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Mat Sanders in his renovated kitchen.

THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN DESIGN & ENTERTAINING

with Mat Sanders

November 15, 2024 | 7 min read

An inviting, curated environment is the result of interior design and entertaining coming together. And to Los Angeles-based interior designer Mat Sanders, creating harmony with design and entertainment has a profound impact on his guests. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with him to discuss his recent personal project, a vacation home in Palm Springs and other aspects of his approach to interior design.

In his mid-century vacation home, Sanders undertook the task of renovating a 1977 home designed by notable architect Hugh Kaptur. The home is among some of the many Kaptur designs in Palm Springs. For this particular three bedroom house, Sanders viewed the renovation as a blank canvas for him to elevate and make suitable for himself—and his entertaining. 

As a designer, Sanders describes himself as a ‘sophisticated rebel.’ He lets his creativity shine when envisioning how his homes come together. “When I design, I like to create a fantasy of who would have thrived here [when] it was in its heyday,” he says. And he likes to take risks whenever possible. When he’s at the end of a project, Sanders likes to take the perfect space he just finished creating and add “something off” to add interest and intrigue.

Table of Contents

Elevating the Interior
Enhancing the Kitchen
Utilizing the Right Tools
The exterior of Mat Sanders’ home in Palm Springs, California. The exterior of Mat Sanders’ home in Palm Springs, California.

ELEVATING THE INTERIOR

Throughout the renovation, Sanders wanted to keep the minimalistic spirit of the home alive while giving it a modern update. He shares his initial vision for the home, "Hugh Kaptur was known for bringing the outside [into] his projects. And I wanted to enhance that by [removing] the walls [and adding] full sliding doors." His goal of merging the inside and outside spaces of the home resulted in creating a little oasis suitable for himself and his guests.

It was a tight fit for much of the renovation, especially in the kitchen. A tool he relied on heavily was the JennAir Package builder, which allowed him to save appliance packages and quickly reference specifications while finalizing packages for the home.

"It makes [me] feel more confident that JennAir has it all together for you."

A collage of three images, with the first showing a JennAir® oven in the NOIR™ Design Expression, the second showing a large monstera on the island of the kitchen and the third showing the sliding doors leading to the backyard of the home. A contemporary luxury kitchen in white marble and light wood featuring a suite of JennAir® appliances.

After opening up the kitchen and reimagining the floor plan, he moved the island to stretch through two rooms, eliminating the need for a traditional dining room table. "The flow of the space is what everyone remarks most on when they talk about how much they like the house and what I did with it," he says about the renovation. 

While Sanders acknowledges that there may be conflicting opinions on making changes to historical spaces, he followed his instincts as the home he’s creating is not for everyday, casual living but to function as an entertaining destination. While he followed his instincts to transform it into a house for hosting, elements of the architect's distinct style can be seen around the house, as well as details that stay true to the era it was constructed. 

One example of this is his elimination of brass in the house, opting instead for the original chrome accents reminiscent of the style of the late 1970s.

A collage of two images, the first showing Mat Sanders’s dog with different materials and the second showing an arch he transformed into a piece of wall art. A collage of two images, the first showing Mat Sanders’s dog with different materials and the second showing an arch he transformed into a piece of wall art.

A similar approach can be seen in his furniture choices, selecting minimalistic pieces from the 1970s and 1980s. As Palm Springs is a haven for quality vintage and designer furniture, he collected items over the course of his renovation, ensuring that the upcycled pieces were ready once the project was complete.

Sanders also utilized ‘wrong theory’ in his Palm Springs home by taking an arch usually used for weddings and flipping it on its head. A can of ceiling texture and paint later, and he now has a statement piece in his living room that continuously draws attention when he has guests over.

Mat Sanders Design Must-Haves

A round, donut-like vase sitting on a stone display platform with dried florals in it. A round, donut-like vase sitting on a stone display platform with dried florals in it.

Photo Credit: Karolina Grabowska Photography

Social-First Floor Plan

When designing a home, the floor plan must always feel social. And his designs always account for different conversation spaces with a saloon feel. Different moments in each room and a seamless flow allow people to interact throughout the rooms.

Social-First Floor Plan

When designing a home, the floor plan must always feel social. And his designs always account for different conversation spaces with a saloon feel. Different moments in each room and a seamless flow allow people to interact throughout the rooms.

