Inside Designer Minnie Mortimer’s Brentwood Palace

[UPDATE: This story was originally published on January 17.]

Upon entering Minnie Mortimer's sunny, Brentwood abode, it's instantly apparent that apart from her teensy frame, her name doesn't do her justice—this girl has GIANT style! The surfer-slash-designer's pad, which she shares with husband Stephen Gaghan, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Traffic, exudes that unique brand of Cali cool only achieved with quick wit—and the ability to wear many aesthetic hats at once. A former stylist and photog for the glossies, Minnie's casually cool, eponymous ready-to-wear line has been going gangbusters, but she still manages to find time to expertly curate thousands of square feet of pure home envy—all while being a supermom to her two-year-old daughter Tuesday and pup, Fuzzy Duck.

The perfect mélange of East-meets-West coast chic (Minnie used to be an NYC girl), every nook and cranny of her style identity piqued our interest. She's one of those women that makes a ten minute conversation impossible; you need to linger to learn more, and indeed, one cup of café quickly turned into three! After our marathon chat, we had to share this gal about town's wide-ranging wisdom, which runs the gamut from swanky surf spots to the ultimate Oscar-night attire. Warning, after a serious caffeine buzz, that humongous closet is really easy to get lost in.