Name: Alysia Cotter
Location: Silver Lake, California
Size: 900 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year
How many of us can decorate a whole apartment without buying anything new? That's exactly what Alysia set out to do when she moved to Silver Lake a year ago, challenging herself to appoint her modest, but light-filled 100 year old apartment completely with vintage or used finds. Starting anew, she decorated her home with elements brimming with history, texture and character, creating a space one part Los Angeles tree house and another part Parisian flea market, filled with art, books, a prized vintage camera collection and various collectibles that give the space a joie de vivre vibrancy…
AT Survey:
My/Our style: Vintage Parisian Industrial
Inspiration: I was inspired by the book, The Recycled Home by Sally Bailey: This book inspired the mission to decorate a whole apartment without buying one new item. just got tired of all the stuff in the world, all the stuff I owned, all the stuff in stores, etc.. There's just STUFF everywhere. I walked into a 99 Cents Store the other day and I said to my friend Deb, "Look there are 2 aisles of air freshener. What's going to happen to all that when nobody wants it for 99 cents? Where's it going to go? That stuff doesn't biodegrade!"
If we don't start doing something about this we are going to drown in our own stuff. Literally! Pretty soon the world will just be a bunch of stuff with no meaning. It's simply not necessary. Also, quite honestly, the vintage finds are made better, more interesting and will last a lifetime. I will never have to replace them. That is money well spent!
Favorite Element: My view of the lake [Silver Lake Reservoir] from all three front rooms. I can walk out my front door, down the street and around the Reservoir. You can’t beat that. I also have the most amazing light from tons of windows. I have 360 degrees of windows that I am really grateful for. It makes the place feel very natural and bright. It feels like a tree house.
Biggest Challenge: Sticking to the rules I made:
1.) No mass produced items that have never been owned by anyone else (i.e. West Elm, Pottery Barn, etc.) unless they have been used by someone else (i.e. found on Craigslist), with the exception of 2 rugs and a refrigerator.
2.) The Budget: $0 dollars. Do this without spending anything. My budget came from selling all my old furniture on Craigslist and this became my new budget, which came out to about $1,500. Except for items I already owned like my dining room chairs, couch, etc. If I wanted something I had to sell something I already had, trade something or find something for free. It was awesome and I met the most amazing people and was forced to be really creative which I love. Now almost everything I own has a story and a sense of history. Also, all my old stuff has gone on to have meaning in someone else's life. It's great to give stuff to Goodwill or a charity but it's also really nice to meet the person who is going to be using your stuff and have that personal connection. For instance I know that my old dresser went to a lovely young couple that is expecting their first child. They were on a budget and had very little space so it was going to double as a changing table. Talk about giving something new purpose!
What Friends Say: They love it. They call it “a little piece of paradise”. I have friends who come from out of town just to get away and have a little vacation. That feels really good.
Biggest Embarrassment: It’s a 100 year old apartment and there are a few floorboards that are missing or broken. I use a lot of rugs. Sometimes I’m afraid I’m going to fall through but I love it. It’s what gives it charm.
Proudest DIY: Re-covering the bench/coffee table using a coffee sack from a local roaster that normally would have ended up in the trash. I just love how it came out.
Biggest Indulgence: Printing my photography on 4x6 canvas.
Best advice: One of my best friends always says just when you think you have it right take something away. He has a great eye for design. I think I still have a lot to do when it comes to that though! There is a flip side to the whole used/vintage mentality that can make you afraid to give stuff up because it may be “useful”. So the rule I stick by is USE IT OR LOSE IT! If you keep only what is functional in your life you will be more efficient and fulfilled. I think overall you will just be happier. You can think about what you want to do instead of why do I have that! If things have a purpose than they will fit easily into your life. Once something stops serving a purpose in your life give it to someone else who can give it a purpose.
Dream source: A real Parisian flea market and TINI (This Is Not Ikea) on Fairfax. I just adore Alexis and his store is so amazing. I love going in there to just wander and browse. It’s like a toy store for adults.
Resources:
Appliances: Whirlpool refrigerator from Lowes
Furniture:
- Blue couch is from Crate and Barrel (called the Audrey Couch, it’s environmentally made)
- White couch is also from Crate and Barrel (from a friend).
- Book tower from West Elm.
