Chic in LA: Madeline Stuart
by habituallychic
03 . 31 . 10
I know some of you are probably over my trip to LA so I promise I’m going to try to wrap it up soon but I met so many wonderful designers and store owners that I can’t help but want to share them all with you! One person who stood out and whom I could have spent all day chatting with was über chic interior designer Madeline Stuart. It didn’t hurt that her office was drop dead gorgeous too!
I love this photo of Madeline because I think it illustrates her fun personality and great sense of style. She’s also extremely intelligent when it comes to design and I think her floor to ceiling bookshelves might have something to do with it! Her husband, Steve Oney, is a writer who authored the talk of the town story in LA about the con artist/interior designer Craig Raywood. The story actually came up as a topic of conversation quite a few times on my trip! You can read part one in the November 2008 issue of Los Angeles magazine online and part two in the December 2008 issue online. It’s definitely worth it!
Madeline Stuart and her staff recently moved into this office on La Cienega and wanted to make it clear that they had not completely unpacked and things weren’t perfect but they looked pretty fabulous to us! You also have Madeline to thank for the first movie version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! She was too modest to tell us this herself but someone else we met informed us that Madeline had read the book and pitched it to her director father, Mel Stuart. She also appeared in the film. How cool is that?!
Inspiration boards are very popular with creative types and I loved checking out what was tacked to hers!
I loved all the stacks of books and objects in her personal office and throughout the the rest of the office as well!
She has space for even more inspiring images so I think this is only the beginning for the board!
The back wall was already mirrored when Madeline moved into the space so she decided to have her built in bookshelves installed in front of it. I’ve seen the backs of bookshelves papered and painted but never mirrored. I actually love this idea and will be filing it away as an idea for a future project!
On the other side of Madeline’s office is this stunning Chinoiserie screen and beautiful lavender settee. The color combination was even more stunning in person!
I think it would be very relaxing to sit at the desk and stare at that screen all day, in between working of course! 
Even the bathrooms were chic! The ladies room was papered in a salmon pink grasscloth and the woodwork and shutters were painted to match.
The mirrored wall extended the tiny space as well!
The men’s room was decorated in brown grasscloth. I love that she painted the ceiling and vanity base in matching brown paint. It also makes this tiny space appear larger.
It’s very hard to photograph powder rooms and bathrooms but I had get a shot of these rust look sculptures on the vanity. They add to the masculine feeling of the men’s room.
This isn’t the best photo I’ve ever taken but I wanted to show you the conference room. The walls are upholstered in linen and I am wondering if the mirror was original or brought in later. I forgot to ask. I really loved all the details that you would find in a home.
In the hallway outside the conference room were these framed letters of the alphabet.
The entry included this beautiful artwork and chairs. The flowering branches and flowers throughout the office added to the welcoming atmosphere in the office. 
I thought this white tableau was especially beautiful as is the white sculpted version of Madeline’s dog that also stands in the entry below! Her real dog had gone home for the day so we missed him. I didn’t know much about Madeline Stuart before this visit and I’m so happy to have met her. She’s not only a wonderful designer but I really lovely person. Every time we mentioned meeting her afterward, everyone had nothing but nice things to say about her and I think that is a true measure of a person’s character. And as you seen from her office, she’s a really talented designer! 
Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic
13 Comments
She is very talented! I love her style. And that little white dog is precious, very fun and whimsical! Thanks for letting us know about Madeline’s work!!
I loved seeing Madeline’s work space, Heather. Thanks for sharing your trip – I,for one, have thoroughly enjoyed it.
She has an amazing office! Love that settee and screen. Off to check out this LA magazine article…so intrigued!
madeline was truly one of the highlights of our day of design- so smart, funny and full of personality i have a picture of you, andrea and madeline that i took while we were chatting in her office, so i’ll send it to you.
Heather, thank you for sharing, I can tell how fun and creative Madeline is!Love her office.
Karena
Art by Karena
wow! wow!! this is such a gorgeous office.. Even the bathroom is drop dead gorgeous!!
Great idea for bookshelves paired with a mirror. I would never have thought of that. Thanks for sharing.
We are NOT over your trip! I am still eating up every detail. You saw more in Los Angeles than I have in all my life…and I was born there! Stuart’s office is gorgeous!! XO Katie
ahhh, i have to say i LOVE this office. those bathrooms. gorgeous. little pang of jealousy! 🙂
What beautiful offices -I’d love to go there everyday! The light fixtures in the bathrooms are BANANAS and I always love anything mirrored 🙂
Heather,
Enjoying your LA posts and fun to see many of these familiar haunts through a new pair of eyes!
You should visit other cities and do more of these when you can.
Cathy
Love the prettiness of the restrooms!
not over these posts at all!! i have adored the chic in la series…thanks for sharing!