Name: Michelle Workman
Location: Los Angeles, California
Size: 3,200 square feet
Years lived in: 2 1/2 years
We gave you a sneak peek of Michelle's home this week now here's the full house tour. A few years ago, Michelle and her husband, Justin, were looking for an older home that needed "light" renovations. They didn't want to undo someone else's work to make it their own. When they saw their current home for the first time they just "knew it was right since it had been maintained but never renovated." They renovated their house, which was then lacking in personality, and it's now filled with a colorful palette and design elements perfect for the couple. While not as small as most of our House Tours, this home is full of color, personality and inspiring ideas that anyone can draw upon.
AT Survey:
My style: Traditional in shape (mostly) with vibrant use of colors and touches of insouciance.
Inspiration: Something happy and memorable for the children. I had done a country house for a client and had wanted to use that wallpaper that is in the living room and thought this would be the perfect opportunity – it is so sweet and happy – perfect for young children. I really wanted to inspire my kids to be creative and fantastical - let their imaginations run wild. My older boy sometimes has conversations with the birds in the paper and I love that!
Favorite Element: The color scheme - its either super happy or a sedate grey, with bursts of color - sort of like that gum that has the juicy center; it tastes good when you put it in your mouth but then you get a juicy tangy burst when you bite down.
Biggest Challenge: Working a Craftsman into a more lighthearted design. Craftsman Bungalow’s tended toward a serious note – dark woodwork, clean pristine lines, hard edges. The great thing about Craftsman’ was the slight bent towards nature. I tried to pull THAT element out with the birds (wallpapers) and keep it somewhat country inspired since country is also based on natural elements.
What Friends Say: Most men say they love the wallpapers (go figure) and in general people say that it feels very happy – which is good because that is what I was going for!
Biggest Embarrassment: That it is more traditional than I would wish it for myself. I like a few more dashes of modern - and more “sexy” stuff, like Lucite tables, and glass. However, with kids, I thought they might ruin “precious” things and then I would be mad…better not to be mad.
Proudest DIY: Embroidered the monogram on the headboard and then upholstered it myself – the upholstery is not done “properly” but I actually love the way it came out!
Biggest Indulgence: I suppose the Ann Sacks tile in the bathroom and kitchen. That and a Scalamandre chair in the master bath, Scalamandre fabric on the Living Room curtains. Everything else was stuff I found at estate sales, and thrift stores. Whenever my husband and I travel, I try to get out to little towns and check out what their antique stores have. Most of the time things are very inexpensive, at least by LA standards. Some of the items are actually from my store and I brought them in for the Apartment Therapy photo shoot.
Best advice: I think the best advice was for us to update all the systems, plumbing, electrical, and with that we put in central heat and air (the furnace was original to the house and was nearly 100 years old!!!) So now we don’t swelter during summer nights in our beds – which is a godsend!
Dream source: Well I have to say my store, The Red House Interiors, is MY perfect resource! I love every single piece in it and would use all in my home (children permitting) but I do have a soft spot for Scalamandre. Their color-story is to die for – yummy, bright, and happy. And also for F. Schumacher & Co. - they have a great mix of modern and traditional fabrics and wall coverings.
Resources:
Appliances:
- Viking professional stove
- Dishwasher – Maytag
- Faucet, Pot filler, etc. – Belle Foret – Home Depot Special Order
Hardware:
- Kitchen Latches and drawer pulls from www.vandykes.com
- Dining room hardware from Liz’s Antique Hardware
- Rest of house (door knobs, etc) are original
Furniture:
Living room
- Sofa – Baker, fabric - Lee Jofa
- Pink slipper chair – Vintage found in small town in Nevada, fabric - P. Kaufman
- Grey cane back chairs – www.hotelsurplus.com refinished and re-upholsetered, fabric - P. Kaufman
- Blue high back sofa – found at a sidewalk sale from a small upholsterer
- Breakfront – vintage - refinished (wedding gift)
- Octagonal table – Antique found at Out of the Closet
Dining room
- Table & buffet - Vintage store (buffet was re-finished) on Fairfax
- Chairs – www.hotelsurplus.com refinished in teal lacquer
Master bedroom
- bedside drum table – Wertz Brothers
- Tangerine chair - estate sale reupholstered
- Vanity – auction in Georgia
Guest bedroom
- Deco Side tables – Erwin Gruen found at estate sale
- Small bergeres – estate sale reupholstered in Edinburgh Weavers fabric
- Red bench from my mom
Boys room
- Bedside table – San Francisco Bay Co.
