Name: Robert Harbour, set designer and residential designer, + Tulsa & Chopper
Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles, California
Size: 1900 square feet
Years lived in: 6 months
While other potential homebuyers walked away from the house that had too many quirks, Robert instead found much charm in the funky layout and unique character. The home had a basement-like nook right off the entrance, which he turned into a quiet mediation room. It also had an attic, which become his guest bedroom and retreat.
Robert's home is constantly evolving as he finds different ways to style and live in the space. Even as I was at his home ready to photograph the space, he was outside rearranging plants and thinking of different ways to present the outdoor living area. What I love most about his home is that it isn't perfect. It definitely has a lived-in quality, and doesn't make excuses for the fact that large dogs also inhabit the home.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Since this is my home and not a set or for a client, my choices are motivated by many things and are reflected in the outcome of the look. I don't have to think of a character or someone else's personal tastes, just my own, so the result is a mixture of anarchy and cleverness (I hope) filtered through timing, taste, economy and might. I like spaces to look lived-in and layered, with texture and interest, without being cluttered — this is often a juggling act.
Inspiration: Inspiration is a moving target and things often get edited in and out.
Favorite Element: My backyard rivals Versailles.
Biggest Challenge: Time.
What Friends Say: If I did more socially than hang out with my dogs, then my home would be party central. Friends who visit here are always offering to throw parties in my home. I would only be interested if everyone had a task and could help around the house. Since I'm always working on it, then so should they!
Biggest Embarrassment: Hot water — I hate tankless!
Proudest DIY: My fireplace was a bizarre out-of-scale mish-mash of periods and styles when I bought the place. I cut down the mantel, added the mirror, changed the face, and painted it with a rustable iron paint and oxidized it. Now it looks like it's been there forever!
Biggest Indulgence: The Ridge Beam.
Best Advice: Ignore "That's not normal"
Dream Sources: If I could have a spending spree at the Rosebowl Flea Market, I would feel like I won the lottery.
Resources of Note:
APPLIANCES
- Craigslist
- ADP Culver City
- Contractors Warehouse
- Home Depot
HARDWARE
- Great Indoors
- Liz's Antique Hardware
- Home Depot
- Garage Sales
FURNITURE
- Garage sales
- H.D. Buttercup
- Craigslist
- Handmade
ACCESSORIES
- Garage sales
- Flea markets
PAINT
- Mix my own from oops paints from Home Depot
LIGHTING
- Garage sales
- Home Depot
FLOORING
- Linoleum City
- Private Floor guy who poured 1/4" "feather coat" concrete
- L&S Carpet
RUGS & CARPET
- Garage sales
TILES & STONE
- Euro Tile
WINDOW TREATMENTS
- Garage sales
- Bed Bath & Beyond
BEDS
- Mostly built
ARTWORK
- Garage sales
- My own
OTHER
- Plants are mostly Home Depot and Lowes - great return policy
- A good handyman goes a long way
Thanks, Robert!
(Images: Marcia Prentice)
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Great style and amazing dogs.
Rustic and beautiful! I love what you have done with your space!
Lovely. And the house ain't bad either.
Where is the faux fur bed cover from?
Love the dogs.
Very unique and while it is not all to my style, it works well together.
I especially love how he says - Ignore "That's not normal" Right on!
Doggies!
Prop house.
@cdcd - well, he's only lived there for six months.
I like it, it's fun. And 1900 sq ft for one person with a massive backyard? Currently hubs, baby and me live in a 500 sq ft in London and feel like our forthcoming move to a house with 1100 sq ft will offer us oodles of space. Having that much room sounds amazing.
Cute guy, cute dogs, cute house.
It's a remnant from the Garment District Downtown
This house is brimming with pulchritude. The aesthetics seem to be a blend of comfort and art. I really admire this homeowners taste and the fact that he finds many of his pieces at yard sales. And it doesn't hurt that he's very easy on the eyes.
Wow, what a back yard! Although I think my favorite part about the house is the dogs :)
Love the shower curtain. Is it a Robert original?
Wow, I can't believe he's only been there six months -- it's so pulled together and seems to have everything in just the right place. Really nice home and cute dogs.
