Discover how Wayne Sermon’s California home uses layered textures and colors to create a warm, inviting space that reflects his personal style.
When Wayne Sermon, lead guitarist of Imagine Dragons, and his wife, Alexandra, set out to find their forever home, they wanted more than just a place to live—they wanted a sanctuary. After years of touring, their dream was simple: a home with acreage, warmth, and a deep connection to nature. Their search led them to a stunning six-acre property south of Los Angeles, nestled in a peaceful, horse-filled community. The result? A home that feels like a retreat—one that blends breathtaking landscapes with carefully curated interiors.
Interior designers Michael Maciocia and Heather Docherty of FORMM collaborated with the Sermons to transform this vision into reality, creating a space that reflects their lifestyle, warmth, and connection to nature. The design highlights the power of layering textures and materials to create an inviting, lived-in home. This project serves as a great source of inspiration for interior designers, showing how thoughtfully chosen elements can come together to evoke comfort and personality.
Designing with Storytelling in Mind
For Wayne Sermon and Alexandra, their home needed to be an extension of their life experiences. Rather than simply decorating, they wanted to create a space that reflected their journey. The design showcases pieces that hold personal meaning—whether it’s a vintage find from their travels or a custom item inspired by the landscape around them.
Interior designers can take inspiration from this approach, using elements that evoke a client’s story and personality. One such element in the Sermons’ home is their use of rugs. Each rug, whether sourced from afar or created locally, tells a story and adds warmth to the space. By incorporating meaningful pieces into a design, interior designers can create a home that feels both unique and inviting.
Layering for Warmth and Depth
One of the defining features of Wayne Sermon’s home is its ability to feel intimate, despite the expansive views and large floor plan. The interior balances openness with warmth through the strategic layering of textures and materials. From rich textiles to organic materials, the home exudes a sense of depth and coziness.
A significant part of this layered effect comes from the rugs. The careful combination of large, neutral base rugs with smaller, textured pieces adds visual interest, creating a balanced and welcoming atmosphere. This layering technique can be applied to any design project, enhancing the space without overwhelming it.
Blurring Indoor and Outdoor Living
Wayne Sermon’s home celebrates the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Expansive windows and sliding doors open up to the surrounding landscape, creating a seamless transition between the two. The design encourages a natural flow between the indoors and the outdoors, making it feel as though the home is an extension of the landscape itself.
To enhance this fluidity, the rugs in the home incorporate natural textures and earth tones. These elements help blur the lines between interior and exterior, making the space feel cohesive and connected to nature. Rugs in transitional areas—such as patios and sunrooms—add to this effect by grounding the space and creating a sense of continuity.
Curating a Space That Feels Collected, Not Decorated
The design of Wayne Sermon’s home feels carefully curated rather than decorated. This approach reflects a more personal, lived-in aesthetic, where each piece has its own history and significance. By blending old and new items—such as a century-old Croatian mandolin alongside modern furnishings—the space feels harmonious and authentic.
Interior designers can apply this philosophy by mixing different design styles and elements in a way that feels cohesive. In the case of the rugs, combining traditional handwoven pieces with more contemporary designs adds character to the space. This curated approach ensures that the home feels dynamic without appearing overly stylized.
Creating an Intimate Atmosphere in Large Spaces
Designing a spacious home can often result in a cold or impersonal feeling. But Wayne Sermon’s home manages to maintain an intimate, cozy atmosphere despite its large size. High ceilings and expansive rooms are made to feel grounded through the use of soft, inviting rugs.
Strategically placed rugs define zones within open spaces, creating intimate areas within the larger rooms. This use of rugs to define spaces adds a sense of warmth and comfort, making the home feel more like a cozy retreat despite its grandeur.
A Harmonious Composition, Like Music
For Wayne Sermon, the design of his home is much like the composition of a great song. Each element—be it furniture, materials, or rugs—works together in harmony to create a unified atmosphere. This philosophy is key in both music and design: the sum of the parts must contribute to the overall feeling of the space.
The rugs in Wayne Sermon’s home play a crucial role in this balance. Whether bold statement pieces or subtle, textured additions, they help set the tone for the room. Like instruments in a band, rugs contribute to the rhythm and flow of the space, creating a harmonious composition.
Final Thoughts: Elevating Design with Thoughtful Layering
Wayne Sermon’s home is a stunning example of how thoughtful, personal design can create a sanctuary. With the expertise of Michael Maciocia and Heather Docherty from FORMM, Wayne Sermon and Alexandra crafted a home that balances comfort, intimacy, and a deep connection to nature. Interior designers can learn from their approach by carefully layering textures, choosing meaningful pieces, and ensuring a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
If you’re inspired by the warmth, authenticity, and depth of Wayne Sermon’s home, elevate your next design project with TAPIS Studio’s curated collection of high-quality rugs. TAPIS Studio offers a wide range of rugs that will add personality, texture, and warmth to your spaces. Visit TAPIS Studio today to discover the perfect rug to complete your vision.
Project: FORMM
Photography: Sam Frost
