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HOTEL BELL

She has layed a high school sleuth, an e P ectric supervixen and a

heartbreaker namkd Sarah Marshall. But in her off hours KRISTEN BELL

slips into her favorite role of all: hostess

en Kristen Bell first saw her seven-bedroom Spanish-style house nearly three years ago, she knew how she would fill it. I'm going to have 10 kids, thought the w

actress, who was theninvolved with alongtime beau. But thereIationship ended,leaving her to rework that notion. "As I've grown up alittle more, I've realized that that: may not be so realistic," says the 28-year-old. Instead, she has filled the 5,500-square-foot home

with different treasures-finessing the layout and dkcor to comfortably accommodate

an ever-revolving group of guests who have become her surrogate family in L.A.

"It makes me really comfortable to be a caretaker: says Bell, who provides the voice of the unseen title character on the CW's Gossip Girl and stars in the upcoming comedy When in Rome with Josh DuhameI and her boyfriend, Dax Shepard. 'When I'm domestic, I feel empowered," she says.

The home and its rambling 2.5 acres, dotted with lavender, bougainvillea and abun- dant jasmine, give her plenty of opportunity to gather friends together. Since snapping up the property, the Michigan native has thrown countless parties, making great use of her pool, spacious patio andmultitiered grounds. There's even awinding path that leads to awooded knoll where Bell andcompany built amakeshift fire pit they usefor weekend campouts. (The only rule: The house is off-limits, except for the loo.) "I have such an amazing view, and the air is so fresh up here," says Bell, who quickly adds, "that's

probably the first time anyone has ever called the smoggy Los Angeles air fresh!"

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To spruce up the somewhat dated interior, the ac-

tress workedwith L.A. designerstaceyvuduris. Their MO was simple: Create a signature design dement

1 for each room that managed to blend Bell's passion for sleek, modern lines with her penchant for ferni- nine accents. "I'm still evolving in my style and taste," , says Bell, "so I had to learn to commit." Vuduris

was a big support during the six-month overhaul that included gutting the master bedroom and bath. "Kristen loves mixing raw and industrial with pretty and

fresh, so we had to find that balance," says the designer. The dark1980s-style kitchen was the first order ofbusiness.

Painting the cherry-finish cabinets snow white and adding brushed-nickel pulls immediateIy brightened the room. New

stone-colored counters replaced worn yellow tile and also modernizedthelook. "It's anamazing space andthere's enough

room to crawl around on the countertops," says Bell, as she hoists herself up to perch on the island where she often preps

suppers for her rotating live-in brood. She's currently hosting

three pals, "but at one point, I had six roommates-it's like a so-

rority or frat house," she says. Her raucous American Idol par- ties draw diehard fans, while Scrabble tournaments are as

competitive as high-stakes poker. "I once got, like, 84 points for the word %oobies'! I was ecstatic," she says, laughing.

Luckily, Bell's teakbarn-wood dining-room table can seat 14.

"I'm so drawn to the look and feel of raw wood," says Bell, eyeing the wall of &stressed custom-built walnut shelving

that replaces a traditional sideboard. Faux-suede-and-chrome chairs from CB2, a ceiling warmed by custom wallpaper and a chandelier of clustered globes from Shades of Light provide a

sophisticated contrast to the m r a l I relaxed feel. Still, even a tireless hostess sometimes needs to retreat. "My

bedroom is like my own private apartment when I want to be alone," says Bell. She altered the original design to add more

windows and a balcony where she catches the occasional sun-

rise. She loves it when her boyfriend notices her attention to de- tail. "Daxwill surprise me by saying, 'Oh, I love that wallpaper'

or'That's a beautiful soap dish,'" she says. The attached master bathroom, with its marble-topped tub for two and custom van-

ity, is her other oasis. "I spend so much time here, from getting ready to pampering myse1fwithamasque:'says Bell, whomakes her own body scnrbs from brown sugar, honey and baby oil.

No doubt she would gladly whip one up for a guest too. At Bell's house, there's always homemade lavender lemonade in

the fridge and a place to put your feet up. "I'm in a lucky posi-

tion," she says blissfully. "Everyone ends up comingto me!"

I An ottoman is a great multiuse substitution for a coffee table, and in a lively print or pattern it can become a chic focal point. Echo the fabric's colors in accents throughout an otherwise neutral room. At Ballard Designs (ballarddesigns.com),you can choose from 17 styles of ottomans and customize with your pick from more than one hundred fabrics, including prints like toile, ikat or cheetah. After your piece is delivered, consider treating the fabric with a stain protector such as Scotchgard. Cotton, twill and linen are generally the most durable.

TURN YOUR WALLS INTO A THE BEDROOM "I love that the wallpaper looks painted on,"says Bell of the elegant floral print by Trove behind her bed. For maximum impact, covera windowless wall, ideally behind the room's largest piece of furniture. Use the wallpaper calculator at Lowes.com to estimate how many rolls you need.

Brown floral :ustom

Plantation

covered it with fabric in the Chiang Mai Dragon pattern

from Schumacher (fschumachcr.com).

PUT IT ON DISPI THE DINING ROOM Think of built-in shelving as aframe for objets d'art and distinctive dishware. Designer Vuduris says to use a bracket every 2 feet to keep the wood from bowing. A iqinch shelf-depth will accommodate dinner plates without projectingtoo far into the room. Let the finish complement your design scheme: Raw wood adds a rustic feel; brightly colored lacquer looks modern. A good DIY shelving source: Stacks and Stacks ($30-$5o/shelf; stacksandstacks.com).

RITY HOMES! See how the stars live t. ... style.com

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KEEP IT COZY PTHE BACKYARD

I Treat a backyard space like a living room. Arrange outdoor furniture on an all-weather mod rug to create a more defined area, and amp up the comfort with throws and colorful pillows-we love the cotton tasseled Ibis pillow (left, 24"x 24': $78; anthropologie

I .corn). A lantern on an end table adds an ambient glow. Accessories like lacquered trays and even framed pictures heighten the & indoor feel-just take them with you when

6 you go back inside. rn