are entering a place made for art.
The Zappa Nest is a clear example of how colour can drive design. By using Tonester Paints to lead the visual language, the team turned a historic building into a modern haven for artists. The project respects the legacy of Frank Zappa by keeping the spirit of the home weird, wonderful, and creative. It proves that when you take risks with colour, from the exterior walls to the ceilings, you create a space that people can truly feel.
Source: v2com-newswire
