Name: Ben Wolfinsohn, director and co-founder of Stop Following Me Productions
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Rent or Own: Rent
When Ben sent us a link to his home, we pretty much jumped at the chance to feature it in a house tour. If you love mid-century modern, then this space will have you green with envy. But what we love the most about his home is that he makes each of his show-stopping pieces work together cohesively with unique art pieces and plants, creating a warm and inviting space that feels effortless and unpretentious.
AT Survey:
Tell us a little bit about your home: When I moved in, I told myself that I would only allow things in the door that I really liked. If I didn't like it, then I wouldn't have it. So it took me about 3 months till I had my first light and about 3 years to get my first planter. My friends got me a little addicted to "architectural pottery," the pottery originally designed to go along with a lot of the first Case Study Houses.
My/Our style: Straight lines.
Inspiration: Too many things to say, but here are some of my favorite artists, architects and designers: Ray Kappe, Louis I. Kahn, Edward Killingsworth, Robin and Lucienne Day, Rudolph Schindler, Walter Gropius, Richard Prince, James Rosenquist, Robert Bechtle, Sarah Sze...
Biggest Challenge: The place had molding everywhere, weirdly placed windows, and a kitchen that looked like a long hallway with a sink.
What Friends Say: They say they like all my paintings.
Most Talked About Element: Most talked about might be my 1970 JVC video sphere that I rigged to be able to play the Daily Show any time I am cooking. And how I wired every speaker, projector, tv and computer in every room (minus the bathroom) together so no matter where you go, you see and hear the same thing.
Biggest Embarrassment: That at any moment all my improvements will all come apart like in the hotel in Barton Fink and that I will just give up and use duct tape to hold everything back together. That's kind of what is about to happen with my cork floors. My neighbor is a perfect craftsman, so every time I'm doing an upgrade, he comes over and tells me how I didn't line anything up right. Then every day I look at what I did all I can think about is how I messed it up so badly and how I can't even paint a straight line.
Proudest DIY: Snuck into a famous LA artist's studio so I could cast George Nelson knobs for the kitchen.
Cleaning or organizing tip:Make sure everything in your house has a place to live. That's even down the the last key. Even if it means you have to have a box titled "temporary spot for things I have no idea where I will put."
Best advice: Kurt Versen makes great lamps.
Favorite Store: "A.K. Eleven 14" on Abbot Kinney in Venice is owned by possibly the most knowledgeable human on earth when it comes to mid-century furniture. "California Living" on La Brea in Hollywood makes the best outdoor furniture in the world and is one of the most knowledgeable places; VKG would be proud of them. And "Ten10" on Silverlake Blvd. in Silverlake is another great place.
Dream source: If Vitra Design Museum decided to have a garage sale in my backyard because they decided to only showcase the likes of Rococo Style furniture.
(Thanks, Ben!)
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Comments (42)
sigh. yes i'm jealous... i love your furniture!
Nice!
I like your minimalist home theater, especially how you snaked the projector's wiring through the ceiling (or so it appears).
You know, it's nice and all, but I'm getting a bit tired of the DWR Show Houses. I don't mean to dismiss it. It is certainly better than a lot of other routes. But when you can look at a room and name each piece, it becomes a little like a t-shirt with the brand name on it.
Yes, all the pieces are iconic. It's like hearing a good song ten thousand times.
There's the same TV show on every TV ....
it's not his fault...!!
haha
cool planters.
it's funny the note about the molding. cuz i noticed the interesting moldings throughout the house but how they're almost embarassedly covered up with white instead of showcased. i think it would be cool to work with those more, even if it's not the perfect, pristine vision of modernism.
Where did you get your sofa?
Please please please tell me what color you painted your kitchen!!!
I don't know why the molding is a challenge rather than a plus. Anyone can live in a box. This place is nice, and the plants really make it come alive.
@threadbare--I think there's plenty who read and agree.
Do the kitchen pendant light fixtures get in the way when you open the cabinet doors? They seem so low in the pictures.
I like each of those pieces individually but together they seem so one note. And I wondered the same thing that Reb did. How do you open your kitchen cabinets?
That's one brave kitchen! I like it. Very original with the blue ceiling. =)
how do u like the phone??? can't move around too much. I have the same, and haven't found an 18 foot cord yet!
I loved this house..Hate on haters!
Bertoia, blah, Eames, blah, Saarinen, blah, JVC, blah. Nothing here is surprising.
Nice! Love all the lighting.
Does the fridge open all the way?
i think it's great. clean, simple, well placed.
Delightful but I think there is a burglar on the cctv.
