Name: Tyke and Jon
Location: Topanga Canyon, CA
Size: 1200 sq. ft. (including back house)
Tyke and Jon have a fantastic home in Topanga Canyon, which also has an interesting history.... Read more details after the jump.
Years lived in: 2 years
Inspiration: Histories, happy accidents, and things we see in magazines, books, museums, travelling, and almost everywhere else.
Our Style: A hodgepodge of old and new, and respect for the quirkiness and difficulty of the house itself.
Do you have an idea for a house tour? Let me know! jonathan at apartmenttherapy dot com
Favorite Room: The living room, because of the big 1950s window.
Most talked about element: The house’s history; it was the rehearsal studio for The Doors and—reputedly—The Eagles.
Most embarassing element: The washer and dryer outside by the front door (but at least you can’s see it from the street!)
Proudest DIY: The tear-down of a low ceiling covering 2/3 of the living/dining room. Now we can see the beautiful pine ceiling.
Dream source or item: Anything from Arp (3rd Street), especially by Ted Muehling.
Reality source: Antique stores out in the desert, especially the ones along Highway 62 in Yucca Valley.
Best advice: No budget is too small. We began acquiring the things we love in this house when we were finishing graduate school and renting an apartment, and we are still on a specific budget. Certain jobs need professionals, but we do whatever we can ourselves.
Found treasure: We bought our Eames recliner and ottoman for $120 from a woman in Ojai who said she’d heard it was by “some designer named Reames, but you just can’t believe what you hear.”
Had forever: Tyke has had the Heywood Wakefield bureau (in living room) and nightstands (in bedroom) since about 1990. They are so sturdy and well-made, why ever get rid of them?
Just got: Fresh flowers, as always.
Any additional plans?: Always! Little by little!
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I want to find a Reames recliner for $120!
Beautiful house!
I see that comments have been enabled!
What I posted yesterday: "I'm totally into the eclectic, decidedly SoCal vibe of this place. In my mind, this is like a really cool '70s Laurel Canyon rock 'n roll crash-pad as stylishly re-interpreted by Paul Smith. (And that's a good thing in my book.)"
When I looked at the slideshow yesterday, I only read the slideshow comments and missed that the house was used as a rehearsal space for the Eagles and the Doors. It's so funny because that '70s California rock spirit still resonates in the space. And I think that your personal stamp exists beatifully with the musical heritage of the space. The rock gods must be pleased.
PS If you haven't already, you should see the movie "Laurel Canyon" with Frances McDormand.
I love this space too-- so vital, creative, and incredibly inviting.
Love it, love it, love it! Especially the colors in the bedroom and office. Do you know the manufacturer and name of the color in the office? Love your outside patio, it looks so inviting. Also wondering where you got those great white armchairs outside and the one in the backhouse? Any idea who made them?
I am so relieved the comments are on! I have been dying to tell you how much I love your place and all it's quirky details. The telephone table, the little white stepping stones to your fabulous outdoor seating area, I could go on and on. I love looking from the living room and seeing the kelly green wall - so fresh looking. I grew up driving with my family every weekend from the Valley through Topanga Canyon to the beaches, so it's great to see it again. Thanks for sharing it with us - it's so beautiful. Bravo!
It's so nice to read your positive comments about the house. Thanks so much--that makes my weekend!
Lisa, I'm sorry, but I don't remember the name of the office paint color, and the label washed away in the rain (we left all the paint cans outside). All I know is that it is from Home Depot, and I think by Behr. The white leather chairs were a vintage find in Palm Springs.
Enrique, your description was hilarious and most appreciated--I am a 60s/70s fanatic and Jon is a big fan of Paul Smith, so you know our subconscious drives better than we do.
will repeat what i said earlier in the open thread:
this is the kind of place i fantasize about running away to on grey february mornings in the city...
i also will echo enrique in really feeling the Rock N Roll roots and also reccomending Laurel Canyon, in which a house not unlike this is practically a character in the film. a great movie for production design junkies like myself.
What an amazing home--thanks for sharing. I want to come live in the attic (but only if the cat stays!) I love Topanga Canyon and the 70s, and your home evokes that spirit. Everything just feels right. Congratulations on creating such a beautiful, inviting space filled with inspiration and heart.
Man - this place is fantastic. There are so many details that I love. I enjoy the story of how you found your Reames, what a steal! There were just so many things that made me smile - those eye pillows, your real telephone, every single piece of art, that magnificent sleeping loft. Thanks so much for opening your beautiful, unique and interesting home to us.
Is the light blue pendant lamp in your office area an Icon lamp by Feruccio Laviani?
girard, thanks so much for your nice comments. and yes, you know your lighting--the pendant is laviani from kartell.
Cosy and charming and bright and cheerful, a beautiful cat and a pretty garden ... in other words
a home.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!! Especially the office and choice of wall color in it! Great Job!
Tyke, please please please what is the name of the green paint you used in the bedroom? This is exactly the shade I've been looking for!!!
wow very nice!! love the clean/warm colors, and beautiful cat!!
The cat looks huge in the little loft.. .I thought it was a small scaled cat room at first!
Two things:
1. I noticed that many of the comments were dated as far back as 2006?
2. This home was featured on Small Space, Big Style. Nice home.