Name : Mark and Marissa (Interior & Graphic Designer; mzajack@mac.com)
Location: Hollywood
Size: 1,100sq.ft.
Years lived in: 4, Rented
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We were first introduced to Mark and Marissa through a friend of ours. We had seen Marissa's amazing framed graphic prints in our friend's home and had asked about them. Once we started writing for Apartment Therapy, we knew we had to make our way to Hollywood and see for ourselves. We were not disappointed. After we were given an official tour, we thought to ourselves that Mark and Marissa had created a home made to be photographed. The space is definitely Domino worthy but the best thing about their home is that it makes you say, "Those are really great ideas and I can actually see applying them in my home."
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We'll start by telling you our absolute favorite things about this well designed home. The huge screen which Marissa found at a local flea market and decided to paint a vintage orange greeted me in the entryway of their home. Adding texture to a wall that probably gets overlooked in most homes, Marissa and Mark use this gem to create an atmosphere indeed. Another top pick is the slender hallway, painted a rich chocolate brown that actually reads velvet-y black. But the focal point of this hallway are the DIY kelly green silhouette portraits of Marissa's family and friends (and her adorable pooch). The grouping of art is designed in a way that feels less preppy and more vintage modern.
Taking a few more steps down the hallway and we're led into the master bedroom that feels light and airy but has a few bold elements that keep it grounded. It might have something to do with the pink glow from the lamps reflecting off the walls or the dangling light that moves effortlessly. Luckily, the large vintage dresser and mirror combo along with the orange bedding keep the room balanced and inviting. Towards the end of the hallway, we enter a little sitting nook off of the master bathroom that is painted a shimmering gold. Decorative accent pieces finish off the look making the area seem like a treasure waiting to be discovered. We want to know when we can move in--or like Marissa's friends say, "when can you come decorate my place?!"
AT Survey:
My/Our Style: Eclectic
Inspiration: Designers; Tommi Parzinger, Frances Elkins, Florence Broadhurst, David Hicks, Milo Baughman, Jonathan Adler, Celerie Kembel
Inspirational Blogs: Apartment Therapy (Of course), Design Sponge, Decor8, Park Avenue Peerage, Dose of Design, Oh Joy!, Coco Kelly, The Peak of Chic... I'm a blog junkie
Inspirational Website: The Selby
Favorite Element: The colors
Biggest Challenge: Getting the look I want without breaking the bank
What Friends Say: "Where did you get that? You have to come decorate my place! It's a great party house!"
Biggest Embarrassment: Cottage cheese ceiling and landlord
Proudest DIY: The silhouettes (done by Marissa) of her friends, family and dog
Biggest Indulgence: Reupholstering the sofa and dining room chairs
Best Advice: Select pieces based on individual character, avoiding a uniform look... knowing that it will all come together in the end.
Dream Source: 1st Dibs
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Resources:
Furniture: Thrift stores, Craigslist and estate sales, Dog ottoman from Pampa
Accessories: Pillows in living room from Target, Wood centerpiece in dining room from Anthropologie, Tray in bedroom from Target
Lighting: Pendant lamp in dining room from West Elm, Lampshades in living room from Fantasy Lighting, Lamps in bedroom from Target and lampshades from K-Mart
Rugs and Carpets: Rug in living room and dining room from West Elm, Sheepskin rug in bedroom from IKEA
Beds: Bedding from Anthropologie
Artwork: Graphic prints on mantel by Marissa, Francesco Clemente prints in fireplace
Upholsterer: Ricardo; Sierraup@aol.com)
(Thanks Mark and Marissa!)
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It's too cluttered for my tastes, but it looks very put together and fun. I'd suggest a bigger sheep skin by the bed, though.