A round, donut-like vase sitting on a stone display platform with dried florals in it. A round, donut-like vase sitting on a stone display platform with dried florals in it.

Photo Credit: Karolina Grabowska Photography

A close-up view of a white, round table with minimalist wood chairs. A close-up view of a white, round table with minimalist wood chairs.

Photo Credit: Cup of Couple Photography

Lots of Color and Texture

Using unexpected colors and vintage pieces makes your home stand out, like how he chose a two-tone marble in his Palm Springs kitchen. When combined with the art of cooking, the result is the magic that comes with creating a stunning space.

A close-up view of a white, round table with minimalist wood chairs. A close-up view of a white, round table with minimalist wood chairs.

Photo Credit: Cup of Couple Photography

Lots of Color and Texture

Using unexpected colors and vintage pieces makes your home stand out, like how he chose a two-tone marble in his Palm Springs kitchen. When combined with the art of cooking, the result is the magic that comes with creating a stunning space.

A rattan chair paired with a natural-fiber basket and blanket in varying shades of beige and brown. A rattan chair paired with a natural-fiber basket and blanket in varying shades of beige and brown.

Photo Credit: Ksenia Chernaya Photography

Taking Risks

Take a perfect room, and do something a little risky to elevate the design. Through innovative artwork selections and bold colors, he created a visually interesting and arresting space by thinking outside the box.  His goal is to inspire people when they come into his spaces to do something bold and risky in their own projects.

Taking Risks

Take a perfect room, and do something a little risky to elevate the design. Through innovative artwork selections and bold colors, he created a visually interesting and arresting space by thinking outside the box.  His goal is to inspire people when they come into his spaces to do something bold and risky in their own projects.

A rattan chair paired with a natural-fiber basket and blanket in varying shades of beige and brown. A rattan chair paired with a natural-fiber basket and blanket in varying shades of beige and brown.

Photo Credit: Ksenia Chernaya Photography

A close-up view of a white cabinet with two small, round brass knobs at the center. A close-up view of a white cabinet with two small, round brass knobs at the center.

Photo Credit: Kulbir Photography

Playing with Scale

Bigger, statement-worthy pieces not only draw conversation but also fill the space in the room. His most recent renovation had a high ceiling above the large island, so Sanders procured a giant Monstera and placed it on top of the island, forcing his guests to interact with him and the foliage.

A close-up view of a white cabinet with two small, round brass knobs at the center. A close-up view of a white cabinet with two small, round brass knobs at the center.

Photo Credit: Kulbir Photography

Playing with Scale

Bigger, statement-worthy pieces not only draw conversation but also fill the space in the room. His most recent renovation had a high ceiling above the large island, so Sanders procured a giant Monstera and placed it on top of the island, forcing his guests to interact with him and the foliage.

Mat Sanders Design Must-Haves

The kitchen of the Palm Springs home, showing a large plan on the island and chairs along the island. The kitchen of the Palm Springs home, showing a large plan on the island and chairs along the island.

Social-First Floor Plan

When designing a home, the floor plan must always feel social. And his designs always account for different conversation spaces with a saloon feel. Different moments in each room and a seamless flow allow people to interact throughout the rooms.

Social-First Floor Plan

When designing a home, the floor plan must always feel social. And his designs always account for different conversation spaces with a saloon feel. Different moments in each room and a seamless flow allow people to interact throughout the rooms.

The kitchen of the Palm Springs home, showing a large plan on the island and chairs along the island. The kitchen of the Palm Springs home, showing a large plan on the island and chairs along the island.
Different materials in various colors used throughout the home. Different materials in various colors used throughout the home.

Lots of Color and Texture

Using unexpected colors and vintage pieces makes your home stand out, like how he chose a two-tone marble in his Palm Springs kitchen. When combined with the art of cooking, the result is the magic that comes with creating a stunning space.

Different materials in various colors used throughout the home. Different materials in various colors used throughout the home.

Lots of Color and Texture

Using unexpected colors and vintage pieces makes your home stand out, like how he chose a two-tone marble in his Palm Springs kitchen. When combined with the art of cooking, the result is the magic that comes with creating a stunning space.

A JennAir® Wall Oven in the NOIR™ Design Expression with the bold backsplash in the kitchen. A JennAir® Wall Oven in the NOIR™ Design Expression with the bold backsplash in the kitchen.

