There are mid-century modern jewels, and then there’s Dakota Johnson’s home, which continues to set the standard. Hidden on a West Hollywood cul-de-sac, Dakota’s home dates back to 1947, designed by celebrated architect Carl Maston. In 2016, Pierce & Ward turned it into a masterclass in architectural harmony.
The mid-century modern living room, particularly, relies on timber paneling, exposed brick, and low-profile silhouettes that ground the space while keeping sightlines clear. But it is the doorless aesthetic that truly sets the space apart.
Rather than enclosing the interior behind heavy frames, expansive banks of floor-to-ceiling glass and oversized glass doors erase the traditional boundary between indoors and out. The well-placed greenery and poolside terrace become a direct visual continuation of the living room, allowing light and foliage to filter deep into the space.
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Creating this level of visual flow comes down to treating your garden as an intentional continuation of your interior floor plan – a philosophy that design experts say is simple to replicate.
Shop the Dakota Johnson X Brown Living Room Edit
I love how versatile the Selden Bowl is. Its lustrous brown reactive glaze brings warmth and subtle variation to a space, making it just as beautiful styled as a coffee table centerpiece as it is used as a catchall on a console or kitchen island.
Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines X Loloi Sinclair Clay / Tobacco Area Rug
The beauty of this rug collection lies in its balance of old and new. This antique-inspired pattern and distressed finish give it the character of a vintage find, while its durable construction makes it a smart choice for busy homes that don’t want to compromise on style.
Organic Throw Pillow Cover
This velvet pillow cover is one of those pieces that instantly makes a room feel more considered. Crafted from organic cotton, it adds rich texture and a grounding chocolate brown tone that looks just as beautiful in summer as it does through the colder months.
Allmodern Edgar Throw Pillow
You don’t have to invest in a statement sofa to capture Dakota’s look. This richly coloured green cushion delivers the same depth and drama on a smaller scale, bringing personality to a neutral sofa. Its soft velvet finish only makes it feel even more inviting.
White Ruffle 15″ Large Bowl
The scalloped-edge trend shows no signs of slowing down, and this bowl is a beautiful way to embrace it. I love how its gently waved silhouette brings a soft, decorative touch to a coffee table, echoing the playful yet elegant details seen throughout Dakota’s home.
There’s something timeless about decorating with terracotta. Inspired by the earthy accents in Dakota’s living room, this vintage-look vase has the same warmth, texture, and character. I love it styled with branches, but it looks just as beautiful filled with fresh stems or displayed on its own.
Interior designer Holly Light explains that true indoor-outdoor living is about framing nature rather than overwhelming a room with it.
‘Creating a strong connection between indoors and outdoors isn’t about filling a room with plants; it’s about designing a space that feels like a natural extension of the landscape beyond the windows,’ she says. ‘View it as another layer of your design. If you have mature trees, rolling countryside or a beautifully planted garden, frame these with considered furniture placements rather than blocking them with bulky pieces or heavy curtains.’
This rule is evident in Dakota’s layout, where low caramel-velvet sofas and low coffee tables keep sightlines entirely clear to the garden beyond. To further soften that threshold, placing easy indoor plants right alongside expansive glass helps pull the outdoors in.
‘Introducing taller indoor trees such as an olive [like this one from Fast Growing Trees] or multi-stem ficus close to windows helps to soften the transition between inside and outside,’ Holly notes. ‘If you’re prone to killing house plants, then there are some great faux options available now. The key here is choosing plants that complement the scale of the room rather than overpower it.’
Material choices are equally vital when blurring boundaries. In Dakota’s home, rich timber walls, exposed brick, and warm textiles mirror the natural world outside – an approach Holly highlights as essential for visual continuity.
‘Materials play a huge role in the connection between indoor and outdoor,’ Holly adds.
‘Natural timber, linen, stone, and rattan create an organic palette that echoes the textures found outdoors. Limestone flooring can be a common stone to repeat indoors and outdoors, due to its light reflection and versatility, creating a seamless transition. Repeating similar colors inside that already exist in the garden helps create a seamless flow – think soft greens, earthy browns and warm neutrals; these are all a great starting point.’
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