- Chair – from my mom
Accessories:
Living Room
- Ceramic dog – garage sale
Dining room
- Blue transfer-ware plates – Ebay!
- Blanc de Chine tureens – Phillipe Deshoulieres – Limoges France (while on honeymoon)
- Most of the other items are from mine or Justin’s family including
- Thistle Jardiniere hand carried from Scotland by my great great grandmother
Master bed
- Chinese people covered bowls – gift from a friend
Lighting:
99% of the fixed lighting was gotten off of Ebay. The guest bedroom chandelier I have been dragging around with me for 15 years – I got it at a garage sale in Florida for $10!
Lamps
- Living room
- Pastoral lamp – Antique (found in Tucson AZ), shade – Brunschwig et Fils
- Blackamoor Lamp - from Husbands Grandma
Master bedroom
- Bedside lamps Marbro Lamp Co. –
- Blackamoor bust -
- Bedside lamps guest bed Gordy lamps – Justin’s Grandma
Beds
- Master – my design that I personally re-upholstered when we moved (available through my store – PROFESSIONALLY upholstered though!)
- Guest – Antique
- Boys – Antique (found in Tucson AZ)
- Crib – Antique (given to me by a client)
Tiles and Stone:
- Master bath and Kitchen Carrara 2x4 tiles – Ann Sacks
- Carrara counters – Southland Stone
- Hexagonal white floor tile – DalTile
- Black square accent tile - DalTile
Window Treatments:
All made through my company, Michelle Workman Design.
- Fabrics: Living Room – Scalamandre
- Guest Bed – The Red House Interiors Yellow Chinois
- Boys rooms – The Red House Interiors, Yellow Chinois
- Master – someplace in Manhatten (was a steal!)
- Dining room – cant remember
- Kitchen Valance - Scalamandre
Rugs and Carpets:
- Master rug – flea market (Tucson AZ)
- Guest rug - Rug – Interior Rugs (on west Pico)
- Living room rug - Rug – Interior Rugs (on west Pico)
- Boys rooms shag – Melrose Carpets
Artwork:
Living room
- Pine cone sculpture – my husband Justin made that!
- 2 large Watercolors over blue sofa www.sophierobyncampbell.com
- Pastel portrait over secretary was done by my grandmother in highschool
- The two smaller charcoals in the guest bedroom are by artist Bree Scanlon
- The larger charcoal is by artist Arizia Magnusson
- The rest of the art is vintage or antique and was found all over the place
Paint:
- Paint is all Benjamin Moore
(Thanks, Michelle!)
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The Eight-Step Home Cure 
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Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
gorgeous and welcoming :) I can't believe how big the rooms are!!
I ADORE the orange chair in the bedroom!!
I'm not a fan. I wish it was better, the ideas are there, but poorly executed. The placement of "things" are not right. The color proportions are also off. Adorable home, but it needs tweaking.
When you first view the rooms, each is very traditional. But when you start looking at the accessories and details, many of those are really interesting and offbeat. I like that.
The outside of the house looks wonderful- I love craftsman style. Unfortunately, otherwise I agree with kjansson- I generally think colorful spaces with lots of mix n' match antiques are really cool, but this house feels overstuffed and a bit frou-frou. It could probably benefit from having some of the furniture and wallpaper/window treatments edited down. Re-positioning furniture so it's not all shoved up against the walls may help as well.
I know it's hard to let go of things when all of the individual pieces of a collection are beloved/valuable, but a little bit of downsizing in favor of making sure things work together is definitely worthwhile- I'd recommend checking out "Alex's Granny-Chic" post to see an example of making this sort of aesthetic work for your space instead of against it.
Thank you a million times over for not painting the dining room woodwork! I would kill for it!
Has a very 50's feel to me - which isn't bad at all - it's very welcoming and all - but seems like the living room furniture is quite far apart.
I like the way it feels really personal and welcoming. I particularly love the color combination in the master bedroom. It's such a refreshing combination (so many people are afraid to take risks). Oh, and the lighting fixtures are just beautiful.
I love concepts of this, that kitchen! the idea that it is celebrated for being an older home, the wallpaper that reminds me of that I loved at my childhood dentist.
and I'm surprised a more colonial/east coast look can work inside the space, unfortunately I don't feel like I can breathe easily in here for some reason. The busy patterns or color up so high in many cases maybe?
but either way I was so distracted by the hyper-real photography in places, I have to go back and look again.
the photography being a meta-comment, i didn't mean the art in the space.
