Name: Morgan, Jeremy, Iggy Pup
Location: Hemet, California
Size: 1,300 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years
There's the common adage of taking lemons and making lemonade. We think Morgan and Jeremy have taken their situation a step further (their living situation "a careful balance between want and need"), squeezing out champagne from their modest, post-war Hemet home. Morgan describes their desert town as a "boring retirement community out in the middle of the nowhere in Riverside County", but they've curated an oasis filled with a sophisticated mix of midcentury classics and thrift store that feels both timeless and current despite the location. We like to think of it as a displaced Palm Springs residence that has found itself out in the middle of Hemet.
AT Survey:
My/Our style: Vintage Thrifty Shazam
Inspiration: Thrift stores, Palm Springs, and all things Scandinavian. Mid century design and anything I can get for under $100.
Favorite Element: Guest bedroom. It’s rad!
Biggest Challenge: Money. We need more of it.
What Friends Say: “Wow, it’s nice in here!” and “Your couch is too low.”
Biggest Embarrassment: The exterior. Working on it…slowly. Maybe the “poopicle” (toilet / cubicle) in the laundry room off the kitchen. What a mess.
Proudest DIY: Buying a house. Still can’t believe that happened. The driveway may be our proudest DIY. It was just mud for almost two years, so we saved up, rented a tractor to grade it ourselves and then moved over 50 tons of locally sourced gravel by hand. It was our first major exterior project done on a tiny budget and it turned out fabulous. Now we just need handle the rest of the exterior.
Biggest Indulgence: Furniture and lamps. Can’t get enough.
Best advice: Go slow. You have time or money, and honey it looks like you’re stuck with time.
Dream source: 1st Dibs. Oh and some sort of magical labor. Like a fairy contractor who can make all the problems go away for free and with kisses.
Resources:
Appliances: O’Keefe and Merritt stove we bought on Craigslsit, but the previous owners neglected to let us know that the oven was broken. Its been two years and its still not fixed. The Sears dent and ding fridge I’ve had since college and a microwave we found in the hallway of our old place that’s missing the rotating glass dish part. We wash dishes by hand and I dream of a garbage disposal.
Hardware: Most is original from the 1950’s, Ikea, or DIY. We still have the realtor lock box on the front door. I’m hoping when we go to sell the place it will still be there!
Furniture: Salvation Army, Angel View Thrift, Revival Thrift, Goodwill, Hemet Hospice, Craigslist, garage sales, flea markets and estate sales.
Accessories: eBay, Etsy, a crap load of thrift stores all over Southern California.
Lighting: DIY, Ikea, Craigslist and thrift stores, yet again.
Paint: Behr Ultra Pure White and Pure Black. Keeping it simple.
Flooring: Original hardwood we refinished and black VCT from Home Depot (we installed it in the bathrooms and kitchen).
Rugs and Carpets: Cowhides from Craigslist, the TÅRNBY from Ikea, and a vintage white shag rug from Angel View Thrift.
Window Treatments: All our windows are done in cheap ENJE roller blinds from Ikea.
Beds: Vintage Danish teak bed frame from Craigslist, and the Vinstra from Ikea.
Artwork: Mostly all the art comes from thrift stores including an original Josef Albers lithograph from 1966 that I got for $4.99 at Goodwill. Some friend’s pieces and some of my own artwork and installed throughout as well.
(Thanks, Morgan and Jeremy...and Iggy Pup too!)
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This house is super cool. And I'm in love with all of the groovy old portraits. They look so NOT old in this home. Very modern and sophisticated.
First, props on a cohesive and clean design. It is very visually pleasing. But, I feel like something is missing. Somehow everything seems like a stereotype and expected. I feel like a little personality is missing. Personally I know sometimes it takes a little more time for that to be evident in a new home. Finally, I'm jealous! You home has great potential and it looks like you are on your way to a masterpiece!
So gorgeous and restrained.
Question- How did they get their monitor to show the time? Is that a screensaver?
I love all your furniture and the layout. If I lived in this space, I would probably plaster the walls with different colors...but I really do love everything you have done!
love. this. place. I wish I had the self-discipline to live in such a beautiful, uncluttered way. so gorgeous. thanks for sharing!
NICE! That's all
I keep seeing the big clock on the monitor like that too. Just got my first mac and I'd love to know how to do that.
LOVE IT! i love the clock screensaver, please share with us where you got it! everything is placed exactly where it seems to belong. well done, well done.
I am still having to look twice because this looks so much like the apartment I had in college.
Its nice to see a big living room where you can group furniture together and still have space. This apartment has such great bones and so clean.
I especially love the kitchen, its a beauty.
