There’s no denying that technology is an integral part of life, especially since working from home and Zoom school has become standard. For Jessica Alba, in particular, tech has been one of the cornerstones in her multibillion-dollar eco-friendly empire, Honest Company, since its launch a decade ago. “I probably wouldn’t be an entrepreneur if it weren’t for technology,” she told Architectural Digest on July 14, after she took part in a panel at an interactive AT&T event about the future of 5G. “It democratized the opportunity that I had as a person that had an idea for a business and brought it to people in a really authentic and personal way.”
The wonders of technology have also allowed for the mom of three (she shares daughters Honor, 13, and Haven, 9, and son Hayes, 3, with husband Cash Warren) to get creative when adding some updates to her dreamy Los Angeles abode, which AD got to tour in 2019. Alba, who’s in the market to remodel her bathrooms, recently invested in San Francisco–based bathroom renovation startup Made Renovation after coming across the company on Instagram. “I’ve done so many [renovations] at this point that I’m like, Oh, I don’t know if I necessarily need a designer,” explains the 40-year-old. “I think there are certain apps and things that can help with that kind of stuff [now].” Below, Alba fills us in on her latest home changes and her must-have items.
Architectural Digest: As a mom of three, do you find technology plays a part in your parenting?
Jessica Alba: Technology has allowed them to feel empowered when it comes to the way they want to express themselves. Their imagination can really run wild with how they want to present their ideas, their perspective, their point of view. Honor’s a really passionate artist, and so she’s always on her device. She can draw to her heart’s content.
What gadgets in your home can you not live without?
My coffee maker. And the phone—the phone is my office. I would say our phones are almost like another limb. It’s like an extension of you. It’s a direct reflection of you, which makes it more personalized.
What coffee maker do you use?
We have the Nespresso espresso and the coffee one. We have both. And my milk warmer. I probably need [to drink] more water.
You recently updated your office. Is there a gadget in there that’s a must-have for you when it comes to running your business?
The phones, the tablets, the computers—all of those. I probably have three going at the same time. I’ll be using one to review a presentation while I’m in a live meeting and using the other to update my husband on what time I’m going to be home for dinner.
How are you coming up with a vision for your bathroom redesign?
I put together a lot of Pinterest boards. If you look at my Pinterest, you’ll see how detailed it is, on knobs and pulls and entryways…all of the inspiration!
How would you describe your style?
I’m a visual person. I like the mix of old and new. I like things that feel timeless, but then also conversational and cool, and something that sort of inspires you and it doesn’t feel like you took it out of a window. I like things that feel like there’s a story or there’s a point of view.
We toured your house a couple of years ago and we loved it. Have you made any other new additions or changed anything in the house?
I redid the kids’ rooms because I didn’t really get to go in the way I wanted to. I wanted to sit in the house and feel it out. And then I’m going to do the outdoors, so it’s more an extension of the house. We found that we’re spending a lot more time indoor-outdoor, but we don’t really have a ton of space for that to happen, so I’m going to create more of an indoor-outdoor vibe.