Name: Jeff Garbs and his dog Tuna
Location: Highland Park, Los Angeles, California
Size: 390 square feet
Years lived in: 4 months; rented
Jeff Garbs is a self proclaimed junker and lover of all things vintage. Upon moving his entire life from Texas just four months ago, he has joined Sally Breer and Ellen LeComte of Amsterdam Modern in co-founding Shopclass, the brand new vintage hotspot in Highland Park. Jeff has a wonderful eye for quality vintage decor and a quirky personal style. With a mere 390 square feet to work with, he has created a stylish and colorful home
"I've only been in Los Angeles for a few months but I can't wait for my first summer, so I can really experience the Southern California lifestyle," Jeff proclaims about his new home with such enthusiasm. This house comes with a private front yard and back yard, where he plans to garden, offer outdoor seating and possibly install a washing machine and clothes line.
Jeff believes that the most important thing about designing a home is making it warm and inviting, not pretentious. "I can admire a sparse design but at the end of the day, your home should be a reflection of you and what makes you happy." To this end, he has designed a home filled with artwork, memorabilia from friends and family, and custom built furniture from artist friends. He really took the time to redo the kitchen, and though it's a rental he says it's greatly improved his outlook on the home! And though the whole house is adorable and well styled, the life of the party is his amazing dog Tuna! Enjoy!!
Big thanks to Sally Breer for introducing us :)
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Mid Century modern mixed with a bit of Pee Wee's playhouse. I have been trying real hard to be more sophisticated, but it's not not entirely working.
Inspiration: All things Mid Century.
Favorite Element: The hooks in my bedroom keep all my clothes and junk off the floor.
Biggest Challenge: Being a collector (hoarder) and living in 390 square feet.
What Friends Say: Everyone is amazed by what I've done in such a short amount of time on such a tight budget.
Biggest Embarrassment: The hole above the fridge that I still haven't patched up.
Proudest DIY: The kitchen backsplash. There were holes in the 1930's ceramic tile from old plumbing that had been covered with funny little fat chefs cut out of wallpaper and pasted onto the tile. It was the bad kind of DIY. I used left over floor tile, liquid nails and plastic ceiling tile trim. Did it all for under $20.
Biggest Indulgence: Redoing a house I don't own and buying a new fridge simply because the other one was too big.
Best Advice: Don't be afraid to make a small investment in your rental. I love this place so much more now. Money well spent.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Behr- Silky White
LIVING ROOM
- • Eames shell was scored at a garage sale someone had painted it purple and I repainted it black.
• The industrial shelf is from Home Depot.
• Vintage Nelson clock was scored from an estate sale.
• Knoll sofa from Reeves Modern in Houston.
DINING ROOM
- • Dining table is Paul Cadovius scored at the PCC flea market in Pasadena for $150!
• Vintage Eames DCW's garage sale in Austin
KITCHEN
- • Butcher block counters from IKEA
BEDROOM
- • My buddy Jack made the bed B&B Steel in Houston
• The art is from an old counter at Uncommon Objects in Austin
• I scored the hooks at Uncommon Objects
• Sock people were all gifts from friends
Thanks, Jeff!
Images: Bethany Nauert
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I love those casters on the bed? Where did he find them?
Oh, cute as a button! (Jeff, Tuna and apartment!)
This place is HUGE compared to my condo and my place is the exact same size. good layout
Ahhhhh a floor plan and darn good pictures to boot. Love the vibe of your place. I may need to start hanging jeans on hooks! Thanks for letting us into your home.
I love it so much! Great use of space, looks so welcoming and full of California light and interesting items. The fish in the bathroom is funny. I also especially like the airplanes on the wall. Jeff and Tuna are adorable.
Love your kitchen, and Tuna too. Would love to see every house tour to start off with a floor plan! You have done a wonderful job!
That was one of my favourite parts too :)
Welcome to LA, Jeff! I hope you and Tuna love it here as much as I do - although, the summers can be scorchers everywhere except down along the coast.
You've definitely made your place look larger than 390 sq feet. I love the dining table and the coffee table - where did you get it? (was it a find, too?) And the casters on the bed - awesome!
