Name: Taylor Jacobson, John Knuth and turtle Earl
Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles, Calfiornia
Size: Approximately 750 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year; Rented
Taylor and John's little apartment in the Angelino Heights part of Echo Park is a living testament that you don't have to have a lot of square footage (or be a minimalist) to live comfortably.
Taylor's bohemian modern style is evident in every nook and cranny ‐ her collection of mid-century lamps, her thoughtfully placed sleek ceramic vases, and her penchant for brightly colored accessories. They have really made use of the space in the apartment without making it look overcrowded ‐ this is evident right when you walk through the door and are met with an adorably creative office nook.
Taylor and John's curated look is not an accident. Taylor spent 6.5 years working for an interior designer and has recently broken out and started her own design business www.taylorjacobsondesign.com. Her husband John is the Assistant Director at the Ambach and Rice Gallery in Los Angeles and an artist himself ‐ he created the "Freedom Forever" work that hangs in their bedroom by using emergency smoke flares on large panels out in the desert.
Even though Echo Park Lake is under construction for now, the very best part of Taylor and John's apartment is the expansive living room window looking out above the lake and the surrounding neighborhood. Only one more year until the lake renovation is complete!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: A mix of clean lines, natural materials, bright patterned fabrics and classic design elements.
Inspiration: Countless shelter magazines, travel, browsing in shops that are aspirational (meaning beautiful but currently beyond my means), learning about the history of design, decorative arts and architecture.
Favorite Element: The light that pours in from all the windows in the living room.
Biggest Challenge: The lack of space.
What Friends Say: People say our place has 'good vibes' and that they feel calm and relaxed here.
Biggest Embarrassment: Our apartment looks out over Echo Park lake which is in the middle of a two year renovation process. It's an eyesore and loud and dusty during working hours.
Proudest DIY: the corner shelves in the bedroom - Taylor and John stained the wood and installed them.
Biggest Indulgence: The custom sofa from The Sofa Company.
Best Advice: Take your time, keep your eyes open and you can find treasures in the most unexpected places.
Dream Sources: JF Chen, Nickey Kehoe, Pat McGann, OK, Lawson Fenning, BDDW, 1st Dibs, VandM.com, Raoul textiles.
Resources of Note:
ENTRY/OFFICE
- • Desk - an Echo Park vintage store no longer in existence
• Metal Desk Chair - garage sale
• Japanese Lantern - O.K. in LA
• Shelf and Brackets - IKEA
• Mirror- Pasadena Community College Flea Market
LIVING ROOM
- • Sofa - The Sofa Company
• Coffee Table - Sunset Bazaar (vintage store in Echo Park)
• Danish Rope Chair - Sueno - LA store now out of business
• Bookcase - Gift
• Desk - Gift
• Black wire table lamp - Living Room in Silver Lake
• Photos of Sofa - Simone Lueck
• Side Table - Lane; bought at Sunset Bazaar
• Kilim Rug - Ebay
• Blue ceramic table lamp - Gift
KITCHEN
- • Table - Craigslist
• Chairs - IKEA
• Hanging Ceramic Lamp - Found in Idyllwild, CA
BEDROOM
• Shelves: Made by Taylor and John
• Wood lamp: Pipandestella.myshopify.com
• Bamboo/glass side table: Rose Bowl flea market
• Ceramic lamp: Craig Olsen on La Brea
• Sofa - Gift; reupholstered in Rogers and Goffigon linen
• Vintage Rug - was Taylor's moms'
• Sheepskin Rugs - Ikea
• Wood Chair - Sueno
• Emergency smoke flare paintings: John Knuth
• Woven ottoman: Sueno
• Bedding (duvet): West Elm
BATHROOM
• Stool - Target
•Small painting: Michelle Levy
OTHER
•Framed drawing in kitchen: Brook Perdigon
•Painting in hall above wood bookcase: Ami Tallman
•Painting to left of bed: Ami Tallman
•Photos to right of bed: Taylor's grandparents on their wedding day
Images: Alison Gilbert
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Wow, looking at the pictures at first, this is not my style, BUT as I kept going through the pictures, I absolutely fell in love. It feels SO comfortable and serene. Something really just calls out to you about this home. ...especially LOVE the eating nook in the kitchen.
Well done and tasteful.
...the spray painted freedom forever seems like an afterthought. It doesn't fit and is distracting.
I have a Good Question- where can I find the red flats she's wearing in the first picture? They're fantastic!
I love this apartment. Great period details in all rooms, design approach is fun and does not fight with architecture. And the location (despite the construction/renovation) is beyond ideal!