- Dining Chairs from Anthropologie.
- Dresser in bedroom is from Costplus that I repainted and added butterfly drawer pulls from Anthropologie.
- Everything else is from TINI - desk, coffee tables, dining room table, bookshelf used as shoe shelf, bathroom cabinet and mirror, side tables in bedroom, etc.
Accessories:
- TINI (This Is Not Ikea) - toolboxes, red and white striped tripod, fan, red jersey company grain box/ mail holder.
- Horse lamp on desk from Turquoise, Vanessa De Vargas has a great eye for design and her website is amazing.
- Believe sign in bedroom from Little Brown House on Etsy.
- Butterfly Lampshade in Living Room is from Anthropologie, the Eiffel Tower base is from Target.
- Metal magazine holders are from CB2 as is the white standing mirror.
- Little Graffiti Lamp on bedside table is from my very talented friend Donna Jo Brady. Her lamps are stunning.
Lighting:
- Amsterdam Modern - both ceiling lamps are from there and the bedside lamps. It’s a great place in Van Nuys to walk around and find amazing finds.
- Big Blue Lamp in bedroom is from West Elm
Window Treatments: The iron rods are from Crate and Barrel, the drapes and window coverings are from IKEA.
Beds: Westin Heavenly Bed
Paint: Environmental non-VOC white paint, don’t know the name.
Flooring: 100-year-old wood floors
Rugs and Carpets:Rug in living room is a Sea Grass rug from overstock.com, the dining room rug is from Cost Plus, the hallway rug is from IKEA and the bathroom rug is from West Elm.
Tiles and Stone: Bathroom backsplash are handmade tiles from my urban photography series.
Hardware: Original to the house.
Artwork: From my website.
(Thanks, Alysia!)
Photos by Gregory Han
We've had amazing response to our Apartment Therapy House Tour Submission Form. While we will work with homeowners of our favorite homes to feature full tours, we will also share the best as House Calls — short, quick tours of readers' homes. Submit your home here.
I think this is probably the interior that most reflects my own aesthetic.
I, too, am a font freak. And a reuser. It helps that I live around the corner from a Goodwill store. My neighborhood started a community watch and one of the unfortunate outcomes was that it's not so easy to put furniture out on the street without fear that a neighbor will call the neat street patrol and report you. I'm a big believer in sharing the wealth. Now I just post in free-cycle, but I'm not a big fan of interactions with complete strangers.
view shantiquax's profile
Wow i really like it. I'm glad graff art is gettin' some respect on AT!
view SydneyBristow's profile
Oh my gosh, I freaking love this! What a great thing to buy vintage/used and not spend any money too!
My house tour was on here recently and although I have not done that to the extent that you have, I am very happy when I look around my house and see so many things that were picked up off the curb or practically free.
Thanks for sharing!
(oh and how awesome is that "My Life as a Dog" poster?!)
view bandanamom's profile
Inspirational!!!! I love it - you set a tough challenge and produced a great result. Thanks for posting this.
view dodo's profile
I love your bedroom so much. Dreamy.
view jlyn2723's profile
This is really eye-popping. It's an inspiration. Love the art, the colors against the white, all the cool stuff. That little red thing hanging by the door is so sweet... I love that too! I wish I had a TINI near me!!! The bench w/the coffee bag looks like something that would sell for big bucks at a high-end store.
It's great that you did this all on a dime (or less). And it's even greater that everything you have (and even the stuff you no longer have) has a story. Thank you for sharing, and don't fall through the floor! :-)
view mirandabee's profile
This is one of my all time favorite house tours. Fun, quirky and definitely inspirational. I love the makeup stand or whatever it really is in the bathroom - amazing!
view bitdot's profile
Love this place! So vibrant and fun. And of course the fact that you did all this for essentially nothing is wonderful.
view chaight's profile
Ditto everyone's comments--fabulous and inspirational to me!
view jen_g's profile
I took longer to click through your house-tour than any other because EVERYTHING is SO interesting! You've inspired me to buy/trade used things whenever possible. The age of the internet (craig's list, ebay, etsy) has made that more possible than ever before.
view rexrayfan's profile
Finally we get to see the pad! LOVE IT!!!! Of course I saw little sneaks here and there but its so great to see the full project.