Taking Risks

Take a perfect room, and do something a little risky to elevate the design. Through innovative artwork selections and bold colors, he created a visually interesting and arresting space by thinking outside the box.  His goal is to inspire people when they come into his spaces to do something bold and risky in their own projects.

Taking Risks

Take a perfect room, and do something a little risky to elevate the design. Through innovative artwork selections and bold colors, he created a visually interesting and arresting space by thinking outside the box.  His goal is to inspire people when they come into his spaces to do something bold and risky in their own projects.

A JennAir® Wall Oven in the NOIR™ Design Expression with the bold backsplash in the kitchen. A JennAir® Wall Oven in the NOIR™ Design Expression with the bold backsplash in the kitchen.
The sink on the island of the kitchen. The sink on the island of the kitchen.

Playing with Scale

Bigger, statement-worthy pieces not only draw conversation but also fill the space in the room. His most recent renovation had a high ceiling above the large island, so Sanders procured a giant Monstera and placed it on top of the island, forcing his guests to interact with him and the foliage.

The sink on the island of the kitchen. The sink on the island of the kitchen.

Playing with Scale

Bigger, statement-worthy pieces not only draw conversation but also fill the space in the room. His most recent renovation had a high ceiling above the large island, so Sanders procured a giant Monstera and placed it on top of the island, forcing his guests to interact with him and the foliage.

ENHANCING THE KITCHEN

A major goal for Sanders when designing this home was to avoid the traditional aspects of a kitchen that feel messy, functional and sterile. He intended for the kitchen to feel like it was "a piece of furniture," so the space didn't feel like a kitchen but a room with stunning built-ins that guests wanted to converge in.

A collage of two images, the first showing a view of the island of the kitchen with a large plant on the island and the second showing Sanders opening the door of the JennAir® oven. A contemporary luxury kitchen in white marble and light wood featuring a suite of JennAir® appliances.

Regarding the appliances he selected for this specific project, he found balance by seeking out highly functional appliances that could be hidden away. "I didn't want it to feel like you were staring at a refrigerator, dishwasher, or sink. Everything is integrated through panel-ready styles," he says. And for Sanders, the discussion about appliances begins with design.

He likes to make decisions about appliances early on. He does many custom kitchens and likes to incorporate the built-in look whenever possible for high style and refined design. Which is what initially drew his eye to JennAir appliances. "Those touch-points are so important to the experience," he says. Sanders likes to ensure his homes feature state of the art appliances, and he feels JennAir is pushing the boundaries in terms of innovation and design.

“The NOIR™ collection is so sleek and so minimal, it doesn't feel like an oven. If you blink, it feels more like technology in the room." 

With the duology of the RISE™ and NOIR™ Design Expressions, Sanders shared that he isn’t beholden to one collection of the other. He finds it beneficial to match the designs of homes with the aesthetics of the design expressions.

UTILIZING THE RIGHT TOOLS

Specifically, Sanders used the JennAir Package Builder heavily for his Palms Spring home. He discusses the tool itself: "I love that it's about curating. It feels natural to the design experience. That's what we are; we're curators." Sanders can use the JennAir Package Builder to save packages for multiple projects at one time and adjust the appliances quickly and conveniently while finalizing the appliances for the home.

A collage of two images, the first showing Mat Sanders using his table outside and the second showing him looking at products on the JennAir® website on his tablet. A collage of two images, the first showing Mat Sanders using his table outside and the second showing him looking at products on the JennAir® website on his tablet.

New to the JennAir Package Builder is the integration of the Curate Promotion. Savings are also integral for kitchen renovations, especially when reaching the end of a renovation and having the final budget in mind. “Having those tools where you can see your savings in real-time when you’re mixing and matching products for the project is really great,” Sanders shares. The JennAir package builder now automatically incorporates the Curate promotion in real-time, which allows Sanders to be transparent about final costs with his clients.

For future projects, Sanders will redesign a John Lautner home, more commonly known as the imaginative “Rainbow” house, where a complete kitchen renovation is in store. And as he plans to redesign his personal residence in Los Angeles, Mat hinted that the RISE™ Design Expression will be a great fit with the modern yet traditional feel.

Photo credit: Mat Sanders

Designer Mat Sanders.

Mat Sanders

DESIGNER

Mat Sanders is a designer, creative director and décor editor known for his playfully chic approach and ability to create casually elegant and comfortable homes that are uniquely personal. Mat blends style and livability to craft spaces that truly reflect his clients.

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