Great space!! Love all the little nooks and crannies, perfect for hiding away with a good book and glass of wine. This home has a very nice lived-in, easy vibe to it. Kudos!
Love especially the quirky kitchen - not boring, gutted or granite! Congratulations on the whole house.
my most favorite house tour. so cozy and beautiful and relaxing.
Perfection! What a great place. I love the lived in feel and the crazy, yet tasteful mixture of styles and elements. Overall has a very Mediteranian feel to it. Great dogs!
Dogs are really CUTE! The design is average. I have seen most of students still at school in this field could do better jobs than this.
The dogs are amazingly cute. There, I got that part out of the way. ;)
I like some of the attempts here, but I don't get the random slashes of white paint on the kitchen island or the stairs (and the black smears of paint either, for that matter.)
I also think the living room looks like the furniture is just pushed up into every spare inch of space and it looks awkward and amateurish to me.
That said, it's not my style to have every corner and inch of space used up with something. I like to see some space around furniture and objects and I realize this homeowner has a different aesthetic. I do appreciate very much that the space is unique. It's individual to the man who lives here and it looks very personalized without being trendy or MCM or costumey.
This is hands down one of the most exciting house tours yet. I wish I could afford a house in LA (even with quirks, LOL). Robert has some pieces that I would not have necessarily picked but I admire how well it all goes together. 1900 sq. feet -wow!
The backyard is my dream come true. I cannot really tell from the pics how big it is or how one area connects to another but it's all so lovely.
The pooches are adorable (and so is Robert). Thanks for sharing your house with us.
The house is great but the backyard area is what really does it for me! Thanks for sharing your little slice of gorgeous.
I really love the weather in LA. So much sunshine and so warm. This apartment really brings in lots of light which I love very much, but for the interior design, the living room seems too crowded and too busy. It seems like he just put the furniture together there without any design concept. I wish I could have seen more designs and tastes in this apartment.
the curtains in the living room are turn inside out. I wonder why...
I get doing your own thing,but this place gave me eye strain.Too much everything,no cohesiveness at any level,it looks like he is storing props from work.And I loathe reclaimed wood used in that way,very amateurish and "Design Star".But hey,if he likes it thats all that counts.Im curious,why all those couches and chairs if he doesnt entertain?
@cdcd - who's Susan? While this is not my personal style (I'm a MCM, minimalist-ish type of guy), I definitely appreciate the talent behind the design of this space.
I love your sense of style, elegant & relaxed= simplicity & the art work is wonderful!
Your dogs are adorable! A house without pets or books is blaaaa! I love the white bedroom. You have a great "eye" & thank you for sharing:) I am also a Kahlo fan.
oh....one more thing...is that astro turf in the hammock shot?
Nice! I'll take this over designer magazine perfect any day. Feels down-to-earth and quite inviting. I like the mix of furnishings. It works and clearly the owner has great taste (indoors and out). Love the artwork. Like that the space is predominantly white, with some of the wood painted out white, and some natural wood left. Awesome meditation space, beautiful greenery/outdoor space/chilling out areas. And of course, awww, lovely dogs. All in all, feels like home.
Original.
I too enjoy a glass of capers at the end of a long day. The styling made me giggle but it's a fun space.
LOL @ Heather! I do enjoy a glass of capers ... but only if we're drunk and eating them with leftover pate and stale baguette. And he says he doesn't entertain!
I see nothing special in this tour, the candles on the beds, coffee in the bathroom bit too "staged". Robert certainly likes to pose.
Robert has done something unique with his space and it looks comfortable & lived in (especially considering it's only been 6 months). The meditation nook is a great idea for that little spot.
So many amazing space in one space. I especially like the outdoor fireplace. Perfect for cool SoCal night cozying up with the doggies!
Interesting house and so different from the "curated" look typically shown at AT. What's that thingy on the wall outside the kitchen? Is it from a movie set, a Vincent Price movie maybe? Great conversation piece. Love your dogs. Senior dogs with white faces get me every time.
between the man, the dogs, the collection of seating in this home and the lofty sleeping areas ...I am packing right now for California
I love this... but tell me... what don't you like about tankless....???