Wow! How gorgeous! I love all the color. Insouciance is a great word to describe this. I also love all the fabrics, wallpaper, and tile. You feel the richness of the finishes. What a great place to live.
Very beautifully done! I particularly LOVE the kitchen, dining room and bathroom!
Looooove it. I think the feeling of each space is amazing. It has beautiful colors that are fresh and bright. The house feels alive, that's what you want from a home. I love that the traditional feel was tweaked with a few contemporary aspects and colors. The best thing about this is the fact that the house is traditional with out being stuffy, and elegant without being uninviting.
oh, wow. how lucky your kids are! it's like a storybook cottage, but with enough space to play and grow! it feels comfortable and lived-in, but i can still very much hear your designer voice. i love the extensive use of vintage pieces, whether as-is or refinished. and i especially love that you're not afraid to use what YOU love, in YOUR way, and not what the masses would call "right" or "proportionate" or whatever.
p.s. - i showed the pictures of your home to my boyfriend--his exact words were, "sh*t's bada**!" ...translation: he loves it, too!
Michelle's awesome and she's blogging now too!
-Jean
Yikes! I guess it's not for everyone, I absolutely love the exterior... it just feels ruined inside :(
Michelle, your work is unbelievable! I love this house.I know Michelle and her family and being an interior designer and being an artist for your own home is just amazing what you can do. This house makes me feel at home and it's so beautifully done up! I am impressed. Go Michelle.
Michelle Workman, you are fabulous! Your home is brilliant, chic and fashionable yet timeless and comfortable. I love the kitchen and bath - that tub! The dining room is my absolute favorite - adore the turquoise with emerald accents. Brava, I cannot wait to touch and feel for myself.
To you naysayers, I hope you're not professionals. This is a definition of smart, sophisticated design. Pay close attention.
What a beautiful space! I love the creative use of color, this home breaks a lot of rules in the best possible way. How lucky Michelle's family is to get to share such a beautiful space!
I guess I'm really out of touch then. I just see technicolor which is distracting from how it may actually look. I went to her site and everything else is just drop dead gorgeous</B>... I guess I don't quite get what is so amazing about this place.
This is not my taste at all, but I appreciate her commitment to it. I am glad she didn't go the typical Craftsman/William Morris/Stickley route. I think my overall problem with the home is the awkward scale of some of the rooms--they seem huge, and the small details and prints seem out of proportion in many of them. I just don't find this to be very successful.
On the other hand, every time I go to flea markets and antique shops I see TONS of stuff that would look great with this decor--so for people who like it, this is probably an inspiring post.
This is gutsy and beautiful. I say gutsy because how often do you see so much pattern and color done so well? Obviously this homeowner has tons of pizazz and isn't afraid to go for it and follow her personal style. I think it's very well done and cheerful and I am sure it is enjoyed thoroughly. I love the blue wallpaper in the living room. I love all of the wallpaper. The accessories are charming. The kitchen is to die for.
Doesn't work for me. The visual cacophony is at odds with the Craftsman aesthetic, and not in a thought provoking, modern way. There's a way to update Craftsman, but for me, this isn't how it's done. I do like the bathroom update.
I have to agree with the naysayers - this does not work for me at all, and as others have said, the overwrought decor seems particularly jarring in a Craftsman, since the ethos of that style was simplicity and stylistic honesty. I often love modern updates of historic homes - I think it's silly to maintain slavish fidelity to period, in fact - but this one to me is a miss.
But I would kill for that kitchen!
I like the bones of the house, and the kitchen cabinets.
Although more restrained myself, I really like ecclectic, loaded homes (I am thinking about that amazing over-the-top-kitchen that AT showed a few months ago, just dripping with a wild assortment of tchachkas), but somehow the decor in this house just doesn't work. It tries too hard, but is "off". The furniture placement in the living room for example... everything feels too self-conscious, and just doesn't flow naturally.
Ditto Emily The Cat.
Totally impressive !! Great use of color and the ingenious application of antiques in an updated version of aesthetics !!! fabulous and beautiful !!
I like the fabric curtain/headboard idea and frequently recommend this to clients who have just a bed frame with no headboard. There are many variations on this theme and it doesn't have to be so formal and tailored to work. But it is much better feng shui than having a bare wall behind the bed.
Katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com
I wanted to thank you all for your comments. I hope that you enjoyed the tour through my house. My design philosophy is that the interior of a house should reflect the personalities within, that is what makes it a home. My house definitely reflects the exuberance for life that our family has.
Thank you for allowing a piece of my life to enter yours!
