It wouldn't be a house tour without an eames chair.

"The Philip Starck “Mr. Impossible” chair..."

The man's name is Philippe Starck. Spelling counts.

Very odd that the narrative highlights a handmade bed - but no photograph of it, much less the bedroom at all...
...yet no mention at all of the fabulous vintage stove in the kitchen that IS photographed.

And that painting of a woman eating a Dalmation is rather disturbing - We didn't need to see that twice, did we?

hah...bepsf, i believe the woman is eating a birch tree, rather than a dalmation. these photos don't do a great job at showing off the space: too grainy, and the fisheye doesn't help. you really need a wider angle lens to capture small spaces.

@bepsf:
I thought that was a birch tree branch she was eating!
(but still disturbing)

I think the house is actually pretty great, but these photos don't do a great job of telling the story.

In general, I'd rather hear more from the homeowners, and less write-up from bloggers. (In fact--no write-up works well for me.)

Maybe a video tour with an on-camera interview would be better or at least an option. The House Tour Questionnaire could use an update as well.

Interesting, I thought the object in the painting was a cat but decided it was a birch tree. Disturbing nonetheless.

I vote for bepsf as an AT blogger. (S)he always has excellent insight and is well spoken.

bepsf would be a great blogger, but perhaps a little more of a Debbie Downer than most.

Where is the bed? More angles of the rooms would be nice, too.

I agree with bepsf et al. about the lack of a pic with the bed, BUT I like the painting with the lady eating the dog, it's so cartoonish and surreal that I would never call it disturbing.

On the writing: I think the writing is on the better side especially when compared to that of the last couple of try-outs.

On the pictures: I wish more effort and thought went into them. Photographs of square and rectangular shapes could easily be manipulated such that the lines run parallel, and it is nice to think of the edges of the pictures, see for example Patrick (the other one's) tour.

On the house itself: A rug or a fully upholstered non MCM couch would warm up the space a bit and break the thin wooden leg dominance.

I thought it was a nice tour (very clean and simple). I did find myself wondering where the bedroom was, though...? And since the writer mentioned her great collection of artwork, it would have been nice to see more of it!

Also, I know its irritating when commenters nitpick the blogger's choice of words, but... is 790 square feet really considered 'tiny,' now?

Birch Tree! Now why didn't I see that?
(It's not often you see one being consumed as if it were a burrito...)

Oh, and I did misspell "Dalmatian" - Mea Culpa.

"but... is 790 square feet really considered 'tiny,' now?"

compared to the 3000 sq feet homes that have been dominating the house tours as of late, yes it is tiny. maybe apt. therapy should now call itself house therapy.

also wondered about the bedroom. really like the clean lines of this space. i think that painting is meant to look like she's eating a birch tree or dalmatian.

@FantasticMrFaux, I personally like the photos more than a video tour. My wifi is not completely dependable, and I usually don't like sound content (especially if I'm at work or if other people are in the room with me).

And I agree that spelling counts. :)

And speaking of the Philippe Starck chair, the sentence makes it seem as if *it* was living in London for work. Punctuation is also a problem.

Since it seems as if editing is up to the bloggers themselves, Alison, take time (or recruit a friend) to make sure your sentences are carefully crafted. Easy reading is damn hard writing, as Nathanial Hawthorne said, but it pays off -- even on the web. Keep it up!

whoa... some valid points here, but a little harsh for a blogger who is just trying out, no? I understand holding the new person/people up to high standards, but let's look for potential rather than getting caught up in the first-try mistakes.

that said, I do agree that AT should be seeking new bloggers whose aesthetic preference is not limited to MCM.

I love MCM furniture but it is a little overkill in this space. I think that style works best when it's mixed in with other styles.

I don't understand that painting at all. I'm a lover of art but I think it's kind of bizarre.

The house itself looks pretty nice.

Raising my hand!! The very term "mid century modern" is grating on my nerves since it was modern when I was born and that makes ME midcentury. (a disturbing term)

That said, this is a lovely space even though it's a lot like the libraries and schools I hung out in as a kid. Maybe that's why my style isn't "clean lines". Reminds me of math homework.