Warm, inviting and eclectic home - thank you for sharing.
I love this, less really is more. Thanks for sharing!
The floor and kitchen look fantastic. Is that forbo marmoleum?
Oh darn it! Tuna is so cute. :)
I love your art collection. I had to take two peeks through to take it all in! Neat Paint by Numbers. And great bedroom...the whole place really. The floor and backsplash idea is total genius for a rental. I wish I could show my landlady! I want those counters, too.
Thank you for sharing! Yours has been the best in a while IMO~
I love it!!
Really like the lay out of this home. Someone really took alot of thought and planning into it. Great (pass-through?) kitchen.
I think it's funny with such a small foot-print, you have 2 TV's. :oD.
Thanks for including the blue prints...
I can't believe this is only 390sqft! The layout of this place really helped the square footage. Love it!!
Kudos to you for making this look bigger than 390 sqft... Its done very nicely and neatly... you are lucky to have a separate space for a bed.
I m having a hard time believing its only 390sqft
Bravo... well done space for the size.
Is that really only 390sf? It's a fantastic space.
Can I stay here the next time I'm in L.A.? I'm well behaved, I promise!
Love the way you've laid this out to make it look super spacious. Also, TUNA!
What an amazing space you've created in such a short period of time! Kudos to you, sir.
Great improvement. I'm surprised the landlord let you make those kinds of improvements. I used to live in Highland Park and its definitely slowing becoming a desirable area. Its too bad the layout of the bathroom. That would have been great to have a door from the bedroom into the bathroom so you'd have a jack & jill style bathroom instead of having to make a big loop around your house. Great house though!!
Awesome. Where did you get the stainless steel table in the kitchen? I've been looking for something like that. Looks like something from a commercial kitchen. Also, did you install those Ikea countertops all on your own or did you have help?
What a great place! I would love to live somewhere like this. I especially like the hooks in the bedroom.
Echoing a previous comment here - it is so helpful to have a floor plan so you can figure out how the rooms flow together. In spite of your claim of being a hoarder, the apartment does not look cluttered because ot the artful way in which things are displayed (in groups - or large areas of color surrounded by the tranquil white walls). It remains airy and sunny that way I'd hope a California house would be. Best wishes in your new digs.
Whoops. I meant junker, not hoarder.
Highland Park is the place to be
Wonderful job Jeff... Proof that it doesn't have to be big to be fabulous!
Yay! Floor plan!! Enjoyed this tour. Great place - can't believe its only 390 sq feet. Nice job Jeff and Tuna!
Hi Jeff and Tuna! What a great job--especially for being in the house for such a short time. Getting a floor plan was so great--didn't have to guess how the rooms related to each other. And I enjoyed the artwork. Thanks for sharing!
I love this place so much. Great tour! I really want that coffee table.
Yay Tuna! Looks a lot like my dog.
I love the DIYs you were able to do; they make a huge difference.
awesome, I love the fact there are plenty of pictures and a floorplan of a small space!
what a great use of space that doesn't feel at all cramped but he can do so much with.
I don't really get calling it a "guest" house. Does he live in what was formerly someone's guest house I assume?
super warmn and great use of your space. agreed with everyone that you have done an amazing job! Keep it up. Thanks for inspiring us with a floor plan. I will have to add one when I do my own tour one day. :D
Very inspiring, thank you for letting us take a look at what you've accomplished in such a small space. It's magic!
The steel bed is so lovely. And I smile at the idea of a guy at the park calling out, "Tuna! Tuna!''
Nailed it Jeff! :-)
Well done! Petite and perfect. I agree that making the place you live into a space you really want to spend time in and a reflection of yourself, whether it's a rental or not, is key to making it your home.
Also, THANK YOU for Shopclass. I live in strolling distance and love the store already. So lucky to have something like on the blvd!
Darling! You, your place, your pup. Thank you so much for sharing!
Andrea-Fellow Texas Transplant
love love love it
Jeff, you have a lovely warm and HAPPY space. Very, very well done!
And yer little dog, too! Tuna is absolutely perfection in a fur coat.