And by the way I interviewed Alysia a while back on AT-LA: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/at-interview/trending-bueller-designs-los-angeles-photographer-077817
view Turquoise's profile
I've done a similar thing in my apartment. I have a new desk, and two new rugs. Nearly everything else in my apartment was second-hand, gifted, thrifted or up-cycled.
I gotta admit I'm confused though, things like that Ikea Elephant Tray that is next to your bathroom sink, and the C&B curtains and window treatments, did you buy those second hand or are you not counting the smaller things like that?
view Rolen the Great's profile
Love it. Those bedside scissor lamps alone made my day.
view rosenatti's profile
I really like this style and would live in this apartment instantly. It's very, very much my aesthetic.
But, and I say this the nicest way possible, I'm a little confused by this "recycled home challenge" since there's quite a bit of Ikea, West Elm, CB and so forth. I'm gonna assume they were all element she already had before the challenge. Maybe they were bought on Craigslist? I guess I'm unclear on if she was able to actually carry out the challenge completely or just partially.
view jennaelliott's profile
love, love, love.
view HollyinDC's profile
Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments. It really touches my heart! I totally understand it may seem confusing but that's my whole point. I didn't buy any of the IKEA, CRATE AND BARREL, Etc. from the store. I got it all from friends who were moving or from Craig's List. I once found a Queen Dwell Duvet cover on Craig's list for $40. The only things I had previously bought that came with me were my bed, the blue couch and the Anthropologie chairs. The curtains and curtain rods came from a friend who moved back east and the other stuff came from other friends who didn't want stuff or were moving including the ikea stuff. It's great how much pre-owned almost new stuff you can find. Thanks again for all the kind comments. Hope that clears things up!
view acotter's profile
Very fresh and personal. I really like it. The only thought I have is that in terms of environmentalism, etc., she could reduce the amount of objects by about 1/3rd and also do the world some good, simply by not owning or needing to own so much stuff.
view PaminBoston's profile
Everything is so interesting....and arranged very well. I've bookmarked this one. Very creative!
view junklover's profile
I agree PaminBoston! If anyone wants to buy anything and take it off my hands let me know!! ;-)
Alysia
view acotter's profile
I'm wondering, Alysia, if that's your photo above the bed? It's so beautiful!
view Mavesse's profile
THANKS FOR CLARIFYING ALYSIA. I GUESS IT JUST SEEMED TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. BUT, YOU'VE PROVEN THAT IT CAN BE DONE! CURIOUS, HOW LONG OF A PROCESS WAS IT TO GET IT TO THIS POINT IF YOU WERE MOSTLY GETTING THINGS FROM FRIENDS AND CL?
view jennaelliott's profile
Hi Jenna Elliott:
It took about 3 months and a lot of effort. It was not easy but I knew exactly what I wanted. I also got very lucky with one friend who moved and gave me all the curtains, rods and the couch but I still had to move it all and take them off the walls in the old apartment. For the rest of the stuff Craigslist was amazing and everyone I met was so nice. I was stunned at some of the stuff you can get on there. All top notch brand name stuff for super cheap. It's great if you have the time and/or the patience. The trick is to know what you're looking for and wait for it. Like fishing for furniture I guess. And TINI (this is not IKEA) was amazing because Alexis scours the city for all this stuff so you only have to go to one place to find great used stuff.
Mavesse: Thank you! Yes that is one of my photographs. It was right after a big storm. The clouds were incredible. You can see all my work here and everything is avail for sale:
Alysia Cotter Photography (http://www.alysiacotterphotography.com)
I can put anything on canvas.
Let me know if you have any questions at all!
view acotter's profile
Okay, the Keep Calm and Surf On poster made me giggle.
view elankat's profile
Very nice, great pieces, vignettes, and color!!
view gingergirl's profile
Simply wonderful!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to live there!
view KWorld's profile
cool! i would just take down that "simplify" sign ... i just think it's the wrong imperative for beautiful rooms like this. something to smile about in every corner.
view In Everything's profile
this is my dream house :)
view kdkaboom's profile
Alysia,
Sweet house....
view Tangerine's profile
best house tour ive ever, and will ever, see! oh MAN! can i move in?
view Shannon Ashley's profile
Simply wonderful!!! Thanks for sharing!
view luftskibet's profile
Awesome house tour! seriously amazing finds!
view AprilLove's profile
I LOVE this home. Especially the beautiful sky photograph over the bed and the butterflies here and there.
