Neighborhood
Bird Rock
Stats
3,000 square feet with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and a guesthouse
Her Story
Brazilian-born Paula Hermanny first came to the United States to learn English, and later enrolled at San Diego State University. During those years, she spent a lot time surfing and hanging out at the beach. It was there that her customized swimsuits from Brazil caught the attention of friends and led to the launch of her internationally renowned resortwear company, ViX. Today, at 41, the designer exudes the kind of confidence and effortless sensuality Brazilian women are known for. The home she shares with her husband, José, and two children is a reflection of her heritage. “We tried to do a Brazilian flair,” Paula explains. “There’s a lot of wood and white and a tropical yard.” The décor is stylish, but not overdone. Polished, yet lived in. Beachy and relaxed. Fashion books touting icons like Kate Moss and Diana Vreeland juxtapose with surf- and skateboards. The sound of smoothies blending in the kitchen and the family’s Jack Russell terrier bounding up the stairs create a cacophonous glee. “I don’t even think about it,” she says. “It’s just personal taste.” Like we said, effortless.
Home: Brazilian Beauty
Teak and Chic
Paula often hosts large dinner parties without a lot of fuss. “I’ve loved cooking since I was a little girl,” she says. “Eating healthy is a big part of my life.” On the back porch, Anthropologie goblets and Crate and Barrel water vases top an outdoor dining table from Teak Warehouse. The floral napkin rings are from Brazil. “I thought it was so pretty.”
Home: Brazilian Beauty
Paula wears a dress from her new ready-to-wear collection, debuting this month (available at Tucci Boutique in Del Mar).
Paula wears a dress from her new
, debuting this month (available at Tucci Boutique in Del Mar).
Home: Brazilian Beauty
Haute Harem
“She wanted neon, pink, and trendy,” Paula says of her daughter, Sofia’s, design wishes. But mother knows best, opting for something a little more “stylish and Indian,” as Paula describes. She filled the room with Moroccan textiles, mixing colors and patterns. Her friend Ramon Zarate of Autonomous Design Studio created the custom double bed, made to fit the entire length of the wall with extra storage underneath. (Pillows from One Kings Lane, bedding by West Elm, rug and drapery from Anthropologie)
Home: Brazilian Beauty
Gone Fishing
Paula commissioned this painting by Brazilian artist Vilmar Madruga. It’s a nod to her love of the ocean and adds a pop of color to the smooth white walls, a traditional Brazilian element. She found the ceramic vases at Girard Avenue Collection in La Jolla. The console is from Crate and Barrel.
Home: Brazilian Beauty
Brazil Meets Bird Rock
The house’s exterior includes more Brazilian elements, such as the terra-cotta roof and wood beams. The tropical landscaping—a small forest of banana trees, plumeria, and palms—also showcases Paula’s roots. Outside, bicycles line the driveway. Surf- and skateboards stand stacked against the front porch—ready for adventure. Paula keeps a second house in Brazil and visits there about six times a year. But San Diego is very much her home. “I love San Diego, the laid-back beach style,” the designer says. “Here women get dressed up in a more subtle way.”
Home: Brazilian Beauty
aula wears a red silk jumpsuit from her 2015 resort collection. The earrings and cuff are from Brazil. “I’m so picky about my jewelry,” she says. “I buy it when I’m traveling.”