Its nice on the eyes to see less stuff everywhere once in awhile. You have balance your thrift store finds from not looking too thrift store looking.
Sweet pupster!
Screensaver!
http://www.geekalerts.com/flip-clock-screensaver/
The shelving in the living room...are they actual plumming pipes?? I am in love with them!
The flip clock screensaver is probably the FLIQLO. It's free for mac or PC.
http://www.9031.com/downloads/screensavers.html
Screensaver: http://www.9031.com/downloads/screensavers.html
Were there only 11 photos? The tour ended without seeing bedrooms and kitchen for me. What I saw, I loved, though.
No mention of their awesome blog?
http://www.the-brick-house.com/
Absolutely beautiful! This made my day, and I'll be back often during the weekend in order to savour the details...
I love that shelving! And thanks, spinsLPs, for the blog link - bookmarked immediately!
brittanykate: there should be plenty more than 11 photos in the gallery. Give it a refresh and enjoy :)
spinsLPs: the link has been corrected/added to the top of the post, so thanks for the heads up.
Your home is beautiful. What do you guys do for jobs in Hemet? I'm not trying to be rude. I'm honestly curious.
Ok- first- can someone explain how the pictures work in the house tour?
I didnt realize there was ever an issue until I was looking at the neat San Francisco apt yesterday, and some people said that certain pictures were missing in the house tour. Then someone said that its complicated to get to it, esp with the "hide thumbnails" option. Well, lo and behold, I clicked on that and a TON more pictures showed up but it was oddly complicated to get through them all.
Now, the same thing is happening here. When I click on "enter house tour", the last picture that shows up is the cute, close-up picture of the dog. When I click show thumbnails, a LOT more pictures show up, but I cant get through them without doing all sorts of clicking around.
Whats the deal?
And onto this house- You give Hemet a good name! This house is great.
You obviously have a great eye for thrift store finds (I feel you on "whatever I can get for under $100)and DIY!
Is the Revival store you mentioned the one near downtown LA or is there another one, because the one near downtown is pretty awesome.
Me too with the photos. I can acces the ones after the dog but they only show up for a second (not even long enough to look at them), and then it automatically goes back to all the thumbnails. Never had this prob before :-(
Brittanykate: I had the same problem and I had to click "view thumbnails" to be able to see all the photos. Otherwise, the slideshow would stop at 11 photos for me too.
Nice house tour apart from the technical problems.
Ok- I just looked at the first few pages of your blog.
I could tell you had a sense of humor from the little bit on the survey but after reading the blog i think im in love.
I would have loved to go to that modernism show! Didn't even know it existed.
Are my eyes deceiving me or is the light fixture in #4 very low and if it is, is there a reason for this?
I had trouble with the tour also, no kitchen , bedroom etc but a cute dog!
This is a beautiful and serene home that shows so much attention to detail. It has such a light and spacious feel.
Though your style is modern, the spareness and careful focus on a few treasured items reminds me of a certain unadorned New England colonial approach (not colonial style) that I love.
While I can understand your frustration with the lack of modern conveniences (no dishwasher or working oven) in the kitchen, yours has what so many houses of a similar era lack -- loads and loads of counter space! That is a very good thing.
Thanks for offering up your space here. I really enjoyed the "tour".
I've seen this house before. Design Sponge I think. How inspiring!! I love how your home is constantly evolving.
Very nice.
This home is an inspiration to me! I live in LA and am facing a decision between a bigger, nicer, apartment located farther east of LA than I'd like or a Koreatown shoebox-I sometimes can be a location snob-but this tour shows me that you can live fabulously outside of the downtown scene! WAY outside! Plus your answers were very entertaining ;)
Love the home and sense of humor. Great post:)
I love your Iggy! I'm a massive fan as I've got two myself.
Can I ask what that thing is on the side to the left of your oven?
Are those plumber pipe/wood bookshelves the same ones from the post that was here on AT a little while ago?
beautiful house!
yes, agree with others that the restraint showed works out beautifully. i love the minimal look of those blinds as well and i esp. enjoy the wonderful portraits. the occasional low lights make me a little nervous but a really wonderful space!
I don't like the artwork, but love the furniture. Pretty amazing place for Hemet, California!
minimalist but warm. love it.
The slideshow is messed up for me, as well. I can only see the additional pictures through the "show thumbnails" option, not through the slideshow. Now I wonder how many great pics I've missed in other house tours!
Aww- way to restore Hemet to some of it's previous luster! my grandmother lives there (actually in Homeland) and I've always heard tales of old time celebrities having ranches out that way back in the day (M.F.K. Fisher, for one). I'm guessing it becomes the "new Palm Springs" someday!