Nice job!
view Mrs.Mack's profile
Beautiful puppy.
view priscilla's profile
Ahh! What a gorgeous home! I adore the artwork..and the chandelier..wow! You have given me ideas and inspiration. Thank you for sharing.
view onthemoon's profile
My favorite thing about your home is the way you approached it's age. Rather than restoring (which can cost and arm, a leg, and your first born), you've gone with a sophisti-funk treatment. The dark hallway, the maze-yellow & white dining room, etc. I love love love that yellow and cerulean combo in the built in dining hutch, by the way. I love those colors together. Brava!
view kimg924's profile
Oh my gosh, I am so jealous of the silhouettes! AT, you should get Melissa to post a tutorial on how to make them! ;)
-Ruth
view cptnruthless's profile
Just lovely! I too am covetous of the silhouettes. I love how everything has been considered but it is all so approachable. Great use of color to contemporize the architecture-I know it's a rental but so many owners would have demolished first and asked questions later. Well done-thanks for letting us all have a look!
view margodesign's profile
Really nice, not overly designed but full of beautiful objects. My favorite look.
view jfinteriors's profile
I third the silhouettes comment.. can you let us know how you created them?
view nyckrissy's profile
Nice. I like it very much. I haven't looked at a full house tour in a long time.
view atelier70design's profile
I find it interesting how the motif or very similar style repeats itself everywhere. Example- Take the framed orange wrapping paper? on your mantle and you will see a similar motif everywhere-
the carved wood piece on the wall
the backs to your black dining chairs
the center cabinet doors circle on the credenza (beautiful)
the rugs
the black n white duvet cover or bedspread
Not sure if that was intentional or maybe just drawn to it, it did bring cohesiveness to your place.
I think your place feels warm and nice to see a mix of furniture used together.
Love your dog!!!!
Its always a shame the TV is the center point in our living rooms, in your case that is a big TV and if it were to go away it would be nice to spread everything out some cause its a beautiful room. I have this issue as well just less stuff and smaller TV. Always easier to critque others right?
It was a nice home tour thanks for sharing.
view LoriSF's profile
Eclectic is right! This place looks amazing for a rental. They clearly have a great (and shared) aesthetic sense.
I do think the common areas come across as a bit cluttered in the photos, though. I'd delete 10% of the furniture/art/accessories in the living room and give the best elements more breathing room. I understand they probably don't have another space for such a large TV, but it really adds to the sense of crowding.
view madsarah's profile
Well done. I like it. Looks both comfy and sophisticated.
view snoopy's profile
I love your home... I could move in tomorrow. I love what you did with the fireplace... using pictures. OBAMA :)
view sunrise's profile
I love it. It's similar to the style I strive for. It seems like that television is way too big for the space, but that's usually the one thing we women allow our men to have.. haha...
view cassielynn's profile
Ah adulthood. Clutter, mediocre artwork, glossy paint. C minus!
view m's profile
i really love your home. i *LOVE* bungalows and you did an excellent job making it work with your style.
i also love the ottoman as a dog bed! i've been trying to find something for my dog that would nicely blend with my furnishings and this is the perfect solution.
i also really like the black hallway.
thanks for opening up your home!
view berkeley.loves.grey's profile
I love how this place is decorated!
view JacksonBeecher's profile
Wow! Your home is gorgeous! Love how warm and inviting it feels. Definitely inspirational, and I adore all the silouettes and agree with the previous posters on getting instructions on how to do it. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful home. I wanna give your doggie a big ole kiss!
view suzy8track's profile
This place looks amazing. And that those silhouettes in the dining room are wonderful. They remind me of some of what's happenign in Marlon's Green Pad, which ended up being Marlon's Blue Pad by the time it got into the book.
view Curtis's profile
gorgeous. gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. i'm a bit at a loss at the comments about clutter...this place? the color, the artwork, the light....just lovely!
view littlebunnyfoofoo's profile
While some of the specific furniture choices aren't my style, I do think the owners have successfully made their place unique and interesting and it works. I agree with others that a smaller TV and eliminating a few objects --- books on coffee table, editing down objects around the fireplace and the hutch in the dining room, will actually give the place even more impact.
view PaminBoston's profile
Such a creative and classy home!
view hbh's profile
Amazing how putting together rather mediocre furnishings (which appear to look like hotel discards from the seventies) with a focus can garnish such fawning responses. I think the sense of space and placement deserves lots of credit, with what you've done with what you've got.
view click212's profile
what a gift you have for interior decorating! so lovely, one of my top five AT home tours. thanks for sharing. do you do custom silhouettes? i would love to have my family done!
thanks-
lily
view freddyjjy's profile
That looks like a Batchelder fireplace and it's a huge bummer that it's painted!
view lizabiz's profile