As the co-founder of For Future Reference — a fine jewelry brand agency with a client list that boasts storied companies like Harwell Godfrey and Brent Neale — and author of A Girl's Guide to Buying Diamonds, Randi Molofsky has a special place in her heart for all gemstones. So, when it came to decorating her own home, Molofsky collected striking furniture and accessories from all corners of the world, an approach akin to how she curates her own jewelry box.
"My goal is always to make every space feel very personal," she explains. "I don’t rely on 'big box' and would rather hit up a flea market, yard sale, or Craigslist to put together rooms. I’m always going for warm and layered, but not cluttered. Accessories are incredibly important to me in both fashion and home, so we are very thoughtful about choosing handmade objects like candlesticks, vases, and sculpture, but everything has its place."
Molofsky was first drawn to the 1921 Spanish-style bungalow she now shares with partner Michael Slenske and their daughter, Goldie, for its unique roots.
"We moved to Los Angeles from NYC," she shares. "I had been there for 15 years and Michael had been there for 10, so we were really looking for something that had a definite [California] vibe. A Spanish-style bungalow was right up our alley to give us the change we were looking for."
Not only is her 1,600-square-foot home nestled in a historic preservation neighborhood — which means her neck of the woods is adorned in unique structures — but the space's bones are neutral enough to inject a hefty dose of personalization.
"I love mixing up eras, so bringing in a different time period to the older house wasn’t much of a concern," she shares.
As a jewelry professional with extensive knowledge, Molofsky knows that accessorizing requires a careful balance and an editor's eagle-like eye. After all, too many pieces and a home can quickly veer congested and kitschy. So it makes perfect sense that the best piece of decorating advice she's heard came in the form of Coco Chanel's iconic quote, "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”
"Although this was clearly a bit of fashion advice, I think it holds true for the home in terms of making sure that you are thoughtful about placement and not overdoing it," she muses on her approach to interiors.
Fortunately, Molofsky's living room is well-appointed and effortless in equal measure. The walls are swathed in a crisp white paint, yielding to the artwork from Robert Gunderman, Polly Borland, and Jeremy Shockley. Pops of rich tan — courtesy of the credenza, woven shades, and Warren Platner armchairs — offer some extra depth to the space. But, while the living room might adhere to a neutral color palette, it is by no means boring. A vintage Moroccan rug and patterned throw pillow usher in an easy, West Coast sensibility into the space.
Small, personal touches are the crown jewels of Molofsky's home. In order to keep the eye on her accessories, she offset the living room's neutral color palette and patterned punctuations with a vintage lucite coffee table and a transparent bar cart sourced from Craigslist.
"I love how versatile it is, and it really helps bring that cool ‘70s vibe we were going for into the space," Molofsky shares.
But, while the living room has a groovy flair, it doesn't feel garish. For Molofsky, the key was to bring a function-first approach to decorating.
"Don’t add accessories just for the sake of adding them," she shares. "There needs to be that understanding of functionality versus decorating, and I think that’s part of training your eye."
If the living room is the home's easy, breezy oasis, the kitchen is where Molofsky embraces her bold streak. Previously, the family resided in a place with a bright, white culinary space — and were ready to shake things up. But, it wasn't until they were inspired by friend Pamela Shamshiri’s office, which they spotted in a magazine, did they find the perfect hue for their kitchen: Farrow & Ball's Green Smoke.
"It brings the backyard into the space and the color changes throughout the day, giving the room a cozy and relaxing vibe," she explains.
Molofsky gave an extra nod to the great outdoors by peppering the kitchen with natural touches. The room's green IKEA cabinets are paired with wooden countertops and a coordinating sideboard she sourced from Wayfair. Rounding out the room is a brass table lamp and Moroccan rug, leaning into the area's cozy appeal.
The kitchen is an artful blend of functionality and Molofsky's personal touches. She wove in ceramics from Bari Ziperstein and Jackie Rines as well as some Robert Gunderman and Martin Sabransky paintings above the well-stocked bar.
"We try to incorporate as much contemporary [works] as possible, and invest in local artists that we are drawn to whenever we can," she shares "That gives each piece special meaning to us, and is always the first thing that guests comment on — they want to know everything about the art!"
