So... welcome to the vibrant, whimsical, and utterly captivating world of Katie Zamprioli, the creative force behind @candycoloredhome. Known for her bold use of color, eclectic mix of vintage treasures, and her knack for transforming spaces into playful, curated havens, Katie’s home is a true reflection of her unique personality and style.
Nestled in the picturesque community of Sunland-Tujunga, Los Angeles, her mid-century home is more than just a living space—it’s a canvas where creativity knows no bounds. Join us as we tour Katie's home, dive into her design philosophy, and discover the inspirations behind her maximalist approach to decorating.
Keep reading to learn more about Katie and the place she calls home.
We absolutely love your maximalist and colorful style! Where are you located?
Thank you so much! I live in Sunland-Tujunga, it’s a community in Los Angeles city.
We ended up buying our home 7 years ago and my best friend, Sarah, actually sent me the listing she found online. The home itself really spoke to me. It’s a mid century home, similar to an Eichler style and has great bones. I had never heard of Sunland-Tujunga at the time (even though I’ve been in Los Angeles since 2001) and we were taken by its small town charm and beautiful Mountain Views. It’s nestled at the base of the Los Angeles National Forest and has some picturesque scenes and a slower pace than some of the larger communities in Los Angeles.
Pictured above: Stray Dog Hank Lamp + Petal Shade
What’s your favorite room in the house?My favorite room is our living / dining / office / entryway. It’s one big open space right when you walk in and I’ve broken it up to feel like different spaces that are all still cohesive. It gets excellent light and there are beautiful stained glass Clerestory windows that the previous owners commissioned Debbie Bean (a local stained glass artist) to make. It’s where we all relax together, watch TV, play games and eat. The wallpaper in this space is dark and moody and just sets a really cool feel for the space. It also houses a lot of my collection of thrifted treasures, from the furniture and art on the gallery wall, to the shelves filled with sculptures and decor. I have gone vertical to maximize the space and also have the ability to showcase my finds.
Are you in the process of redoing any spaces right now?I just finished redoing my kitchen and I love it! I went for a cottage core cabin feel which is admittedly a bit of a departure for me but I really wanted a change. I love the blue green tones with the warm wood, the bright pops of brass, the fun floral wallpaper on the ceiling and of course the whimsical floral Tina Ceiling Lights by Stray Dog Designs.
On the right you'll see our Tulip Table!
How did you fall in love with design and home decor? Would love to hear the story!
I’ve always loved design and home decor since I was very small. My Mom was always tackling DIYs, decorating and changing things and thrifting and shopping antiques and vintage. It gave me a great appreciation for it from a young age. Perhaps it’s the Libra in me too, but I have a love of all things creative and beautiful and enjoy the playful aspect of decor, fashion and makeup. It’s all about the creativity for me. Surrounding yourself with things you love and appreciating the beauty all around. I didn’t think of it seriously as a career until we bought this home. It happened very organically. I started sharing pictures of my home online and they just kind of took off. I got a great response and had people asking me to decorate/design for them too and the rest is history!
Where do you find most of the amazing pieces in your home?
Thrifting is a huge part of my design. I would say about 80-90% of my home is thrifted. I love thrifting and taking my audience along with me to experience vintage in and around LA and other parts of the country. I go to thrift, vintage and antique stores weekly as well as flea markets. I do a lot of vintage shopping on Facebook Marketplace too. I’m constantly checking what’s out there. If I’m not thrifting, I love shopping small and finding cool pieces that are unique and pair with the vintage in my home.
How does social media factor into what you do?
Social media definitely inspires and influences my design to a degree. As a content creator working with brands, it’s important to pay attention to what’s trending and have your finger on the pulse. I prefer to set trends rather than follow them but like everyone else, I find myself influenced by time spent online. I try to trust my intuition and lean into the creativity and play of design rather than just doing what everyone else is doing. My goal is always to inspire people to take risks in design and have fun. I think a lot of the time, people censor themselves out of fear of what others will think and they just go with the flow or with what’s popular rather than what they actually love. People tend to think of maximalists as hoarders and lots of color as being juvenile. I’m here to show you that there’s a way to do both that is curated and elevated. Whimsy and sophistication can coexist.
Who is your favorite person or brand to follow on social media at the moment?Ooof that’s a hard one! I have such a large community of amazing designers and fellow thrift lovers. I don’t think I could possibly pick one but here are some of my favorites that inspire me regularly (there are so many more too) :
@deeplymadlymodern , @msviciousdesign , @thishouse5000 , @thegladystay , @katepearcevintage , @home_ec_op, @haus_of_meeshie , @francescagracehome , @cocollected , @justinablakeney
On the left you'll see our new Tina Flush Mounts
What’s in the rotation for you right now (books, podcasts, movies, shows)?Well I’ve got to mention my own, right? 😂 Beet Red podcast - it’s all about embarrassing stories and so hilarious and fun. I also love Cool Cool Cool. For comedy podcasts, I love Tiger Belly and Smartless. I also love true crime and supernatural. My Favorite Murder is a long time favorite, I also love Crime Junkie, Spooked and Jim Harold’s Campfire.
For books I typically love murder mysteries/ psychological thrillers. I just finished reading Jar of Hearts. It was a very quick and entertaining read, albeit disturbing in parts. The twists I found to be slightly predictable but overall enjoyed it!
For shows, I just finished the second season of House of the Dragon and I’m so sad it’s over! I love true crime documentaries too and mindless numbing shows like Love is Blind.
