While searching for a new home, some people look for peace and quiet. For Hollywood power couple Nanachka Khan and Julia Bicknell, the vision was even more uproarious: “We’re having a lot of fun,” laughs Khan, the film’s director. Always be a maybe And multiple string constructor including situation, Don’t trust B—- in apartment 23 and Fresh off the boat. Khan and Bicknell, whose credits include the EP Yellow vests and midnight club, He worked with realtor friends Heather T. Roy and Lerka Bosnak of Douglas Elliman, who showed them a house still under construction. Khan and Bicknell knew immediately that the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom home in the Lake Hollywood neighborhood was exactly what they were looking for.
The couple was keen to infuse their creative spirit into the home through its interior design. “We wanted it to be functional and welcoming without sacrificing style,” says Khan. Comedian Ali Wong raved about her experience with interior designer Martha Mulholland, who, coincidentally, was a friend of Khan’s sister-in-law. “I felt like I was divided,” Khan says.
Mulholland, who has a background in art history and historic preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, worked in visual merchandising for Gucci and Tom Ford before moving into interior design. “It taught me to focus on creating experiences that are memorable, immersive and beautiful but also meaningful, so I rely heavily on narrative,” she explains. “What I do is determined by my clients and the space.” Her work revolves around unique antique and antique finds, furniture, accessories, and lighting sourced from local artisans and makers, rich paints, and interesting wallpaper. “I like to share what I’m passionate about, which is educating my clients to make sure they have a personal connection to the objects in their homes,” she explains.
Mulholland wanted to bring out the warmth and creativity she saw in Khan and Bicknell. “It was clear from their answers to my questionnaire, their groups and their obsessions – like big heads, Dolly Parton, puzzles and cocktail culture – that they are fun, lively people,” says Mulholland. “I wanted to give them a home that felt like them: comfortable, happy and welcoming.” Mulholland suggested that they tend to color. “They really liked the idea of having different colors in each room,” she recalls. “So we definitely took a ‘more is more’ approach!”
Mulholland’s biggest hurdle was knowing the purpose of each room. See what the dining room is now. “This is the first space you see when you walk into the home,” Mulholland points out. “They love having people over. So we wanted it to be a bit of a wow moment.” Clients and interior designers had lined up on yellow in the planning stages; Mulholland chose historical paper from UK-based Adelphi Wall Hangings. “I liked the idea that it dates back to the 1920s, and we’re now seeing a little bit of Art Deco influence in the design,” says Mulholland. She paired it with balanced double Florian Schulz pendants, a long oval dining table, and, at Khan and Bicknell’s request, chairs with red cushions. Mulholland washed the walls of a double-height room with a large fireplace and a bay window painted a dark green. Floor-to-ceiling custom bookcases, a curved antique sofa, a pair of deep swivel chairs, and a playful bar cabinet emphasize this as an updated version of a traditional library, perfect for lounging, reading, and enjoying a cocktail.
She gave the screening room a jolt of electricity, paying homage to classic movie palaces, replacing the beige color scheme with bright red seating, brushed gold accents, and playful wallpaper highlighting famous Los Angeles landmarks. Tapping into Khan and Bicknell’s enthusiasm, she layered the home with playful touches, from the Fornasetti cocktail wallpaper that brightens the powder room, to the large collection of brightly colored furniture clustered around the pool to the mural, hand-painted by Bicknell, that leaps across the walls of their daughter’s room. “It’s a lively, lively home and they love sharing it with others,” says Mulholland. “It’s very uplifting and very, very uplifting for them.”