I love it, but would paint or replace the speaker covers in the wall with something the same color as the wall.
hrhprincessfiona, LOL
I love the plants. Great job!
If you're eclectic, people here say you have no style.
If you choose nearly all mid century or pieces inspired by that era, people here say you're cliche.
I think some of you just want to find something wrong with everything.
I love the blue ceiling!
I think photographs have a habit of sucking the soul out of a place. I have a feeling I would really enjoy this home in person.
I love everything about this house - the colors, the art, the furniture, the tech tweaks - but what stands out for me is that you can feel the owner's love for the home he created for himself. And that's the first sign of a House Tour worth taking.
this is such a wonderful home. i have seen many of these home tours on apartmenttherapy and this is definitely one of my favorites! i love the glass bottles in the kitchen, the greenery inside and the landscaping is awesome!
i am dissapointed in the negative comments here. if you dont have something nice to say, why say anything at all? no one wants to hear that from you.
I'm pretty ignorant about designer furniture, so to me this just looks nice, stylish, colourful and well put together.
Only improvement I'd make is a few piles of books and magazines near that sofa... :)
- SORRY, I JUST REALIZED MY PLACE GO POSTED ON HERE AND I’M A FEW DAYS LATE. I WILL TRY TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS NOW. (ben)
- the lights don't hit the kitchen doors, there are stoppers i put in.
- fridge opens enough.
- yes, we have all seen a lot of the stuff i have, as you can now get a lot of at the more usual spots. when i get a real job, or some more time i would like to build everything on my own or find some things that are a little less generic, you got me a little here. but it's sad too cuz good design is what it is, and if everyone has an eames chair it doesn't mean it's ugly, but maybe we do get a little board of it.
- tried to do white speaker covers, but you could see thought them, and if you couldn't the sound didn't make it through.
- what ever is playing on my laptop plays everywhere in the house at the same time, that's why there is the same image on all the screens. its a favorite film - stroszek.
Love your place and the lovely artwork too. By the way Stroszek is a wonderful and sad film but it is one of my favorites too.
I really like it! I love seeing lots of plants and it all looks so fresh and clean and well-loved. I also adore the wood floors. It must be a real joy to live there. Enjoy!
I love Ben's home, his sense of style and decoration is definitely one we have all seen in the past but nonetheless is one that though we see time and time again it always pleasing to the eye. One thing that you should consider is a warm paint like (americas heartland) on the classic Benjamin Moore color wheel in the living and dining area would warm up the place. Less gallery yet more home. Beautiful art.
I love the two paintings in the living room, the framed piece in the kitchen, and also the piece with Werner Herzog (I assume that's Herzog, no?) in it. Where did you get them?
THANKS FOR THE NICE COMMENTS ON THE PAINTINGS. YOU CAN BUY ANY OF THEM OR PRINTS ON MY WEBSITE IF YOU WISH - STOPFOLLOWINGME.COM
May I ask where you got your couch? Is it a reproduction?
I love it, and it's perfect for a small room/apartment living.
Any information you have on it would be wonderful.
THE COUCH IS A REPRODUCTION COPY OF BASICALLY AN EDWARD WORMLEY. IF YOU LOOK FOR WORMLEY STUFF YOU WILL FIND MANY LIKE IT. I'VE RUN INTO A FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT - SO TO DO IT RIGHT - THE BEST PLACE TO GET A COUTCH LIKE IT, AND CUSTOM MADE TO FIT YOU IS Ten10site.com
LOVE this place. Well edited with so much humor and warmth. The John Goodman piece in the office is genius.
maybe this will be me one day. haha like you said, i take FOREVER to pick something to bring into my home. for several years the only furniture i settled on was my bed. i would sit in the floor. the dining table took 6 years, dining chairs 7, & i'm still working on a couch!
*<3 the couch
*<3 the blue in the kitchen
*<3 the projector. i've been wanting to do that for years.
*<3 the orange flip clock. i lost that bid on ebay. :C
kthnxbai
Hi,
I really like your place. The design is wonderful, and I'm particularly impressed with the plants. I was wondering, are the plants growing hydroponically?
All the best,
Mark
Slideshow soundtrack supplier: http://tinyurl.com/3g2gtn
It's hard to believe that your place is rented. The owner must be pleased to have a tenant like you. Thumbs up!
I'd love some sources for the planters. Besides for Ikea, if possible. I did just go on an Ikea field trip but I think my living room is at its Ikea quotient already.
i like the artwork.
I love the Eames Hang-It-All as wall art, and the projection TV is a perfect solution for the long narrow space.
I love the colors and the furniture.... I am jealous.