Shiny, polished wood makes me smile in other people's homes though

While I think some of the criticisms are a little harsh, I do agree that since the write-up mentions the bed more than once, we should get a picture or two of the bedroom.

And while I probably wouldn't hang that painting in my living room, I'm not sure it rises to the level of "too disturbing for prime time." One person's art is another person's "yuck." It puts me in mind of the boob lamp.

thank you clampers for reassuring me that I'm not the only perverted person here

there is some evidence from the "blogger trying out for a place on the Apartment Therapy editorial team as a House Tour Contributor" in picture number 8.
ps: that´s is a huge dog!

I actually do find this to be a very light-filled, lovely home. Wish I could have seen more of it. Strange not to show the bedroom......

As for the artwork, it's a woman pulling a birch tree from her mouth. But how many times do we have to see that old trick?

This living room is sort of oddly lacking in textiles, isn't it? I think it would be much improved by a rug - and some throw pillows - and some curtains?

NOTE: Apologies for the bedroom photos being missing earlier. I communicated with Alison and we got it sorted out. Please enjoy the full tour!

whoa! When did we all get so harsh? These almost seem planted...

ANYWAY This is a great house tour and a great "audition." Thanks Alison.

790 square feet of space sounds like a palace to this New Yorker! My apartment would barely contain that dog (who is adorable, btw).

Yes, for every wave, there must be an inevitable backlash: "Too much mid-century modern. Yuck!"

Well, I still like mid-century modern and I always will. So there.

I'm not so sure I'm seeing the full glory of the bed, but I love the green night table!

@ Emily the Cat: I'm actually envious of all the shiny hardwood floors that Luz can display. Living in a NYC apartment, my building requires a certain amount of the floor to be covered, and I think its such a shame to hide the gorgeous wood floors in a city full of concrete... That said, I agree with you re the lack of textiles, adding some could be a finishing touch in the living room... I tend to accessorize with colorful throw pillows and/or a blanket, depending on the season, etc.

To Alison, the guest-blogger - I love the photo of the (giant) doberman in the kitchen. It really puts the size of the space into perspective! (And it made me laugh!)

Finally, wondering if the watercolor of the lion (in the bedroom) is a piece that Luz created or something she acquired? Thank you!

Holy crumb! I covet the big white bin planters on the caster racks in the yard. They're marvelous.

thanks for the photos of the bed. i know AT readers are somewhat tired of MCM but i think this space is great--it's well edited & i love all the furniture. nicely done!

I like the painting, it's a conversation piece and definitely serves its purpose because everyone here is commenting about it! Many people would choose to omit the photo of the painting alone but kudos to AG for including it. It's obviously a focal point of the room whether you like it or not.

I love the furniture, cute place, very L.A.

Oooooh, I really love that bedroom. So simple and lovely. And the green night table is pretty amazing. Glad you added the pics!

Some of you guys are really overly critical....and some that seem to comment on here are ALWAYS critical...jeez man it's not your house.

Thanks for sharing your home...I too love the white planters on casters...would you mind sharing where you got those?

I thought it was a dalmatian also.

I concur that a rug would help in the living room. The wood floor is lovely, but the coffee table looks lonely in the middle of it.

I love the green nightstand as well, so glad I ran into the post when the photos were all in. :)

I suppose one would have to strip that bed to see it's glory... ah well! re: white couch--wish I had such neighbors!

love: your dog
love: green nightstand
love: living/dining room layout - especially bookcase divider
love: big tub-on-casters-planters
love: all the art and ceramics

wish: your couch was upholstered in a better fabric

As much as I love the rest of the house, I loathe that woman-eating-the-dog-shaped-branch painting. But, hey, we gotta all admit that it's interesting. Look how many of us commented on that painting.

The kitchen stove is awesome. The hardwood floors are stunning. And, naturally, I ADORE THE DOG. Dobies are the Rolls-Royce of dogs.

Very thoughtful posting by Alison. The dog and the artwork are wonderful! I agree that the simplicity of the decor make for a very lovely space. LOVE the dining table.