Hey guys thanks so much! What a bummer the slide show doesn't work....wish it did. There are a TON of photos
The screen saver is that retro flip clock thing everyone linked to. Go get it, it's great.
Stephanie K : Yes they are - we built them! Check it out <A HREF="http://www.the-brick-house.com/2009/09/shelving-unit.html">HERE</A>.
Lesley : I work at a private art school in a nearby town.
NiceRack : It's the Revivals in Palm Springs I usually go to. St. Vincent DePaul is the shit in LA.
michelleinbrooklyn : Yes it is our guest bedroom and we don't leave the screen saver on all day - it shuts down after a few minutes. Thats what my iphone is for.
AngelaDee76 : It's a Lagardo Tackett cookie jar - google it, they are awesome.
Sydney : Good thing that I do. More amateur portrait paintings for me!
Hooray, Hemet blows.
Hey, fix the slideshow! I love their blog, I'm super excited to see a tour of Brick House here.
my wife's grandma lives in hemet i think...
so can i be your guy's friend?
really awesome place. some great furniture, vintage things and overall style.
i like the couches a lot, that one by the eames coffee table is sweet.
how long has it taken to acquire all that? impressive.
Congrats on pulling this all together on such a tight budget. One thing that puzzled me is that there are collections throughout the home, but the coffee table and dining table are both bare. I guess you did it for relief, but I'd love to see a large bowl or something on either of these tables.
beautifully curated! i love iggy :)
Love everything about your home. Kudos!
MFK Fisher grew up in Whittier.
I love everything about this house, except the art. I'm very tired of amateur portraits used ironically. I'd rather see something personal or great photos or anything else--these are as big a cliche as Monet museum posters.
Obviously, these people need a store to sell all the great stuff they find.
Yeah, I just went back and looked at the thumbnails. This house is even better than I thought! What a bummer that the slide show isn't working properly. And then when you click on a thumbnail, it only stays on the screen for a second. Someone needs to fix that. This tour is really worth lingering over.
P.S. I don't live in LA, so you all have me very curious about this Hemet you speak of. Like, how bad IS it??? I'm just trying to picture how such a stylish home can exist in such a (boring? ugly? rundown? old fashioned? small?) town. Curiouser and curiouser.
Lab D : Come be our friend, that would be rad. I've been collecting for years. Hardcore for the last three or so.
Queen B : Yeah it's a slow process, I haven't found the right thing yet. Usually I just don't want to store a bunch of stuff on surfaces to collect dust. We use them, and our personal messes aren't so pretty to look at.
F Faux: The art is not ironic at all and a lot of it is not amateur. I'm a big fan of painting (went to art school and everything) and just love strange portrait paintings. But then I'm a big fan of folks like Dana Schutz, Rob Thom, Lisa Yuskavage, Peter Doig, Luc Tuymans, Alice Neel...ect..
Creative L : Hemet is boring, and you can't make a left turn anywhere.
Hemet's my home town, and it's the small American Town in my life that no longer resembles what it once was... I haven't been back for decades. I remember some nice examples of MCM amongst it, too... Congrats on a fantastic looking place, and stay cool in the summer! ;^)
I wish this House Tour could be viewed properly. It's worth visiting again and again. AT? Please?
OH!.... and your art collection is fabulous, too!
Embarrassed to say, but the paintings I do use scenes from neighborhoods and streets in older parts of Hemet and environs... picture Twin Peaksy Lynchian small town strangeness. (I also love Salton Sea as subject matter)....
Here's a painting done mostly from memory and feelings of the corner of Florida Ave and Juanita, looking north.... it sold pretty fast when I had my gallery/studio. I got a kick out of selling Hemet / Perris / Winchester paintings to art collectors in Laguna!
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1949/76/63/533695174/n533695174_5696276_2484.jpg
Well done! You have nice taste and good sense of design.
Love this post. Your house is beautiful. I'm a landscape designer and can appreciate what you've done with the driveway :) Whatever you do, please don't plant a lawn in the front, it would be a travesty!
A warm & wonderful home, and someone else who likes "Ultra Pure White". Yes!
Hey, if you go to THAT St Vincent, Revival is right across the street! Sometimes it can be VERY hit or miss but its a tiny place and definitely worth checking out. Even when its miss, its fun to look at. (by miss, I mean not my style)
Heps- that was my first thought too- that Ive missed loads of other pictures from house tours. How will I ever cope?
What a great space! And I love your art collection. Vintage portraits rule!
