Name: Brendan Ravenhill, Marjory Garrison, and 2 roommates
Location: Echo Park — Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,300 square feet
Years lived in: 1 — rented
Furniture and product designer, Brendan Ravenhill, and his wife, Marjory Garrison, left most of their belongings behind on the East Coast when they set off for Los Angeles, where they planned to stay only 3 months. Over a year later, they still haven't said goodbye to the gorgeous views from the Echo Park apartment where they live and work in a state of charming minimalism born from their transient circumstances.
The space lacks embellishment, giving a loft-like feel to the small, open common area — decorated with a variety of colorful prototypes for Brendan's elegant and utilitarian lamps. "The apartment is home to three people who live and work there," Brendan says. "As a result we try to keep the common spaces uncluttered and inviting. I personally try to be sure that my projects don't spill over into shared space too often." While the couple hopes to retrieve their possessions from storage at some point, the dearth of stuff has the advantageous effect of giving dramatic views of Los Angeles and breathtaking sunsets center stage.
Visit Brendan Ravenhill's website to see more of his work.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Circumstantially minimal (all our stuff is still in Providence, Rhode Island)
Inspiration: The working beauty of barns and boats — objects that strike the perfect balance between form, material, and function.
Favorite Element: The view from our deck
Biggest Challenge: There aren't a lot of windows.
Proudest DIY: My re-purposed Eames chair base coffee table
Best Advice: Honesty of materials
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
- • 3x5 lamp (Brendan Ravenhill)
• IKEA locker cabinet
• Eames shell chairs
• Vintage couch
• Hex Floor Lamp, (Brendan Ravenhill)
• Jib arm lamp prototype (Brendan Ravenhill)
• Eames Coffee table hack (Brendan Ravenhill)
DINING ROOM
- • Vintage post-war table and chairs
BEDROOM
- • Cord lamps (Brendan Ravenhill)
• DIY bed frame from salvaged wood I-beams
• Prints from Tiny Showcase
STUDIO/OFFICE
- • Cord lamp prototypes
• Salvaged cabinet standing desk
• LA Buca Stool prototype (Brendan Ravenhill)
• Friso table prototype (Brendan Ravenhill)
• Pentagon Facet Lamp (Brendan Ravenhill)
• Eames Shell Chair
• Aluminum Surgeon's desk (Army surplus)
• Hex desk Lamp (Brendan Ravenhill)
MORE BRENDAN RAVENHILL ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Cool Bedside Lighting: Cord Lamps by Brendan Ravenhill
• Facet Lamps by Brendan Ravenhill
Thanks, Brendan & Marjory!
Images: Sarah Rainwater
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I'm in love with the lamps and the deck.
modern, yes. minimal, no. with that said, i do like this space.
Love the couch! I have a very similar one, but it has crazy magenta and avocado flocked velvet floral all over it. Sometimes I wish it were a bit more "grownup" (i.e. neutral).
Your patio is of course, amazing. I really love the deck chairs, I assume they are your design?
Great space and love love love the sofa! If you're ever interested in selling...;-)
I feel like there's "feeling" missing...
Superior....great artist's space. "part home, part office, part storage, part workshop" is exactly the point. A clear space in which to think and create, great use of salvaged materials. Look forward to seeing more of their work and have just a small suggestion : cord covers, painted to match the wall, at least for the clock. More of a personal preference, really.
Love it! I especially like all of the light fixtures/lamps!
What is the brown-gray paint color?
Great space! I love so many of you pieces. I too, feel like something is missing and I think its a blend of another style. Right now, it seems to be 100% unfinished, industrial feel. Large wall art would really add to it. Graphic colorful pieces with a more finished feel/framing to contrast the unfinished feel. Maybe a more glamourous light fixture or chair thrown into the mix here & there?
The wall clock stood out to me too, not because I'm adverse to cords showing but so many of those wall clocks for home use battery operated so I really noticed this one was plugged in. Maybe its an old school or office clock? I know those used to be plugged in.
It's definitely artsy & has unusual elements, but the space is a little cold feeling. Some comfort pieces could be added in somehow :)
I love the couch... I have a chair with the exact same upholstery!
Just seems a bit bloodless.
Nice space, though I don't really dig the floors. I do love the colours and the roomy deck, though. Is that Brendan? Cuuuuuuuute!
I like the lamps, the furniture and the deck. Thanks for sharing.
It all does seem 'bloodless' and that it's missing 'feeling'. To me, it seems as though it's a temporary living space, and no commitment has been made. It reminds me A LOT of my apartment in university. I think the real problem is that some of the furnishings are to scale, and others are not. HUGE great sofa and TEENY TINY sofa table? What?! I am almost inclined to say "Good start, can't wait to see it when it's finished."
It feels awkward. Minimalist...no. Undone...yes. I agree with some of the other reviewers...where's the feeling? Maybe it's a showroom for Brendan? In that case, should it really be featured in a home tour?
The view is making me salivate. That being said, all those cords are giving me nightmares. Not a fan of the 'non-style' they have going on.
Let's start a fund to buy these guys some RUGS! I think that is what the place desperately needs. That is why it looks cold.
I like the sparseness in the lighting fixtures. I wonder if the lush green hillside was the juxtaposition for the "bloodless" interiors. I would maybe warm the space with rugs. Trying to figure out what "Honesty of materials" means though. Are you calling my materials liars?
I see.
(This is a minimalist comment.)
Wow, not sure how you've survived with so little art for so long. It would be the first thing up in my own home, even if I were there only a week!
I want to know what the brown-gray paint is, too. It almost looks like Benjamin Moore GRay Mountain but there are so many variations!
"Charmingly minimalism"? Looks like a Department of Motor Vehicles waiting room...
Very cute space.