Great tour. So much character. I love the fact that it looks like a home and not a showroom.
The guy, the dogs, the splendid yard, and that eclectically vintage home - what's not to love?
confused... the pieces in the LR seem way too large for the space.
Very cool and eclectic space! What a nice residential and garden sanctuary escape from the hustle and bustle freeway culture of LA! I particularly enjoy the relaxed, cozy feel of the place and all the little unique nooks and crannies that Robert has been able to create interesting spaces within spaces! It reminds me of a stylish, rustic, cozy b & b or seasonal rental in South America, Cuba or Spain. It's perfection is in the imperfection! I love how the house is multi layered up a hill and starts with that fab entry stairwell to the main living areas, then opens up to that amazing hillside garden leading all the way up to that hammock at the top! And so many spaces to discover on the way! My favorite parts are the white antique stuccoed meditation/bedroom off the entry stairwell. I also loved the fireplace in the main living room and yes what a perfect place to savor a glass of wine with bread and cheese! I also particularly like the outdoor garden lounge room with colorful low sofas and pillows....what a great space to sit and lounge with friends or have an outdoor party so hopefully he will eventually use it to entertain! To me, the house is a nice balance of comfortable hominess and staging. And yes the icing on the cake is there are two cute dogs and a cute guy occupying it! Bravo!
The best example of an Echo Park Bohemian house I have seen all year. Great home.
Can see a few good vignettes. Very much like a set design. Not my favorite residential space as a whole. Too choppy. But that's just my opinion.
Beautiful jade plant in the backyard & I love the fireplace!
This place is so divine that I keep coming back. I think I just went through the tour for the fourth time.
OH boy. This is knock-out perfection! ALL of it.
I really, truly, deeply love this home. It's not my style per se, but I can picture myself curling up in any given corner of the house and settling into a good book or spending some quality alone time. Great job! I also appreciate that so much of it has been built by the homeowner (or his handyman). Thank you for sharing and feel free to invite me over anytime!
Love the idea to put part of a room divider/screen in front of a window for privacy-stealing it!!!!
Actually the pet photos are my favourite part! I love the fact that he's made it "his" home for he & his dogs- it's comfortable & to his liking. I understand constructive criticism or simply not liking a particular style but otherwise.... kudos to Robert for being true to himself.
You've got a lovely hidey-hole for you and your pups. Kudos on making it work for you.
Where did you get the curtains in pics #36 and 37? I have been looking online for months for curtains like that!!!
It is refreshing to see such an original place. I like eclectic simplicity without overwhelming designer pieces. Certain photographs give a monastery vibe - very clean and peaceful place without being minimalistic in a trendy way.
In pic 44, there is a wood object on the bed. I found this same object in a thrift store years ago. Very mid century. Is it by a known designer or do you have any other info? I have it displayed with other wood objects in my home.
Sexy, relaxing, zen. Amazing style!
Super cute guy - you need an assistant though! More discipline would be good, you have great artistic style that could be explored! How 'bout some painted eyes? Love the dogs.
Unfortunately they came from a liquidation sale from a Drappery Dept. I felt very lucky!
It takes forever to get the start of hot water--It's not on Demand as proposed!
That is actually a therapeutic roller for back or feet...
Hi Robert,
I have a tankless water heater (I have had it for about 2 years now) and I love it.
I think it's manufactured by Rheem (but not sure if I remember it correctly - they are an Alabama [or somewhere close] based company). It takes about 10 seconds to get hot water in the kitchen (where the faucet if located almost directly above the heater in the basement), and a little longer in the bathroom. But I cannot complain. Since I live alone, it does not make sense to keep a huge tank of hot water.
Meh. Too crunchy-granola for me with all that flotsam and jetsam.
Really love the garden with all its nooks and details - really seems to have evolved in an organic and unstudied way!
Romantic, sexy, fun & thoughtful ... :) hmmm sounds like I'm writing for the singles column!
Cool house with unique personality...and, love the cozy nooks & crannies, the different angles and the french doors leading out to the garden and the turquoise steps...I think I have to come back 'cause I like this peaceful feeling I'm getting looking at it. :)