Alexandra & Eliot’s 1890’s Farmhouse

Name: Alexandra & Eliot Angle (shared with their daughter and their puppy)
Location: Los Feliz — Los Angeles, CA
Size: 1,400 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years — Own

Alexandra and Eliot’s house was built in the 1890’s, and is the first original home in Los Feliz. Now surrounded by a residential city block of homes and apartment complexes, the Angles have the ideal hidden getaway. Completing the modern farmhouse with a gorgeous “sleeping” barn and front yard, these savvy designers added plenty of whimsy and modern touches to the interiors.

Los Feliz is my absolute favorite neighborhood in Los Angeles. It’s got that small town charm of everything you could possibly need within a four block radius. Vermont and Hillhurst are the the two main streets that make up Los Feliz, and guide you straight up to the foothills of Griffith Park. Eliot and Alexandra’s home is a true hidden treasure, that you honestly would never know existed unless you were invited over. After seeing their portfolio online for their design firm, I knew it would be magical.

Noting that the most significant element about the home is that it is still standing, the Angles believe that the most essential part of designing a home is the architecture and the landscape. “We found a early 1890s farmhouse hidden away in the heart of the city. We are told it was the first house in Los Feliz Village, and was built by a
family of pumpkin farmers in what was then the far countryside outside of
downtown LA. The pumpkin farming apparently didn’t go so well for them, and
they sold off all their land so the house is entirely hidden from all the
surrounding streets. So, while the house was in such terrible shape that no
one wanted it (holes in the walls, bathroom tile sitting literally in dirt,
no foundation, no heat, paper thin walls, etc) the site was private and had
lovely old citrus trees and a Concord grape arbor.”

Indulging in the warm Southern California comforts they marvel in the ability to have fully functional rooms outside. “The house needed anenormous amount of structural and cosmetic work, but we are very happy with it. And we added the Sleep Barn right next to it, connecting it with a painted deck and trellis as an outdoor hallway.”

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Depends on the project

Inspiration: The dilapidated 1890’s farmhouse hidden in the heart of the city

Favorite Element: The secret garden feeling

Biggest Challenge: The dilapidated 1890’s farmhouse hidden in the heart of the city

What Friends Say: It’s impossible to find

Biggest Embarrassment: none

Proudest DIY: Hand stenciling the deck

Biggest Indulgence: Our furniture and art

Best Advice: It is worth it to save to buy a few truly good pieces, rather than clutter your home with replaceable mediocrity.

Dream Sources: Galerie Kreo, Paris

Resources of Note:

PAINT & COLORS
• Living/Dining- Ralph Lauren ‘Chalk White’
• Kitchen- Ralph Lauren ‘Whisper’
• Office- Benjamin Moore ‘Opal’
• Bathroom- Benjamin Moore ‘Good Morning Sunshine’
• Master Bed- Benjamin Moore ‘Mountain Peak White’
• Daughter’s bedroom- Benjamin Moore ‘Pure White’
• Bathroom- Benjamin Moore ‘Simply White’
• Hallway- Benjamin Moore ‘Lilly White’

ENTRY
• Antique child’s chair – Alexandra’s grandmother
• Test tube heads – Giant Robot gallery artist
• Gold frame – from an old 19th c portrait

LIVING ROOM
We stained the original floors with a natural stain from Germany, kept the original layout and painted everything. There was no heat, so we added the Danish wood stove.
• Tubby Chair – Alexandra Angle Design
• Serge Mouille standing lamp
• Oval rug – custom from Fedora Design
• Wood stove – Bo Bonfils
• Window seat- custom
• Circular Chair – Alexandra Angle Design
• Hans Wegner Easy Chair CH44
• Calder Table – Driade
• Blow Side Tables – Elizabeth Paige Smith
• Hot Kroon Wall Light – Piet Boon

DINING ROOM
Kept the original farmhouse bench, and built a Windsor bench to match it
• Stork Table – Alexandra Angle Design
• Cluster Light – Kathleen Hills, from MatterMatters
• High Windsor Bench – design Alexandra Angle
• Multiple Drawer Cabinet – design Alexandra Angle
• Mahogany side table – Eliot’s grandmother

KITCHEN
We considered adding on to the kitchen, but instead went for the challenge of a total overhaul – all 95 sq ft of it. Reclaimed wood cabinets, distressed zinc counters, and the smallest European appliances made.
• Stove – Smeg
• Fridge – Fagor
• Dishwasher (hidden by cab door) – Bosch
• Farmhouse soapstone sink – from Vermont
• Clusterlamp – by Moooi

BATHROOM
This was the original bathroom, which used to be an out house.
• Tile – Soli LandSurfaces Encaustic Tile in “Chartes”
• Vintage style shower pan – Strom
• Plumibing – by Strom

OFFICE
• Arc Chair – Alexandra Angle Design
• Negiste Chair – Alexandra Angle Design
• Lounge chair – Lee Industries
• Double desk is custom – by Alexandra Angle
• Desk chairs – Thonet B9 Armchairs in natural beechwood with cane seat
• Adjustable Bookshelf/TV stand – Alexandra Angle Design

MASTER BEDROOM
We built the Sleep Barn where the old garage had been. Used reclaimed wide-plank boards for the floor, and corrugated barn siding on the outside
• Bed frame – Design by Alexandra Angle
• PP Mobler Rocking Chair PP124
• Rolling Side tables – Alexandra Angle Design
• Custom closets – design by Alexandra Angle
• Rolling table– Alexandra Angle Design

CHILD’S BEDROOM
• Rug – by Fedora Design
• Negiste Chair – Alexandra Angle Design
• Bed design- by Alexandra Angle
• Wallpaper – Trove “Indi” Wallpaper

BATHROOM
• vintage work sink
• First Aid cabinet – Alexandra Angle Design

OUTSIDE
We put up the fences, bamboo, ivy and bouganvillea for total privacy. Laid the bluestone for the living room patio, and created a “room” with the circular ball hedge divider. We laid the sod, designed the gardens and created the bluestone path. We then made a white gravel dining area under the old California oak. And made an outdoor bathing area with fully plumbed antique French zinc tub.
• Pomfret Couch – Alexandra Angle Design
• Pomfret Table – Alexandra Angle Design
• African chair – Patricia Urquiola
• Rocking Chair – from Moroso
• 2 wicker chairs – Conran Shop
• Dining table and benches – by Thonet

Thanks, Alexandra and Eliot!

Images: Bethany Nauert

Originally published 1.11.12 – JL

• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.