Celebrity hair stylist Robert Vetica’s home: A twist on tradition

Inside the cottage, bits of Hollywood glamour shine through. Vetica plays the Steinway piano in front of a picture window with drapes in a metallic herringbone weave. More shimmers of silver and gold come in the bent steel and bronze stools by Sami Hayek. The sofa is a 1960s modern Swedish piece, recovered for the third time. The wingback chair in the corner is upholstered in black velvet. The slab in front of the fireplace is a piece of polished quartz.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Under the arch separating living room from dining room, Vetica stands by a 1950s photograph by Lillian Bassman. “Her work inspired me,” he says. ‘She, Avedon and Irving Penn made me want to be a hairdresser.”  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The arch was reshaped to give the home a more contemporary feel. Working with interior designer Michelle Workman, Vetica refinished the secretary in white lacquer to brighten the space. The legs of the gray velvet dining room chairs were painted to match.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

A sparkling three-tiered chandelier from Horchow hangs over the dining table. “Horchow and Z Gallerie have great accessories,” interior designer Workman says. “They are always very fun and whimsical and cheap.”  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

A custom bookshelf and desk transformed what had been a bedroom into an office for Vetica’s husband, Giorgio Vetica, a feng shui practitioner. One of Yves Saint Laurent’s bookshelves in Paris inspired Giorgio to create tranquillity in his office through the careful display of books, pictures, candles and accessories. “Clutter creates confusion in the mind,” he says. “We need beauty to inspire us.”  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Friend Dayna Zegarelli joins Giorgio and Robert Vetica in the kitchen, which was doubled in size by expanding into the adjoining laundry room. Sami Hayek designed the kitchen, including the cabinets and the movable island. “I wanted something practical for cooking and entertaining, “ Robert said. “Modern, but not too modern.” A den and TV room -- a separate space that was linked to the kitchen during remodeling -- is off to the left.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The den and TV room has more bent steel seating by Sami Hayek. The space opens to a lushly landscaped outdoor living area.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Giorgio Vetica pets his German shepherd, Uffa, in his Los Angeles backyard. The wisteria growing over the lounging and dining area, Vetica says, “must be 30 years old.” The salt water pool is surrounded by garden walls painted blue; bamboo was planted for additional privacy.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Gerbera daisies float in a bowl atop the dining room table outside.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Looking back toward the house: Dayna Zegarelli and Giorgio Vetica on the back deck. In the foreground: a hand-woven palm and root rug.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

A fusion of styles, inside and out, can be seen at the Los Angeles home of celebrity hairstylist Robert Vetica and his husband, Giorgio Vetica.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

A lounging pod from the L.A. store Maison Bertet.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The home’s original driveway was broken up as part of the landscape’s makeover.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Inside a garage converted into an office, Vetica prepares 15 wigs for an advertising shoot. Because he travels more than half the year for work, Vetica treasures his moments at home. “We realized that yes, maybe it didn’t have everything we wanted at the time but with time, we can make it our dream home,” recalls Vetica, who bought the house 10 years ago. “That’s what has happened.”

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