For actor Lana Condor, the journey to her dream home began with an impromptu FaceTime call from her husband, Anthony De La Torre. “I was in the jungle in Vietnam on a conservation trip when Anthony called me, saying, ‘Oh my God, I think I found the perfect home,’” Condor recalls. “He walked me through it virtually, and I fell in love, especially with the backyard. I could instantly imagine our dogs enjoying it.” Upon returning to Los Angeles, Condor toured the property in person and knew it was the one. “It felt like the home where we could start the next chapter of our lives,” she says.
Despite the home’s good bones, it would take considerable work to make space a perfect fit for the couple. That’s where Condor’s longtime friend, interior designer Joseph Monsour, comes in. “At first, Lana thought we’d just need some paint and minor updates,” Monsour says. “But as always, it snowballed. We ended up redoing every surface in the house.”
The changes were both structural and aesthetic. Walls were removed to open up the kitchen and family room. A powder room and ample pantry were added. Monsour also worked closely with landscape designer Patricia Benner to emphasize views of lush gardens from every room.
Condor and De La Torre had a front row seat, living in the home through the renovations. “They saw the house in 80 different phases and stages,” Monsour says. “So Lana would see something, then she would go away to shoot something. She’d come back a month or so later, and it would be completely different.” While the homeowners aren’t entirely sure they could endure the grueling process again, witnessing so much of the renovation firsthand made them appreciate all of the small details that much more.
For Condor, travels to Italy served as a major source of inspiration. “I’ve always admired how everything there feels like art but is also livable,” she explains. Monsour channeled this by incorporating durable yet beautiful materials, including upholstering many pieces in performance fabric. Indoor-outdoor flooring ensures that the home can host everything from intimate family dinners to large-scale events. “We wanted a home that we could live in and not be afraid to mess up,” Condor says.
Texture and subtle color are central to the design. Venetian plaster, silk wallpaper, and linen-clad walls add layers of sophistication. “We started with the idea of an all-cream palette,” Monsour says. “But as we explored fabrics and finishes, we introduced soft colors and warmth inspired by the surrounding landscape.”
Auction finds and family heirlooms bring depth and personality to the interiors. “Every room has a special antique that serves as a conversation piece,” Monsour shares. Condor’s late mother’s artwork and collected mementos are also displayed throughout the home. “Just being able to have her and her work in the house is really amazing,” she says. “This house is my pride and joy, and having these pieces makes it even more special.”
The couple’s home was designed with functionality in mind. It’s where they hosted their recent wedding’s welcome party and farewell brunch, and now where they live out their daily rituals. “Our Sunday mornings are my favorite,” Condor says. “We’ll have tea in the loggia, watch our dogs play, and just soak in the beauty.”
As Monsour notes, “This house isn’t just about how it looks. It’s about how it lives.” For Lana Condor, the journey to create this sanctuary has been transformative. “This is the first place that feels like forever,” she says. “I’m a nomad by nature, but this home makes me never want to leave.”
2025, 20.02
