The Zappa Nest, perched above the historic Zappa House in the Hollywood Hills, is a richly atmospheric guest house designed as a creative retreat for visiting musicians. While the project bridges music history and mid-century design, its defining feature is the vivid, immersive use of Tonester Paints. The color-driven transformation gives the home its emotional identity, setting the tone for every room and guiding the renovation from the earliest concept. The project also marks a significant milestone for the brand: the first and only bespoke exterior paint project ever created by Tonester.

A mix of custom Tonester shades, specifically created for the Zappa Nest, and select colors from Tonester's existing collection shaped the project's entire visual language. These custom and signature hues were chosen for their emotional resonance, depth, and ability to shift with natural light. They anchor each room with a distinct atmosphere, creating continuity throughout the home while emphasizing the interiors' expressive character.

Custom color, Zappa Green

Originally part of the compound built by American guitarist Frank Zappa in the 1970s, the Nest has been revived by owner Chris Behlau in collaboration with mid-century specialist and gallerist Lars Triesch, founder of Original in Berlin. Triesch was given complete freedom to craft a space that would inspire artists during their recording sessions. His central decision was to shape the interiors through color. Tonester's saturated pigments and layered tonalities served as the starting point for the entire design language, shaping furniture selection, material pairings, and the spatial rhythm of the house.

A Tonester hue anchors each room selected for its emotional resonance, enhanced by one of Tony's go-to pro tips: never leave the ceiling white. By extending color overhead or choosing a contrasting ceiling shade, the palette wraps the space in an embracing, atmospheric vibe that heightens mood and energy. "A white ceiling cuts the room in half," says Tony Piloseno, Tonester Founder & CEO. "Color on the ceiling brings everything together. It wraps you, it balances the light, and it gives the room a vibe you can actually feel."

These choices amplify natural light, create visual flow between communal and intimate spaces, and define the home's expressive personality. Against this backdrop, sculptural mid-century furnishings and collectible design pieces gain a new dimension, as the architecture shifts from neutral container to an active, energized environment that supports creativity, introspection, and experimentation.

By leading with Tonester's richly saturated colors and full-room approach, including the ceiling, the project reframes a historic property through a contemporary expressive lens. The Zappa Nest becomes not only a tribute to Zappa's legacy but also a forward-looking creative haven, where color, design, and music converge to inspire a new generation of artists. And with Tonester's first-ever bespoke exterior space, equally reflective of this spirit, the home's creative vibrancy begins even before you step inside.

XXX walls

©Clemens Kios

Storms of Paris on the home exterior

©Clemens Kios

About 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.

Tonester Paints has extended its presence beyond the United States, debuting at Paris Design Week 2024 as part of DAYBED at the Hôtel de la Marine, a bold, immersive installation imagined by Univers Uchronia. In January 2025, the brand was selected for Maison&Objet's Best of Hospitality exhibition, where its vibrant palette brought emotion and energy to the guest experience. And most recently, the American paint brand completed an exhibition during the 2025 Milan Design Week. Tonester Paints can now be seen in showrooms from New York City (Maison Bowery) to Paris (Veronese Paris), further cementing its footprint in the global design world.

With an eye for collaboration and a heart for storytelling, Tonester Paints continues to push the boundaries of how color connects us. Follow along @TonesterPaints or visit www.tonesterpaints.com.

Press Contact
S2H Communication Paris/Miami/NYC
Sarah Hamon - sarah@s2hcommunication.com

Natalie Tomaselli - natalie@s2hcommunication.com