Emma Chamberlain was barely old enough to vote when she became a social media phenomenon. Respected newspapers and magazines from the old school — often not exactly friendly toward new media and its protagonists — heaped praise on the teenage internet superstar. The New York Times called her "the funniest person on YouTube" who "changed the world of online videos." Time Magazine placed her on its list of the 25 most influential people on the internet in 2019, alongside the rapper Lil Nas X, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Now, at the ripe age of 21, Emma Chamberlain has already opened a second career chapter: she hosts the popular "Anything Goes" podcast, has entered the coffee business with Chamberlain Coffee, serves as a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Levi's — and that's only part of her activities. The secret to Chamberlain's success? Just look at the enthusiastic comments on her online posts, where certain words keep appearing: funny, honest, open, relatable, authentic.
These qualities are expressed in three-dimensional form in Emma Chamberlain's new home in Los Angeles. Designed together with interior designers Ashley Drost and Marie Trohman of Proem Studio, the house precisely reflects the laid-back lifestyle, spontaneity, and curiosity of its owner, for whom unexpected and idiosyncratic elements are more important than predictable design trophies and tired luxury symbols. "I work from home, so I wanted to create something very personal and comfortable," Chamberlain says about the project. "I brought in ideas from many decades and design eras and tried to merge them into something that not only feels coherent but also new. It wasn't about following rules or sticking to a certain aesthetic. I just tried to approach it with a certain lightness and openness."
Career Highlights and Rise to Fame
Born in 2001 in Los Angeles, Emma Chamberlain started her YouTube channel in 2017 at age 16. Her editing style — jump cuts, zoom-ins, sarcastic commentary — quickly set her apart. Within a year she had millions of subscribers. Her authentic personality resonated with Gen Z audiences tired of overly produced content. By 2019 she was attending the Met Gala as a guest of Louis Vuitton and launching her own merchandise line. She began her podcast "Anything Goes" in 2020, which became a top-ranked show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. In 2021 she founded Chamberlain Coffee, partnering with high-end retailers. She has also appeared on magazine covers like Vogue Australia and Harper's Bazaar. Despite her fame, she remains known for her down-to-earth humor and honesty about mental health and growing up.
The House: A Summer Camp Vibe
The house itself provided plenty of inspiration. Built in 1955 and clad in cedar shingles, the building combines Northern California hippie modernism with a touch of old-fashioned Adirondack charm (meaning cozy fireplaces crackling under ceiling beams). "It felt somehow like summer camp, and we leaned into that mood," says designer Ashley Drost. "We imagined a cinematic mix of 'Wet Hot American Summer' and 'Troop Beverly Hills.' Emma said: 'The idea sounds great, but I don't know what you're talking about,'" Drost recalls, laughing about the generation gap. "Frankly, it's not a perfect house, and it never will be," adds her partner Marie Trohman. "But it has a lot of personality and great energy, and its imperfections only add to the look we developed with Emma."
The rainbow-colored onyx marble coffee table forms the centerpiece of the large living room. It is surrounded by a sofa from Stahl + Band, two armchairs from Moving Mountains (all with Schumacher upholstery), and a vintage lounger by Milo Baughman. The painting on the left wall is by Emma's father Michael Chamberlain. Over the travertine dining table by Martin Massé hangs a Trueing chandelier. "Giraffe" chairs by Juliana Lima Vasconcellos, rug by Commune for Christopher Farr Cloth.
Material Mix: Copper, Stucco, and Cork
The architectural ambiance could be described as "down-to-earth with a twist" — the design team enhanced it through handcrafted natural materials and surfaces: untreated copper sheet, free-form stucco frames for the fireplaces, walls and ceilings clad in cork, slabs of honey-colored onyx marble, and a wall covering made of woven banana fibers with a subtle metallic shimmer in a guest bathroom. "For me, materials should make a statement. I like things that have the strong aura of an artwork, a painting," says Chamberlain. As for the eclectic furniture composition, as the quintessential influencer she naturally looked online. "I'm the mood board type," she explains. "I scoured every corner of the internet, dove into every Pinterest rabbit hole. Everywhere I find inspiration for my home, just like with fashion. In my head there's no difference."
Design Details: Vintage and Contemporary
The result: groovy vintage treasures — including a mirror by Ettore Sottsass and a Milo Baughman chaise longue — and works by contemporary designers like Faye Toogood and Material Lust form a relaxed decorative mix elastic enough to incorporate quirky items: a chunky vintage television, now housing a cat bed inside, or a row of corncob-shaped stools by the pool. One of the highlights of the house is a console by Proem Studio made of irregularly stacked glass blocks, inspired by fashion designer Willi Smith's desk in his amazing WilliWear office designed by SITE in the early 1980s. "When we came to Emma with a crazy idea, she said: 'Go for it!' She trusted us. So we dared to dance out of line a bit more," recalls Trohman. "But she also resisted when she didn't like something," adds Drost. "Emma knows what she wants, and she's more mature than her age suggests."
The custom upholstered bed is upholstered in Dedar velvet. Ball light in front from JF Chen, plant container from Bzippy. At the pool, simple RH loungers alternate with corncob stools from Third Drawer Down. The pool bathroom is rustic with stone floor and cedar wood paneling. Cork lines the guest bathroom. Next to the onyx marble basin stands a chair from Material Lust. Light from Lindsey Adelman. The free-form fireplace mantel in the sitting room is modeled after the plaster fireplaces of ceramist Valentine Schlegel. The rustic flagstone floor is counterbalanced by a cork ceiling covering. Vintage armchair by Bas Van Pelt, seventies floor lamp by Goffredo Reggiani.
Design Process Across Generations
Chamberlain's input was crucial throughout. "They didn't just execute what I sent them. They thought it through further. My brain works very fast. I'm quite loud, and I talk a lot — I developed all kinds of ideas, and yet everything feels cohesive in the end, like a story," she says. And that's the main thing for her: "I don't really care whether others like it. I'm the one who lives here, so I have to love it above all. And I do."
The outdoor space features RH garden furniture, with concrete mushrooms in the background by Flat Earth Designs. The kitchen is swathed in soft green from front to tile. The interior styling by Lisa Rowe and fashion styling by Jared Ellner complete the visual narrative of a home that is as personal and dynamic as its owner. Emma Chamberlain's first owned house is not just a celebrity mansion — it's a true reflection of her journey from a teenage YouTuber to a multifaceted entrepreneur, and it's designed to grow with her.
Source: AD Magazin News