Mosey on into the dining room and you'll spot one of Molofsky's favorite pieces of furniture: a black marble table by Eero Saarinen.
"[It] has been the centerpiece of so many amazing memories —from dinner parties with friends to board games and art projects with our daughter — and it brings just the right amount of pattern and flexibility to the [space]," she shares. "You can squeeze in tons of people if need be or put together a 1,000-piece puzzle. We’ve just decided to embrace the imperfections that come from spilled wine or dripped candle wax."
But, when the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, the family quickly adjusted the space to suit their new normal.
"We changed out our old brass and velvet cantilever set in the dining room for a bench on one side so that the table could do everything — be a place for work, school, meals, art projects —and still be comfortable for kids and adults," Molofsky shares.
Here, a caned seat from Serena & Lily is juxtaposed by two printed, Milo Baughman style chairs. The high-contrast tones are enhanced by a chevron throw blanket from Missoni and details of the Jess Valice portraits. And, the perfect finishing touch? A rainbow-tinged vase and some candle holders, courtesy of Jackie Rines.
When pressed on her approach to color throughout the home, Molofsky shares, "I think that having rooms with different colors allows you to change the energy around the space in a really positive way. I know some people can stick with one palette everywhere, but I don’t have enough restraint!"
Head over to the primary bedroom and you'll find a serene space that embraces the darker side of the color wheel. For this room, Molofsky selected Benjamin Moore's Onyx.
"In the bedroom, we went for full-on black walls, which really lets the large-scale art by Ammon Rost and Jake Kean Mayman pop, while also being super functional for sleep," she shares. "We stuck with mostly muted shades rather than primary colors, but there [are dashes] of red, hot pink, or Yves Klein blue here and there to mix it up."
The bedroom might seem like a departure from the majority of the home's airy palette; however, it is pulled together with creative accessories such as the large art above the bed and a cotton candy colored Entler lamp.
For the floor coverings throughout, Molofky relies on her collection of patterned rugs to anchor the space. "We have a large collection of vintage Moroccan rugs, and that’s a great way to add geometric pattern to any space," Molofsky shares.
Of course, no modern-day home is complete without a designated WFH area. Molofsky carved out a little nook in her bedroom to get work done, complete with a lucite chair and wicker desk.
"Layering colors, patterns, and texture is hugely important to create a space that feels luxe, even if you’re on a budget," she shares. "I love mixing materials in a room, and try to always include stone, lucite, wood, metallic, and something soft."
She completed the look with the bedroom's vintage Moroccan rug and an antique cheetah armchair. Though the unexpected combination of prints gives this space a maximalist edge, there's a fine line between opulent and over-the-top.
"I think adding other classic patterns, like animal print, checkerboard, plaid, keeps your eye moving and adds another level of sophistication," Molofsky shares. "The trick is not to overdo it."
Fashion is at the core of Molofsky's business, so it's only fitting that her home features a separate closet room. This space doubles down on storage, thanks to a sliding glass-fronted closet and vintage bookshelf for her to place her favorite gems. And, while this closet space does put her sartorial style front and center, Molofsky argues the entire home speaks to how she dresses.
"I often wear eye-catching vintage ensembles paired with bold yellow gold and gemstone jewelry, and it’s that one-of-a-kind curation that sets me apart," she says. "It says that I’m not afraid to stand out and trust my instincts when it comes to the art of mixing and matching. Also, it’s no surprise that I love ceramics and art so much — it’s like jewelry for your home."
This is evident through the peppered-in pieces by Robert Gunderman, Kim Pterodactyl, and Kelly Lamb.
While this home is packed with Molofsky's signature "groovy eclectic" there is still plenty of room for childish wonder. Goldie's room, for example, is packed with a mélange of patterns, cheery accent hues, and kid-friendly artwork. Of course, the family fun isn't solely restricted to this little girl's bedroom. Molofsky reveals that Goldie's art is displayed on their Samsung Frame television in living room, giving the five-year-old the opportunity to create her own jewelry box of treasured pieces — just like her mom.
