[This is our last week of posts from our three finalists, each vying for a spot on the AT:LA roster. We bring you the last post from Grace, one of our three finalists who kindly shares with us her own home!]
Name: Grace Hsiu
Location: Pasadena
Size: Give or take 1500 sq ft.
Years lived in: About 3 months
My Style: Quirky Prep
For years, I've used excuses like, "Well, I'm RENTING so I'll just have to live with these avocado-colored formica countertops..." and "Well, I like this color but he likes that color, so we're just not going to paint at all." But three months ago, when I opened the door to my first house, I realized that I had taken on a bit of a project: furnishing my house to be, well, my home; and trying to figure out exactly what my own personal style is. The former is hard on the bank account; and the latter is harder especially after four years of having not your style, or my style, but OUR style.
We're always looking for more candidates for house tours. If you or someone you know is interested in inviting us for a tour, please email us!
So here's what I've learned so far: Walking into a floor sample sale is good karma; too many tchotchkes with no sentimental value is like waking up with a red wine hangover; and always ALWAYS listen to your mum when she tells you to put the damn chair in the corner and stop worrying about it already.
Favorite Element: My art collection. It times get rough, at least I can hock some stuff on eBay!
What friends say about my Home: "Is your sofa a sleeper?" (Because no one likes to drive home from Pasadena) And, "Where did you get that art in the entryway?"
Most Embarrassing Element: My lack of a coffee table in the living room. I just haven't found the right one yet...And my lawn. The sprinklers broke about 3 weeks ago, and I haven't fixed em yet.
Biggest Challenge: Dealing with two bathrooms that need major renovating. And arranging my living room furniture so not everything is against a wall.
Proudest DIY: Working with my mum to create bench beds for my dog. The benches are Ikea bookcases, and my mum made the cushions out of washable microsuede, velcro, and 3-inch foam.
Resources:
Appliances: Sears, Howards
Furniture & Lighting: Craigslist, Crate and Barrel, Ikea, Pottery Barn, Cost Plus, Target, Rose Bowl, and the Fairfax High School Swap Meet
Paint: Ralph Lauren, Benjamin Moore
Window Treatment: My mum
Great house! I especially love the art on the walls, and the way you've arranged items in the office bookcase.
I can totally relate to trying to re-connect with your true sense of style after living with rental restrictions.
Seriously, your dog can have an amazing career in modeling! I love the shot of the dog in the coffee table! =)
view pisceanchick's profile
so much in so little time. an artists vision this one. pop design thats actually comfortable to live in. her eyes are sharp and her taste delicious. nice details from the "cookie jars" to the Eames Chaise. clean lines, white walls and accents of red love. nice, very nice.
view dubzero's profile
all I want to see in there is a black base Noguchi coffeetable-that would just complete it!!!
view bball's profile
Very nice Grace! Could you tell me where you got the black & white painting from?
Thanks.
view icenet333's profile
hi icenet! the painting in the entryway was done by LA artist Scott Herskovitz, and you can check out his work at www.hersk.com...(he also did the blue painting that is over my brown couch in the den). Thanks for checking out my house!
view grace's profile
hi Grace, luv the doggie and the house! especially the art. hmm, is your dog really allowed on the couch? haha
view slick50's profile
That dog really knows how to smile. Its a happy home.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
Nice photos! Thanks for sharing this. I love the story you tell with your beautiful dog - it's like he's showing off his home, telling us about it.
view Sea's profile
I love your dog and I'm not even a dog lover! He looks so happy! Your place is beautiful. Shows how wonderful a place is when we just let our style evolve. Your restrained hand makes the place look very elegant.
I really love the artwork. Could you please tell me about the chair to the right in the first photo? Looks like it has some cute flower print on it. Could you also tell me the source of the white vases on the mantel?
Lovely home. Thanks for sharing.
view peggy's profile
Hi Peggy! Thanks for checking out my home--my dog Herbie is by far my best home accessory :).
The main artwork pieces from my house are Hersk (the black and white painting), Green Lady/Huntergatherer (the pink and maroon print above the couch), Eduardo Chillida (over the bed), and the smaller pieces (ie in the office, kitchen, and den) are Barry McGee, Clayton Brothers, Travis Millard, Ryan McGinness, Mark Gonzales, and Steven Harrington.
The white vases on the mantle are a jumbly mix: part Ikea, and part from this small paint-it-yourself ceramic shop I used to work at back when I was in high school (except I just glazed and fired them). I went into a Color Me Mine a few months ago and they have similar vases.
The chair in the living room is actually a really old Eames eiffel chair that had a crack in the shell. It used to belong to my ex, and he and his friends tagged it over a span of months (luckily they were all artsy designers). I considered getting it sandblasted and painted at an autobody shop, but after awhile, I really started to like the look.
Thanks again!
view grace's profile
I love the eames chair....
view Bridget212323's profile
What's Going on?
I love the cassettes in the frame. I have no idea which ones they are, but it is great! I would like to do that with some 8 Tracks.
view gttim's profile
Cool house. Great cannisters. What style is the exterior of the house?
view Kurt's profile
Gorgeous! Can you tell us where the Prozac/Downers cannisters came from? I can think of many people for whom those would be awesome gifts.
I even find your lack of coffee table kind of inspiring, because I have several places like that in my house where I feel like I am still waiting to find the right thing, but usually the house tours on AT are so perfect-looking that they make me feel like a slacker for not having found the right thing yet. I applaud your decision to wait until you find the right coffee table! :)
view Jenny in DC's profile
The dog in the coffee table photo completely cracked me up.
view LaDonnaNichole's profile
Um, I love your dog. And the cannisters. But mainly the dog. I love especially that he seems to be on everything EXCEPT the bench you made especially for him.
view B's profile
Hi Jenny in DC,
The Prozac/Downers cannisters were from Jonathan Adler...i think they still have them online and in stores but in a different (and more muted) colorway. There's also other great cannisters in the collection (Uppers, Dolls, etc) Oddly enough, I use the Downers cannister for my dog's treats.
I think it will be strange once I do find that perfect coffee table--I'm so used to having the open space! :)
Thanks for checking out my house!
view grace's profile
Grace,
Love your house. I'm wondering where you found the baskets that fit in your Ikea bench. I actually bought the same bench for my hallway and haven't been able to find anything that fits the width of the opening. Any help is appreciated.
Nice job!
view columbiakat's profile
Hi Columbiakat,
The baskets are actually Ikea as well...here you go:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90028066
Hope that helps!
view grace's profile
Ooh Grace - I have that same Vertigo poster in my upstairs hallway. I married into it - haha. Such a great design.
view faith's profile
Oh, your doggy is a character!
view sunan's profile