While I do think AT has jumped the shark when it comes to mid-century modern (if I never see another Eames recliner, I will die happy, all apologies to Ray and Charles), I found this little house refreshing precisely because the decor doesn't feel like it's posturing. Each piece just does its thing: the mcm chairs quietly abide; the sideboard acts as low-profile room divider; the much-discussed painting adds color and provokes opinions and interest (fwiw, I like it). One comes away with the feeling that Luz loves her furnishings and would love them regardless of design trends.

Oh, and that green bedside table? Somehow, someday, it will be mine.

LOVE the pics by the bed in #24 and the outdoor planter, plus the whole look overall, wood on wood on wood. The tree fellatio painting... not so much.

Very unique and reflects the owner rather than a cookie cutter "magazine" aesthetic. It's obvious a lot of thought and love went into the purchase and placement of each piece of furniture and art. Refreshing and interesting to see!

ok. not to sound redundant, but i agree w/the others. that "dalmation eating" painting is indeed disturbing....i still dont see the tree, but even if i did....
i do like the vibe of the place. could tell it was l.a. before i even learned it was. very relaxed. comfortable.

I love it! I have a similar tendency toward this style too, but I need some more time to get my apartment to look as cool as yours!

While the apartment looks pretty cool and I love the red dobie, I can't get over the larger-than-life painting in the living room. I see one and only one thing when I look at it. I think I and probably everyone I know is way too immature to have that in my house. The jokes would be relentless.

The thumbnail on the front page of the birch tree painting certainly grabbed my attention. Great conversation piece. Haha!

Had to comment on the painting since no one seems to get it despite the fact that the lime green book was in the shot with the painting repeatedly. The book is called Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, and it's clearly positioned in front of the painting as an explanation. Do a quick search on a summary of the book, and you'll understand what the painting is all about. Yes it's very in-your-face, which is the whole point.

I never said I didn't like midcentury modern, just that I hate BEING midcentury modern.

^.^

Regarding the focal artwork... I think it's great when a painting can stir emotions, as it obviously has for a lot of the AT readers and I know it did for me. So bravo. And the colors are vivid and a great compliment to the mid-century style (which I say as a person not very into MCM at all). Good work.

What's up with the painting?

The showcased home is eye catching and full of character. I especially like how it was personally decorated, with every piece having a meaning behind it. It's simple, yet modern with an edge to it. Even the doberman in looks chic in the kitchen picture, thanks for sharing!

I'm not sure why there is so much snarking about this tour. It might not be Elle Decor, but it's great effort for a first time post.

Now, how does one get out of the kitchen, passed that enormous dog?

Wow, it's really mid century! Some nice pieces, but I really dislike that painting (I thought she was eating a dog and decieded it was a tree? Still not sure...) but I loved the stove.

The kitchen counter wouldn't be bad if the groat was given a good scrubbing.

I honestly don't understand why anyone would have something negative to say about this house. It's light, airy, clean, well-edited. The fireplace is beautiful, as is the beamed ceiling. It combines rustic, earthy elements with modern simplicity. The artwork is nicely displayed with a good ratio of blank wall space to canvas. It's actually very gallery like. So why the negativity? I don't get it! Could people be so turned off by one piece of art that they would dismiss the entire house???

So what *is* up with the painting? I'm sure it's quite a conversation starter. And my guess is that it has some special meaning to the homeowner. No one hangs a painting like that just because it's the right size and color scheme. I know if I were a guest I'd inquire. So, what does it mean? Is this woman supposed to be a pig, devouring natural resources? Is she a tree "lover," taking it to the next level? Is she "becoming one" with nature? What????

Beautiful home.

I'm a big fan of focal art, and that be it. My housemate/husband wouldn't let me put that particular one in, but he's compromised on some other weird stuff. As homeowners, you stop "feeling" it every time you walk in a room, and when guests come over, it's fun to talk about.

It's an adorable place, and looks like it works well, too. Good job! (Don't let the cranky-panted commenters rain on your parade.)

Greetings from another Highland Park resident who purchased at the height of the bubble! Love your place. Mid-century isn't our thing (we have a 1921 craftsman bungalow) but we admire the clean lines and simplicity of this home. Good work!

Great job on the house! It looks like the house was furnished with items you love, that you accumulated over time. Your house is a great canvas for those items!

