Inside the home of... Taiana Giefer

Few could fail to be impressed by the beautifully designed home of artist and former model Taiana Giefer. Nestled in the beautiful countryside surrounding Santa Barbara in California, her residence is a contemporary, tranquil space filled with her signature felt tapestries, exclusively available via online interiors and lifestyle focused concept store, &You. After moving in back in 2000, the property has undergone three rounds of renovations with the help of Ferguson-Ettinger Architects.

"We first opened up the kitchen and living room to create an open-floor plan," says Giefer. "We added height and abstraction to the roof line and placed glass panels wherever we could to showcase the spectacular views. The thing I love the most about my home is its tranquillity; it truly is a sanctuary."

From the roof designed to look like a flying carpet to the airy atrium with vistas of the mountains, the Giefer residence is a solid eyeful.

"The view from the atrium is one of the most magical vantage points of our family home. Set under a jacaranda tree, the atrium acts as a grounder, centring us and reminding us that we built our home on sacred land that came long before us. Glass felt like the best way to honour the surroundings we find ourselves in, showcasing the expansive views of mountain, land and sea. The photograph by Brian Hodges features indigenous men during a Sing Sing Festival in Papua New Guinea."

“Conception is the first tapestry that I created. A sister piece can be found via &YOU. This space is the first thing you see entering our home, so it was crying out for a showpiece! It’s tricky to find the right artwork in such a modern room, so I designed this tapestry to bring warmth, colour and vibrance while still with a sense of modernity."

"As we spend most of our time in the kitchen, we made it the central focus of the house and it’s also where everyone wants to be. We opened up all the walls, so from the stove you have views of the atrium, the living room, the dining room and our garden. A favourite feature is the custom built-in knife rack to the front of the stove top."

"We like to keep our bedroom clean and simple, keeping the focus on rest and tranquillity. The Shoji screens run throughout the house, gently defusing the light when needed. The tapestry to the left is a new style releasing in 2021. The white central showpiece “Her” is the second tapestry I ever created, it’s close to my heart so I keep it close to me, guiding us into sleep state. We rotate objects throughout the room for little flares of character."

"The picture you can see here, 'Soul Stance' from the Tom Blake Collection, is one of the first documents of surf and we wanted to make it the centre of attention. The black marbled counters are mixed with wood accents and feel modern yet soft."

"This is my furry companion Dyl'n and I cruising to the garden for some much-needed play time. Our roofline was inspired by a flying carpet; we wanted to de-square the original house and add height to the inside space to showcase the harmony with nature. Most of the credit goes to the architects Fernuson-Ettinger Architechts Inc for their innovation."

"This is the exterior of our guest house, designer Paul Tuttle’s original office and considered a historic landmark. The sculpture is by German artist Gabriele Schnitzenbaumer. We encourage playfulness and discovery throughout the house, placing sculpture, art and object where you least expect it."

"This is same guest house from a different angle. Maybel, our dog, is another of our furry companions!"

"Some of my studio details... I am a collector of earthly objects with subtle tones and wild structures, I like to showcase them on the shelves around me as I work. I’m obsessed with nature’s ability to showcase organised chaos, subtle colours and shading. The painting is by John Rapp, the sculpture by Beautiful Nomad , and the basket by Christine Adcock. I carved the wooden faced sculptures myself."