Michelle Workman
http://www.michelleworkman.com
I think the colors and creative decorating ideas work well without feeling like too much because of how large the rooms are. What a great way to make a cozy space. Such a unique viewpoint carried from room to room. Good stuff!
Hmmm. I would have guessed that this house, though it does sport some Craftsman characterisics, does not actually date from that period (late 1800's to early 1900's). To me it looks circa 1960. I know the owner says that the "nearly 100 yr old furnace" is original to the house, but I'm having a hard time reconciling that with the photos. Whenever it was built, the proportions do not ring true -- unless the camera angles are what's making the rooms look way too big for this style (?)
The typical Craftsman house would have at least one leaded or stained glass window, not the type shown here. Since it's stated that the house was 'maintained, but not renovated' (at least not until the current owners moved in) I'm guessing that this type of window was either replaced or never existed (?)
That said, I do love the turquoise dining room chairs and the chandelier in the bedroom. And I agree that the furniture looks too pushed-against-the-wall in the living room.
mirandabee, that dining room is classic turn of the century. and the style of moldings around the doors and windows is also classic; same you'd see in houses of the same vintage all over the country. But I do think that the lens being used on the camera exaggerates the size of the rooms...I see this all the time in high end real estate photography. However, keep in mind that it's a 3200 square foot house, not a tiny Craftsman bungalow.
Hello Mirandabee,
I am glad you like the teal chairs in the dining room - they are one of my favorite things!
The house was built in 1913 and has only been occupied by 3 owners (including ourselves) - It is possible that some of the windows have been replaced (and likely) but the large picture window in the front looks to be original as up close you can see the movement of the glass - same for the large dining room window. The rooms ARE quite large but the photograghy does make them appear even larger than they are. That was one of the selling points for us, that the rooms were unordinarily large for the period of the house (master bath too!). I hope that answers your questions regarding age of the house.
Michelle
PS: to Michpc - The woodwork and paneling in the dining room are tiger cut oak and the photos do not do the grain pattern justice - I am sure you would love it even more in person! When we moved in the stain was so dark that you could not see the grain - I removed two original (gas) sconces in the buffet and saw that the original stain was quite light and showed the grain - so I stripped all that woodwork down and then simply oiled it.
Michelle
What an amazing place!!!! A truly beautiful craftman!
I want you to do my home
AMazing style and design.Rooms look huge and very inviting. Conversation pieces everywhere. Great work.
Eddie Martini
I love, love, love the unexpected colors! The bathrooms are to die for and that Kitchen! The whole package is breath taking!!!!
Reminds me of Aunt Edna's place in New Jersey. Nothing cutting edge or ground breaking, but good taste.
Looks like you've lived there for 20 yrs... In a good way.
Love love love love love love love it ALL!! The colors are rich, vibrant and fantastic. Such a lovely home alive with color, antiques, art and family. Every room has special and significant details clearly thought of to create an exact feel and effect. I LOVE YOUR WORK. YOU ARE BRILLIANT. What a treasure!
I am always impressed when someone has the kahunas to do what makes them happy and comfortable in their home. And Michelle's turned her house into a wonderful home! This is not my style but it doesn't mean I wouldn't be perfectly comfortable hanging with the family there. Well done, Michelle - that's so cool! :)
cringe
Oh my, how I love built-ins...love craftman homes...beautiful home...
All other things aside, how could anyone take a relaxing bath underneath the framed tarantula on the wall?! That would give me a major case of the heebie jeebies.
I never thought I would say this: too much toile.
Like: the teal chairs in the dining room. Don't like: the bed that looks built for royalty, the claustrophic window treatments.
Like: the use of grays, the stenciling of the old bathtub. Don't like: the peachy interior color of the built-in cabinets.
Like: the wonderful lighting fixtures, the faux pooch. Don't like: the busy wallpaper.
Like: grouping the antiques with the not-quite-antiques that are in reality beat up old furniture, the Limoges (over-the-top but nonetheless extremely beautiful), and other family pieces. Don't like: the particular blue and yellow combination used in one of the bedrooms.
One can stress using family pieces and finds from out of the way thrift shops in Tucson, but the wall-paper and fabrics used come from ultra-pricey sources, even if bought with a designer discount.
love the bathroom, kitchen and the amount of space you have..
dunkleklatze: In short: nothing. (It looks like most of the approval is coming from one-off commentors who registered to leave a nice message for Michelle's entry- I guess it must be friends showing support.)