Hi Jeff, This is awesome guest house...I love it. Property for Sale Perth
The leaping fish over the tub is my favourite!
Very clever solutions for a small space. Thank you; it's great.
What a positive, vibrant space. I wouldn't have guessed rental. Love what you've done with it. Really like the line of hooks--clean and functional. And, of course, cute doggy. Thanks for sharing.
I love this apt. I wonder if you could be a little more detailed about the backsplash for those of us with limited skills? Is the backsplash made up of squares tacked together (are the squares the same size as the floor squares and did you have to cut them?) What are liquid nails and what is the edging exactly? Love the bed, love, love the dining table - terrific job and the kitchen is a low-cost inspiration. Thanks for sharing this with us and love Tuna!
Great place. Love the layout! You've managed to pack a lot of interesting stuff into your place and still make it look clean.
Also, did you put the backsplash over the existing tile - is it removable when you leave?
Thank you again!
I agree completely! Nice guy,adorable dog & fun place!
Other than those shelves by the couch,I wouldnt change a thing!
The shelves are my least favorite thing too. I was on a serious budget and needed something for my vinyl and turntable the unit was $75 at Home Depot. I am always looking to upgrade.
There were holes in the existing tile. I glued floor tiles directly to the ceramic with liquid nails.
I used leftover 12inch floor tiles I did have to cut some of them to fit. Liquid nails is a really strong adhesive you can purchase at any hardware store.My buddy Jack made the bed.
Thanks
Jack Bush at B&B Steel made the bed.
Thanks
The coffee table and rug came from a store in North Hollywood, $150 for both.
For some strange reason, I love that kitchen. So bright, but empty. I like things.
Love your home! I pass by Shopclass all the time on my way to work. I cant wait to check it out. Thank you for the inspiration and making your rental have a lot of personality without being pretentious.
Love the overall style. Great job (although those speakers are not very useful where they are).
Absolutely Fantastic!!!
Great job! Looks so much larger than 390 sf. Love the the jean hooks. Makes total sense...may have to do that...lol..
Nice job. Got a little chuckle out of your chalk truck on your cabinets. I just drew a truck on my dry board that looks exactly like yours and got major abuse from my husband and son over it! Can't believe this is so small and really like the Icee board above your bed! Thanks for sharing!
Looks great! I'm jealous of your kitchen floor.
I hear you on the vinyl, turntable, receiver and speakers space issue. My gear and records take up quite a bit of room in my living room but I found a way to make it look clean. Whatever you do, don't hide the vinyl!
I want that peg rack for my jeans. :-)
And of course, I love Tuna.
Have to share the jean rack...inventive and fun to look at, too! Great, great use of space, Jeff! I want to love on Tuna!
What a cute little house! Feels bright, warm and homely. Like you've been living there for a long time. Well done, great achievement!
To start off with a floor plan is simply ingenious!!! What a darling space, love the kitchen and that bed!
Why does every 390 sq ft abode in AT look WAY BIGGER than my 390 sq ft abode?
*sigh*
Yay, fun junk that's well curated. Gotta love SUPER Tuna!
SO grateful for the floor plan. Looks great, Jeff! I like the desk/dining solution in particular.
Wonderful and interesting place Jeff. The floor plan is helpful. This is the kind of post I like to see on AT - creative unique living spaces done on reasonable budgets. The magazines are full of big expensive "gut" remodelings, that many of us will never do. Your place is inspiring, and Tuna is THE CUTEST!
A well equipped wide angle lens can be deceiving. Trust, it's a tiny little place. Amazing and clutter free, but tiny.
Totally charming!
Cute! Legs on most of the furniture really helps make it feel clean and un-cramped, doesn't it?
I love your collage of frames above the sofa. I'm creating a similar look in my apartment- trying to :)
Ecclectic, yet not cluttered, fresh and bright with a cool modern touch to it without being pretentious. You definitely know how to arrange unique artwork! And you used just the right amount of wood to add a warm and homey feel to your place! Well done, Jeff! :)
LOVE it!!!!! Tuna is precious!
A lot of great work in just 4 months!
Well done!