One question: Is that just a tall stack of books, or is it on a shelf of some sort? It seems it would be difficult to retrieve a book in a stack like that, and I'd worry about it falling over.
view patia's profile
Lovely! This is my favorite house tour so far. I love how airy it feels but at the same time it's not sparse - very comfortable. It seems very doable and livable. I would love this to be my apartment... Sigh... You've given me lots of inspiration to mull over. :) I just wish I had the budget for the stuff that you had before the challenge (i.e. the gorgeous couch and dining chairs - I thought I recognized that couch from Crate and Barrel!). If you have those several really gorgeous pieces, then everything else really comes together around them. Plus, what a great location and setup - with those floors and windows it is hard to go wrong. Great palette for all the cool finds. I especially love the vintage fans, and all the great framed art. I will be bookmarking this too!
view livc's profile
Oh and I also love what you've called the style "Parisian industrial" - perfect! My current inspiration is coming from Alain Resnais films... love all the great apartments in 70s French films, and the industrial aspect and white paint is just the right offset to that and make it a little edgier.
view livc's profile
Everyone else has said it already...so I'll just say fantastic, and I wish I had the patience to search out all used/vintage finds for my place.
view michpc's profile
FINALLY! A home with character that remains fresh!
I have been waiting to see a gorgeous home such as this on AT for such a long time. Thank you for sharing.
view Jixolet's profile
WOW! Love the ideology, love the results even more! This is one of the first house tours I've seen in a long time (anywhere) that has such a clear and strong point of view, and that shows off the resident's personality so much. It's great to see such an eye for graphics and fonts. I think all of these things combined is what makes it work so well. Oh, and the coffee roaster bag ottoman is totally genius. It looks like something that would cost $1000 at South of Market.
view becky's profile
Finally...there have been so many misses on AT house tours lately when it comes to this aesthetic... this is what it should look like. Well done!!!
view alstonz's profile
Love your home!
I kept going back and forth and really scanning each picture to see all the interesting things in it.
view rhianna's profile
I've never been a fan of white or cream walls, but combined with all that beautiful natural light , and the amount of colour you have injected with the use of artwork and also in soft furnishings, I may be a convert :-)
view Lyn26's profile
loooooove
view formosagirl's profile
Such a great art collection! I'd love to know where the camera printed cushion came from in the opening image.
view Jennifer Squires's profile
Love the piano bench (?) for the coffee table in the living room. Also - what is/was your makeup table in the bathroom? Just curious.
Art is great.
view tenbar's profile
Thank for all the love and comments! That is so amazing to hear.
Patia: That is a book tower from West Elm. It actually has shelves, they won't fall down. You can find much cheaper versions out there. Even Ikea. Always check CraigsList first!
Tenbar:
The makeup table thingy in the bathroom came from TINI and we have no idea what it really is. It seems to have been used to control electrical current. I think it's probably some old hospital device. I know it's at least from the 30's because there was a ribbon in from 1936.
Jennifer: The camera pillowcase came from Etsy. I love supporting handmade artists: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5724572
I don't know if she's still making them though.
I really appreciate the comments. Thanks again!
view acotter's profile
i agree with all the positive comments
your statement was inspiring and so right on or spot on
there is so much stuff--great stuff--to be had with time discernment and patience. great great home
one of my favorites
view rahimah's profile
I also like the photograph of clouds above the bed. Is this particular photograph for sale on your site, Alysia, or is it a personal favourite? Anyway, it speaks of floating and of fantastic dreams. Inspiring. Your white bed linen also looks kind of cloud-like and even the transparent bedside table is "airy"....
view Kaks's profile
Forgot also to say that I find the dining area really bold. - bold beige! Unique.
view Kaks's profile
Thank you everyone!
Kaks:
The cloud photograph is available here:
http://www.alysiacotterphotography.com/Photography/Urban-Exploration/8275650_HSk9a#543421193_3UFgb
It is also a personal favorite! :-)
Email me if you have any questions.
