Reborn Creative Hideaway by Tonester’s Custom Colors with Shaped Design, Mood, and Legacy

The Zappa Nest, a newly restored guest house above the original Frank Zappa compound in the Hollywood Hills, has been reimagined as a creative retreat for visiting musicians. The project centers on the expressive use of Tonester Paints, marking the brand’s first and only bespoke exterior commission. Color—not furnishings or architectural intervention—became the driving force behind the renovation.

Custom color, Zappa Green
Photo credit: ©Clemens Kois

Custom color, Zappa Green
Photo credit: ©Clemens Kois

Custom color, Zappa Green
Photo credit: ©Clemens Kois

Owner Chris Behlau enlisted mid-century specialist and gallerist Lars Triesch to redesign the space with total creative freedom. Triesch structured the design around custom Tonester hues developed specifically for the house, complemented by selections from the brand’s existing palette. These richly saturated tones serve as emotional anchors for each room, shifting with natural light and shaping how the space is experienced.

Photo credit: ©Clemens Kois

Storms of Paris on the home exterior
Photo credit: ©Clemens Kois

Photo credit: ©Clemens Kois

A key design principle was extending color to the ceiling, a strategy advocated by Tonester Founder & CEO Tony Piloseno. Rejecting the conventional white ceiling helped unify each room and intensify atmosphere, turning interior volumes into enveloping fields of color.

French Blue walls and The Loved and Lost Club ceiling

Photo credit: ©Clemens Kois

Photo credit: ©Clemens Kois

The result reframes the historic property as an environment that supports introspection, spontaneity, and artistic experimentation. Mid-century furniture and collectible pieces gain new resonance against the heightened palette, transforming the house from a neutral shell into an energized creative studio. With its renewed identity—and its first-of-its-kind custom exterior treatment—the Zappa Nest stands as both a tribute to Zappa’s legacy and an invitation for the next generation of artists to create.

Tonester Paints

Based in Florida, Tonester Paints is a homegrown paint brand founded by Tony Piloseno, an artistic visionary whose journey began with viral paint-mixing videos on TikTok. Originally from Ohio, Tony's hypnotic color creations captivated millions, inspiring a global community of color lovers and creatives. In 2021, he launched Tonester Paints and turned his passion into a purpose-driven business. Built on creativity, authenticity, and community, Tonester Paints offers top-quality paints designed to inspire, from DIYers and professional artists to interior designers and homeowners. Each shade is developed with Tony's personal touch and a commitment to color that tells a story.