I especially love the conversation that the auditioning bloggers start - it's great to see so many posts on apartmenttherapy and have people join the community/come out of lurking to discuss design.

Finally - cute doggie! Luz - how do you feel the floors have held up. We're slowly dog-proofing our home for a future addition to our family and were wondering how the floors hold up.

Janel--good work! You give a lot of information on how the house/style evolved, which is what I always want to know about.

Ma3:
The painting is a conversation piece?
And just how might that conversation go?

[Host goes into the kitchen to fetch coffee.]
Guest #1: Daaaammmmnnn dude, that
painting is freaking me out AND turning me on!
Guest #2: Whoooaaaa, me too!

i have a love/hate relationship with that painting (which is a very good thing)... i've had nightmares like that

and the divider shelves are fantastic

I thought I was the only one that was tired of seeing Eames!

I love that the brick on the fireplace was not replaced. It bothers me when major decorating networks would choose to gut it and replace with marble tile.

I enjoy the sconces just above the mantle. My eye keeps going from brick to metal sconce to that great ceiling.

Nice and all in 790 SqFt.

Mid-C Frank finds much to love here. Alas, like many others, not that painting, but to each his own.

Mid-C Frank does not understand people who whine "not another eames chair..." There are many styles of furniture that I do not care for, but I do not bring it up in comments. What's the point of doing that?

Is this a blogger trial for house tour contributor? It doesn't say, but it seems to be assumed in many of the comments. Usually the blogger posts are noted below the title, which this one is not. Just curious.

I have no problem with the painting. Of course whenever I acquire new artwork for my home my mom always says "That is quite a conversation piece" when she visits. In my opinion that is "mom speak" for I don't like it. I've learned to live with her disapproval though. Art truly is in the eye of the beholder.

Geez....tough crowd. Well, while I adore MCM in a photo layout, in practicality for me it is fairly uncomfortable. And I grew up with it. I didn't find those sofas comfy then, and nothing has changed. I get the design thing, the sleekness, the craftsmanship, but frankly, many of my childhood friend's families didn't have the funds for the high end real things we are now paying an even higher fortune for, and we were middle class. I agree that quality is hard to come by but there are other things in world besides MCM. Nothing beats curling up on an thick, chunky, overstuffed down sofa on a rainy day. At least for me.

My only real comment about this particular space is that regardless of how coveted the sofa/chairs are, the upholstery looks slight and perhaps a bit hard on the butt.

I don't understand how people can be so critical of the art in someone's personal space when it is about them personally. Perhaps the woman eating the birch tree that looks like a dalmation has great meaning to the inhabitants. It is their space and shouldn't our own home reflect us first and then be open to outsiders? Just my thought, means nothing I suppose. And is that the handmade bed I clearly see? Dunno.

I do agree that I'd like to see something other than MCM. But I suppose that's what people are into and it is a design site, afterall. I get my fix for gorgeous and creative clutter from The Selby. Oh, and while I don't see Starck's name misspelled in the post, perhaps it was corrected. But yeah, spelling counts when it comes to names.

Rock on.

I love the house and my apartment is slightly smaller 700 square feet and I'm a big fan of mid-century/modern design as well as arts/crafts movement. I wish I could get a better feel/look of the layout in this house tour...where was the desk/reading area situated? Love the stove and the dog! I bought the same Ikea dining chairs because the Eames ones I wanted were out of my budget range. A few more textiles in the living area would be lovely. Love the garden and where was that little side table in the bedroom from? soooooooo cute.

Help...Can anyone tell me how to detail clean a Wedgewood Stove like this??? I would appreciate any and all tips!! Merci!! I have a large Wedgewood that needs some TLC and any advice on cleaning materials etc. would be appreciated!! I love this kitchen!! ;-)

sheesh. i'm the owner. i love my painting! more later.

I dig the painting.

I can't understand anyone EVER getting tired of ANYTHING Eames - but I guess to each his own. =)

Oh, and to Luz - how very cool of you to say that your biggest embarrassment is having bought at the height of the bubble. I did too and it sure IS embarrassing in hindsight!