Alysia
view acotter's profile
Thanks for the answer about the book tower!
view patia's profile
Where are the pillows on the couch from? They're lovely!
view livc's profile
One more question - where did you find a frame for what I assume is a 2-sheet movie poster? I was thinking about getting one recently but was unable to find anyplace that sold frames for them, so I'm curious! Thanks!
view livc's profile
Hi Livc:
The pillows are old school West Elm (chain link) and Pier One Imports (orange one on couch and blue on in kitchen). The frame for the large movie poster came from work. So I was pretty lucky there. I don't know where you would actually buy one that big. I think you would have to have it made. Thanks for your lovely comments!
A
view acotter's profile
the more i examine the photos, the more amazing it is. the apartment is so old. there's a medicine cabinet over the kitchen sink. the countertops appear to be kitchen table tops. yet it's all so rich and interesting. and the plain white window coverings keep a clear light in the place.
just fantastic.
view Lady J's profile
Absolutely love the way you brought in color to all white walls. I have all white walls and doors in my place; your place is a perfect example that you don't always need paint!
Great job and have fun "changing" it really is never Done!
view sillyceli5's profile
This apartment is exactly how it should be. I love how unexpected and modern bohemian it seems. I can't stop looking at the slideshow! You have made it homey while only living in it for a year. It seems like everything has been acquired over a long period of time. I'm going to stop gushing now, because I could be here all day...
view amandaPlease's profile
wow i know that first picture. it's from a center called ABC No Rio in the L.E.S Manhattan. as soon as i saw the Rio, i knew it was that. that made me home sick :>(
view sunshiine537's profile
This is one of my favorite homes to look at. Thank you for sharing your creativity and for inspiring one more person :)
view stephgeez's profile
Inspiring. So bright and full of life.
view bejeweled's profile
I love your home, Alysia. very beautiful, inspirational and totally brilliant concept. totally my dream home!
view dhyani2576's profile
Love this place- Your photography is fab! and love how you have stretched it on canvas. Love the white walls and lots of art. Dining area is so unexpected -which is great. Love the clouds in your bedroom. Cool clean, happy and inspiring- Thank you!
view Bridie's profile
Love your home and your photography too, checked out your website! I'm a big fan of recycled and thrift finds, that's all we have at our home too. But most of all I like the stamp of the artist and personality throughout the whole place. One last thing, I'm curious about the pillows in the kitchen, that look like a silkscreen of a Japanese scene. Where did you find it?
view artsyHelen's profile
ArtsyHelen - the pillows were from Pier 1 or Cotsplus. I can't remember. It was years ago. I haven't seen them since. They were very unique and I love them too. Thank you for your lovely comments! And thank you everyone!
view acotter's profile
In... love....
view anthonyn's profile
I love everything about this place...except the dining room chairs. Am I the only one who finds them very distracting? I think something a bit less bulky could really improve this room and quirky/interesting chairs are so easy to find on craigslist. Other than that, I am in love.
view thebean's profile
She may have not bought anything *new*, but she bought a LOT of "new to her."
There seems to be a bit of a free pass attached to consumption when it is of vintage and thrift sources... which I GET... the whole "reuse, repurpose, recycle" thing... but if anyone around here filled a home with this much retail stuff (even low end retail), there would no doubt be a very different reaction to these interiors.
It's a LOVELY home, obviously well-loved and highly creative, so that's not at all a criticism of the proud (and rightfully so) homeowner. Just an observation about the reactions.
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
It's also *slightly* satisfying to the "retailist" in me that so many inquiries seem to be about CB2, West Elm, and Pier1 and other retail pieces...
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
A very cohesive and pleasant "hodge-podge," but you need to add a Raymond Loewy designed Anscoflex camera to your camera collection!
view MarshallO's profile
Rumor has it you are moving out?
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
Awesome - really liking that coffee bean sack reupholst
view jettsam's profile
Ma vie de chen...my MOST favorite movie in the whole world. Now I need the poster. Great work in your apt...so very comfortable.
view veslabeachgirl's profile
Wow. Fantabulous home. Inspiring use of color.
view diademydo's profile
Patrick - I am moving out. Moving to London. Everything is gone and off to new owners. Time to do it again in the UK! Thanks everyone for you cheerful and heart warming comments!
view acotter's profile
I think I'm going to cry! Good luck in London!
view blondrea's profile