This home is such a refreshing change. You can see the owners chose things they liked and that reflect their interests and personality. They have not jumped on the bandwagon of choosing from a select group of "in" furniture. Good for them. Taylor will do well as a designer if she follows the same approach for her future clients.
I find this home very inspiring. The way it's been put together suggests even I can aspire to have such an interesting home without expensive furniture and without needing to paint my rental. Thank you! I love the pink cushion in front of the window. The color is such a treat.
Beautiful home, lots of colors and elements. I find the Freedom Forever art to be very interesting. It is jarring, but that's actually a good thing. The pendant in the bathroom - must have. What is it?!
I totes dig the bedroom. I agree, too, that the Freedom thing just does not work.
What an amazing view (the view we see from the photos). And the house is amazing too. I like that you did not put window treatments in the living room.
I LOVE the eating nook in the kitchen, very jealous of it actually. The rest of the apartment is very nice too - and the view is great. Congrats Taylor and John on such a nice home!
This is random, but I'm pretty sure the artist who took the photos above the couch was my TA at UCSD 8 years ago.
Charming apartment, with a quintessential LA view (beyond the lake project). I had that same shallow wall "alcove" in a couple San Francisco kitchens. From a fold-down ironing board, of I'm not mistaken. The shelves are a good solution.
@EK, I took a good look at those shoes, too. Cute outfit.
The graffiti in the bedroom, however, is too much like the "redrum" thing in "The Shining". Very disturbing.
FRESH!! Nice livin :)
Bohemian at its freshest, love it. The only thing I don't like is the art in the bedroom. It looks too much like a horror movie murder scene.
Love the view! Nice space. Very comfortable and lowkey.
I love the 'older' kitchen and bathroom. Maybe that's why this tour truly feels like home. Love the view and wonderful windows too.
But I agree with the othes who posted a dislike about the freedom forever grafitti in the bedroom. Looks off compared to all the other cool things they have in their home.
wow I really like the kitchen a lot. the colors and fabrics throughout the house are nice --it looks like a clean bright organized comfy home, and I like all of the artwork, including the large bedroom pieces. I think they are fabulous.
Love the apartment, love the view, loooove those red shoes!
The view and the space itself are amazing, but the decor is a bit meh in my opinion....seems safe and a bit bland. But if it's something that makes the people who live there happy, who am I to say what works!
Especially love the kitchen!!
freaking DOPE!! total effortless echo park style. So jealous of your bathroom and kitchen!
I love it! It feels like a real home with a soul. Lots of windows, great views and the perfect back yard. Also love the kitchen. Great tour.
your red shoes... whose are they? fabulous.
Love it all - the light, the garden, the views, the vintage-ness of it all. Looks so comfortable and lived in. And let's not neglect the fabulous red shoes! Thanks for the tour.
Those are seriously fab shoes and I'd love to learn more about them!
nice apartment, WTH the spray paint "artwork" in the bedroom???
I also have a yearning to own those shoes. And I LOVE the place, very inspirational. And I appreciate AT having more small house tours (apart from the Small Cool contest) lately. For a while it seemed like everything was 2000sf and bigger (sometimes much bigger); having just moved in to a 1000 sf house (two adults, teen and a dog), I really like seeing how people live well in a smaller space.
to EK - ditto. I want the red flats!
Adore the Room with a View, Must be beautiful! And so is the rest of the house, so light and calm!
Atlanta @ blog.lifeshapes.co.uk/
Not my style, but I instantly feel at home!
The eat-in breakfast nook is absolutely adorable! I love how spring-like and fresh it looks. Lovely!
~Maria, F Yeah, Awesome Houses
Love the breakfast nook and your bathroom. Very pretty. The bedroom curtains are just beautiful too. :)
I don't know about the shoes, but I have the same shirt from Target. :)
Agggh!! The dictator nesting dolls! I passed up a pristine set of those at Goodwill a few years back for $4 and have been kicking myself ever since.
Love the space. The bedroom art is not my thing, but perhaps it has meaning to the home's residents (which is the best kind of art).
Awesome!
Question Taylor and John- I'm interested in making similar shelves - what brand of hanging standards/brackets did you use? I'm having trouble finding brackets to attach to my own wood.
What a warm welcoming home!
Question Taylor ad John-- are the wall-to-wall shelve-benches in the living room and kitchen custom-made? If not, where to buy them? Thanks.
What a beautiful place to live! Love that view and your sitting place in the kitchen!