1. Great place, but I wish the MCM was mixed with other periods/styles more. A bit unimaginative.
2. The painting of the ingestion of birch/dog/cat/thing needs to go.
3. If bepsf becomes an AT blogger, we will all need prozac.
4. vintage range is awesome.

LOVE - LOVE - LOVE The DOG!
Hate the creepy painting, sorry. I thought it was a cat too. But then the art was not my taste.
The outside is delightful and functional, nice space.
Most of the furniture is, sorry to say, more like garage sale chic. (Except for the lovely dinning table and the bed).
The books everywhere, though used nicely as art, might as well be my apartment/store.
I'm not into whimsical but in this home I feel it really does a wonderful job of mirroring the owner's personality.
Love the kitchen, the hardwood floors, fireplace. Did I say I loved the dog?

I appreciate the thoughtful and conversational language the blogger used to describe Luz's home. Personally, I really like the use of the low bookshelf to divide the dining room and sitting area. I would even love to have a close up photograph of Luz's book collection as I'm sure it would be quite telling of her interests/taste that informed into her decorating choices! Also, I love the inclusion of the dog- adds some levity to posting and, really, what mid-century home is complete without a Doberman?

This post has 73 comments and counting. Maybe Luz should run for President. I wonder how that art would look in the White House.

Luz, how can you leave us hanging? When exactly is later??? :)

I love this house...but am I the only one who thinks the big painting of the lady and the dog looks like she is actually eating the dogs snout?

@Coletta - See about 47 comments above. =)

I like it for the most part. In the living room a rug and some pillows would do a lot to soften and "cozify" the space. I guess I must weigh in on the painting too, I thought she was eating a dog! Oops. I personally could not stand to look at that every day but that's just me (and a bunch of other people apparently). Oh, I love the outdoor space.
All in all I think it's a great place!

Hi all!
I am so glad so many people liked the tour - it is very exciting to read all of your comments! Luz promises she is going to respond to some specific questions a little later tonight, but I thought I would just chime in and respond to "the painting" discussion: it is not a Dalmatian, but in fact a birch tree and despite @tliad very observant explanation - the book on the coffee table is a complete coincidence! I think Luz was reading it at the time of the photo shoot...

thanks again to everyone for your thoughtful comments!

tliad posted an articulate description of the meaning behind the painting -- maybe if commentators took the time to read other's comments before writing, we wouldn't have to read the same statements over and over.

@redrooster - Alison, the blogger, stated in the comment above yours that Tliad's theory about the meaning of the painting was completely inaccurate.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

Does anyone else think it's funny that tliad was so sure of h(im/er)self? That's hilarious! But what a great theory. (I read Eating Animals, and yes there's some dog eatin' talk -- and it ain't pretty.)

Now I can't wait for the real explanation!

I think it is perfectly approproiate to have a painting of a girl going down on a dalmatian or birch tree or whatever that is. This is a neat space...in every sense of the word. I enjoyed the tour. Loved the dog in the kitchen. I wouldn't want to mess with that pooch! Cool woodwork on the ceiling. Like the MCM pieces, even though they are a bit overkill. What are we all going to do with our MCM pieces when the Santa Fe style of the late eighties comes full swing and is popular again? All those peach and sky blue colors?? Im just sayin. I never thought acid washed jeans would come back and THOSE just reared their ugly head again.

I'm befuddled that people would actually think the painting portrays a woman eating a dog. I don't know what that implies exactly; either these people have very skewed perception or very big imaginations.

I do love what this work was able to provoke, a reaction of feeling unsettled and unsure. That response makes it a successful piece.

This is MCM gone to an extreme - only thing missing is a black leather Eames lounge chair jutting out from some corner and eating up half the space of the house.

I agree with several who have said that MCM needs to be paired with other styles. The only room that feels comfortable to me is the kitchen (and maybe the bedroom). The other rooms all have hard or hard-looking seating. Even the couches, with their minimal padding, seem a little unwelcoming.

Don't get me wrong - one or two of these items in many spaces would be great, it's just that when there is nothing but these MCM furnishings, that the air gets sucked out fo the room a bit.

Also, the girl in the picture is certainly communing with nature in a bizarre way, and this is coming from someone who gets the urge to eat grass and leaves every once in a while. (Ha! I'm totally not afraid to say that since no one knows me!)

