This week we've invited AT LA contributor, Rebecca, to share ten of her favourite things around her stylish duplex apartment that she shares with her boyfriend, including a backyard entertaining areas that just cries out "perfect outdoor entertaining" spot. Photos and Rebecca's own words about her home below...
Ten Things I Love: From Rebecca's Apartment
1) I love the outside of my little duplex that my boyfriend and I moved into last year. The greenery and stone walls make me happy.
2) I am always snapping pictures and love documenting where I’ve been, including the exteriors or environments. I made these galleries of vacations and adventures I had been on in the last few years and they are hanging in the bedroom. Everyday I am reminded of some of the special times and places I’ve experienced.
3) I finally have a backyard area to call my own and decided to create a little outdoor room to relax and entertain friends and family. And I decorated this space with a super tiny budget and am pretty happy with how it turned out.
4) I love how open our main room feels. I finally have a space where the walls don’t feel so confining. I have most of furniture floating in the room with the vintage credenza (also a love of mine) anchoring the space. It feels really balanced and comfy in here.
5) All you renters out there can relate to this…laundry! I finally have laundry not just in the building but in our apartment!!! I love that I can do laundry at home anytime I want. This is a big change since we had to go to a laundromat in our old place. Let’s just say I didn’t love that.
6) I just love these little zebra ottomans. They are perfect for small spaces since they can be moved around to serve different purposes…ottoman, coffee table, chair. They now live near the new sofa bed in our office/guest room.
7) My Tord Boontje Midsummer shade simply makes me smile. It hangs in the hallway near the bedrooms and I pass by it all the time. So nice!
8) I spotted this vintage Mulhauser “Mr Chair” on Craigslist early last year and snapped it up for a great deal. The original sticker is on the bottom too!
9) The original molding in my apartment is gorgeous! The three tiers line the entire ceiling and add interest and texture to our main room. Love the style of these older buildings in Los Angeles.
10) I love the amazing natural light that fills the apartment throughout the entire day. And with the time change, light streams through all of the windows and I appreciate the warmth and color that extends throughout my space.
Thanks Rebecca! And be sure to revisit Laure and Beth's top 10 list.
Have ten things you especially love and want to share with us and the Apartment Therapy community. Email us with your photos and descriptions to Apartment Therapy LA and we'll share the love.
Comments (18)
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Anyone know where the rug in the dining area is from? So cute! I love organic patterns mixed with clean lines.
view LadyJaye's profile
I'm guessing she lives somewhere that doesn't get much rain. That outdoor area looks better than my living room!
view jooly's profile
Love her style!
---Where are the zebra ottomans from?
---The “outdoor room” is amazing. The wall hanging is an IKEA print, but I’m wondering how it holds up against the elements…. No rain damage or fading?
view CAjess323's profile
Sorry, should have made it more clear that Rebecca is one of our very own writers here at AT Los Angeles. Not much rain here indeed, for better and for worse.
view gregory's profile
I really like this post. I am always focussing on the negative aspects of my home and what I want to change. I should also focus on what I love. You have a beautiful home and the items you chose are definitely envy-worthy.
Would you mind sharing where you purchased the black and white rug in the outdoor area?
And . . .I love how this post uses "I".
view 4ddh's profile
I love your moldings!
Here's a question: does anyone have advice for how to DIY moldings if you live in an apartment that has no moldings/ architectural features? I'm possibly buying an apartment, and I've always loved those old pre-war NY buildings that have huge square "picture frame" moldings on the walls.
Is that sort of thing possible to create as a DIY project, on a small (think low end of Home Depot or Target, because forget Design Within Reach -- even West Elm isn't in my reach right now).
view jplee's profile
Thanks for your sweet comments!
The outdoor rug is from Target and was about $40. It's actually reversible - pretty cool. The whole "room" was done on a tight tight tight budget. The whole thing was done for about $125!
The zebra ottomans were purchased at Cost Plus about 2 years ago.
It really doesn't rain much here in LA. As far as fading, the position of the sun doesn't really hit that wall where the canvas is hanging. (That wall is actually the garage off the alley where the other 3 tenants and I park). The outdoor room is on the east side of the duplex so the sun rises over it pretty quickly. Our family room faces west and we get tons of sunlight now throughout the day.
Great question about the moldings! I'd love to tackle that for AT.
view RebeccaATLA's profile
Lovely home. Could you tell me where you got the blue pillow on your "Mr Chair"? I've been looking for one for my daybed and that one is perfect...
view rachida's profile
The pillow was bought on sale from West Elm for $25. A great deal for such a big pillow. (it's actually a floor cushion)
view RebeccaATLA's profile
hi rebecca,
i am in love with your home! if you don't mind me asking, where in LA do you live? i can't believe you've found such a great place, with such amazing exterior architecture. i'm very jealous :)
also, where did you get the rug in your dining room area? i really love it.
view fifteenpetals's profile
Great post and nice reminder to focus on the positive. I'm making my own list now.
view frenchfry's profile
I love the outdoor furniture...where did you purchase?
view menilges's profile
The outdoor room was fun to do and we did it on the cheap. We had the canvas, lamp, bbq and little patio table already.
Folding chairs from IKEA $10/each
Lack tables from IKEA $12/each
Outdoor rug from Target $39.99
Palm plants from Costco $10/each
Pots from IKEA $5/each
String of lights from Target $8
view RebeccaATLA's profile
Thanks for the answers Rebecca! I Googled CostPlus before you even answered- I knew it! ;)
view CAjess323's profile
I love the outdoor area- it is adorable and perfect for entertaining!
view menilges's profile
Beautiful credenza!! Any thoughts on where to get one...and one that's reasonably priced? Thanks!
view nfanelli's profile
Rebecca!
You have a lovely apartment there.
Especially "Mr. Chair", Zebra ottoman and the 3 tier ceiling mold you have. Plus a very cozy outdoor furniture setting.
Jeanne
view jeanne211's profile
nfanelli - we picked ours up for an amazing deal at the Rose Bowl Flea Market, which sets up shop the 2nd Sunday of every month. Good luck!
view RebeccaATLA's profile