I think Jeff really hit the nail on the head- there are some great elements (I was surprised to find that i really liked the double chandelier in the bath, and I dig the kitchen and think I'll be getting some hardware from vandykes) but it's mostly just a jumble, and seems to ruin the craftsman aesthetic rather than update it.
Insouciance indeed.
Hi Michelle,
Great to see your home... very happy place - reminds me of you! Thanks for the Scalamandre nod, your wonderful!
xo Brenda
I agree that it falls a little short of the mark. The furniture in the living room is too far apart and it's not just the wide angle lens effect. A lot of the art on the wall gets lost against the busy wallpaper---wider, heavier frames and mats would help a lot. The frameless art in one of the shots doesn't work at all.
The photographer's lighting is too harsh, which doesn't help.
Two questions: the wrinkled drapes in the living room---is this a new style? And are there two large chandeliers in that bathroom??
How did you get your husband to sign off on all the frou-frou? Your home is quite beautiful and much airier that the typical dark and heavy Arts & Craft decor (thank goodness)...but my dear hubby would never put up with the florals and toiles and other very feminine flourishes.
We both prefer more restrained decor, but as a woman, I really do appreciate the softer and prettier side of your home.
The red thread is there in my opinion, but it's not really my taste. A few selected items would make it to my home too, but other than that I'm happy to take the role of a guest :)
The opening photo of this article made me believe that we were to see an English home with lots of flowers everywhere, so I was a bit surprised to find something completely different.
YIKES!! honestly, this sort of post is the reason why I'm getting turned off Apartment therapy. Is this meant to be a "before"?????
There is no reason this house should be posted on a design blog.
Uhhhh....this is the weirdest house tour I've ever seen on AT.
My reactions:
What is going on with the living room? Why is there a giant empty space in the middle of the room? What is happening with that busy wall paper, the busy curtains, and the busy cluster of art above the awkward love seat? The only thing in that room that I like is the chandelier, but it looks so odd on that ceiling and works against the beams. Why are there three baskets of folded blankets?
Okay, I love the photo of the black-painted sideboard with the blue plates hung above it...
The kitchen seems so big and empty. I love the photo of the stove from straight-on...That wall of carrera marble subway tile is gorgeous and I envy your pot-faucet, but there's just so much random vintage stuff in there...
I don't understand the bedroom. Why are the curtain rods black? The drapes and the bedspread and the wall color and the chandelier are all so matchy and then there's that rug and the vanity and that chair in the corner...I just don't get how this is some kind of achieved "look".
The wheat table in the bathroom is nice, but what happened to that poor clawfoot tub?? How many chandeliers are in the bathroom? Theres a modern tiling pattern and a modern glass shower and an upholstered chair and framed butterflies and an antique dresser-turned-sink...There are so many things happening in this room.
The bedside tables in the red bedroom are fantastic! I can't say anything nice about that rug...
That smaller bathroom looks like it might be amazing! Love the walls and original window and the hex-tiled floors. This is the only room of the house that I could enjoy.
Michelle, everyone has different taste and if you love your house, that's all that matters...
I came back to see if I was being extreme in my negative reaction yesterday... but I don't think I was negative enough!
This house is everything wrong with design. The only reason I can think of for it being featured at all is as some kind of favor or nepotism.
Shame on Apartment therapy!!!
I think some of these commenters are being a little mean. Not that I'm any expert, but ... are we really supposed to love everything? This house has its charms. It's not for me, but neither are most homes. Take what you like, leave the rest, right?
I'd gladly take the kitchen cabinets and shelves (although you can keep that frilly curtain blocking the gorgeous view), the tub and shower and butterflies (NOT the spider!), and the whimsical chandeliers.
I say, brava for having a vision and going with it. It's unique and charming.
I'm a huge fan of Craftsman architecture, so I was initially excited to see this tour...imagine my disappointment to discover that it looked like what a bungalow redecorated in the 1950s would look like--especially that horrible living room. It's great that you like it and it's your style, but for the sake of the house, I wanted to cry.
This is kind of a slap in the face to everything that is or has been Craftsman. The entire Arts & Crafts social movement - which Craftsman architecture and design is the principal exemplar of here in the US - is absolutely, 100% dedicated to avoiding this kind of room. "Have nothing in your house that is not both useful and that you find to be beautiful," as Mr. Morris wrote.
It was a reaction to the flowery, over-the-top decoration without purpose of the Victorian era. These rooms belong in a Victorian, not in a Craftsman home, whose original architect and builders would have been very sad to see this.
I'm glad it makes you happy, but really, there is NOTHING wrong with decorating a house consistent with its architectural style. This is the opposite.