I am also VERY tired of Eames. Seems like if you don't have one, you can't be on AT! The only picture I like is the lion - the rest look like elementary school art. Just my opinion - probably will be worth something.

Owner again - I’ve tried color. I’ve tried textiles. I’ve tried rugs. It hasn’t quite worked (haven’t found the right pieces I suppose) but if you have some suggestions please let me know – I’m quite open. I’m still settling into my house. While I did buy the house four years ago, a break up caused things to shift. I’m adding/subtracting. Still figuring out how much of the old I want to keep (I don’t like the wood chairs – I do think that there is too much wood – and labels...really?) but until I figure it out, I work with what I have. My enormous dog destroyed the fabric on my couch...another project but I do think the Peter Hvidt couch was a good find and a very comfortable one. Any suggestions on how to improve the space would be great – could be an interesting approach (instead of the bashing – just saying).

Re: my art, seriously, still sheesh. I’m really glad it’s caused so much discussion – yay art! I’m sure the artist (Megan Sant Shih – LA based) would be very happy to know that so many people have such a response to it and so many such an “immature” one. It’s overwhelming...it’s colorful...it’s a birch tree. I like it – for me, it was/is a very powerful piece that I instantly gravitated towards the moment I saw it in Megan’s studio and I’m happy with where it is in my house. I really do love the piece. Why? Still can’t fully answer that but I like what it does for me.

This is where I got my white herb planters - http://stores.foodmapdesign.com/StoreFront.bok
They work wonderfully! I highly recommend them.

I *love* the arrangement of art/lights/antlers above the fireplace. And the bookcase dividing the room is the perfect size and shape. There are so many touches in this space that look effortless, but it takes someone with a good eye to pull it all together. Also, count me among the fans of the green side table by the bed! Throughout the house, you can really tell that the owner picked each piece of furniture and art with care over time. I like the blogger's explanations of where various pieces were found and would've liked to have read more -- especially about this controversial painting that's got everyone in such a dither. Such delicate sensibilities these AT readers have.

Wow the grammar rodeo is in full swing!Yehaw!!!
I love the kitchen, the stove reminds me of my parents old Tappan. The big red doberman has a very serious look, what a beautiful dog he goes nicely with the house.

I always look for bepsf's comments because she (at least I think a she, but whatev) usually says what I am thinking even if it's kinda mean and I wouldn't say it. I think she would be a great blogger because she has a critical eye and is just as tired of the "same" as the rest of us regularly AT visitors.

As for this home (not the tour of the home), I like the earthy elements that keep it from being too sterile, including the wood ceiling and the colors.

As for the art, I saw at least two dominant paintings that had to do with oral fixations...

@inlandbeachhouse - Click on bepsf's name. You'll see that he is very much a he.

Curious, I just clicked on bepsf's name. Ironically, the first review of hers/his I saw was this: "You could always post it on CL AND send it to a Consignment Store - but either way, expect 50% or less of retail price depending on it's condition." SPELLING COUNTS, HUH? Then learn your contractions.

I couldn't help but notice the large dog. How do the wood floors hold up to his wear and tear? Have you used any products to help protect the wood?

- Scott Weaver
Urban Leasing

It is a sweet home, nicely edited for the small space. I understand the concern of textiles with a large dog, it is the same with cats / children / etc...one has to be careful what they leave laying around!

While I can see that some may not like the particular choice of artwork, I think it is a nice way to add personal character to the MCM esthetic without adding clutter.

Suggestion for future: all these wonderful little spaces with house tours should have a disclosure paragraph in the description that says whether these people have a separate storage space rented elsewhere. I look at these spaces and think where are all the books? the winter coats? the christmas cookie tins? Are they in the limited storage space (wonderful!) or out in a monthly storage facility?

Always-weeding-out-extra-stuff minds want to know.....

I def. thought she was eating a cat at first glance.....def a provocative image!

Overall this is a nice home a bit dark but I suppose that is OK in sunny California. I wonder, though, how comfortable the furniture actually is to sit on day-to-day. I can't imagine myself curling up on that sofa. And why a bizarre painting of a lady performing an obscene act on a tree?