I love this house so much! I am not usually a big mcm fan, but this house makes it work so well. I love how you've really incorporated that Palm Springs/LA 60s futurism feel with the art, pottery, and furniture instead of trying to modernize it too much. It looks wonderful. I also love the use of white throughout, which just reconfirms my suspicion that white is the best wall color ever. :) And, thanks for the suggestions on thrift stores in LA, I will have to check out Revival.
Oh, and contrary to what one poster said, I think this is a really unexpected use of a lot of the classic mcm pieces. This stays much truer to the era instead of just throwing in some Ikea this and neon painted that.
Nice work Morgan! This is an awesome house. I too live in Hemet everone. I always love checking out what she's doing on her blog. I'm glad there are great architectural gems in this small town. I will post some pics of my mid century ranch here after I do a few more things some time.
Simply done. Simply BEAUTIFUL!
I had the same problem with the photos. It ended with the adorable pup on the rug (should have that photo framed). I had to go to the thumbnail pix and click onto each one individually...an awkward pain..but managed to see the rest of the home. Very nice home...decor fits right in with the style of the house. I really like all the portraits throughout and the stove in the kitchen. Excellent job!
It would seem that AT is either unwilling or unable to correct the technical problems on this post, or even to address them.
I've had this problem viewing house tour photos for the past week. Have to go to the thumbnails, click, and then scroll down to see the actual photo. It's a bummer, esp. with this great house tour.
@ pippi, I had this problem with an SF house tour, and Jess Watson said they are addressing it.
Beautiful Job! Love the lighting. I liked the first "chandelier" over the dining table more than the second, but both were interesting.
I'm not usually a fan of black and white walls, but it really works here. Some of the portraits look like they might be of the same person?
Nicely done and how brave of you to live in Hemet.
I may have to paint all my walls white now because, your home looks splendid! Really gives it a clean look. Love all your vintage furnishings and I think its great that you got most of it from thrift shops and estate sales. I hope that one day you will get your oven working again...it is a beauty!
I love it! A stupid question- what kind of plant is that in the last picture? It is so pretty.
"Vintage Thrifty Shazam" - ha!
Mr. Faux- MFK Fisher grew up in Whittier, but her family had a ranch in Hemet that they spent a ton of time at, according to a biography on her I read recently.
I love the chandelier over the dining room table. Can I get the source or did you make it? I love all the portraits too.
Beautiful home. You are soooo blessed.
Here's the reference
http://mfkfisher.com/friends3.htm
Simply a perfected balance of all things beautiful. Often people try so hard to mimic an editorial spread or an ad for over-abundance of desire. Here, we find a gallery within a home edited for comfort and visual enjoyment. bravo
Loved the house. Where did you get the big grey couch in the living room?
LOVE THIS HOUSE.
Yes, Please tell us where the grey couch is from, I've been looking for something similar.
Great job on everything looks awesome! lane
The big gray couch is from craigslist. I have no idea who made it! THe guy said it was custom made and used for photo shoots in Palm Springs, but who knows. It's not marked, but I've seen similar sofas...
Suemi: I made it - check it out HERE.
Nicerack: Yeah that Revival run by th tw ladies is awesome (I used to live right down the street. Like two blocks away). The other Revival thrift store chain is like a church thing - like Salvation Army. They are HUGE and awesome.
Gorgeous home, I wish the house tour worked though... when you click on a thumbnail, it only stays on the screen for a second. AT,please address!!
nice mid-century stuff.
Yessir! Morgan is UP THERE with Anna @ D16 for awesome taste and general coolness. Swoon.
Hey folks, the house tour problem should now be fixed. Sorry for the delay and thanks for your patience.
Loved touring your home! I have checked out your blog before when it was showcased for those super-cool shelves you made. Nice mix of textiles, periods, color light and art! As a new home owner and thrifty DIY-er, I can recognize (and appreciate) the love and sweat equity that went into your space!
I love the Brick House! They have fabulous taste, are skilled at DYI and I love Morgan's humor! I am also not a fan of the portraits, but I love Morgan's funky portraits.
I don't remember seeing your kitchen on the blog, but it is too, too wonderful. I am so jealous of all the counters. And I loooooove that you keep them empty. I really love the restraint shown. Even though you have collections (my favorite is the pottery), you maintain a minimalist look by keeping crap off the tables. Brilliant! I'm taking the stuff off my tables right now.
Very nice space, great pieces. It looks relaxing, simple yet sophisticated.
My favorite is the quilt in greys and yellows.
Where can I download that big clock screen saver? Love it!
Was really worried by the first photo. If I have to see another home with someone quasi-ironic collection of bad postwar amateur portraits I just may puke. Aside from that, great taste in furnishings, and I love the whitewhite. Consider yourself lucky that you apparently live in a place where the thrifts still produce good finds. (I don't get the references to Hemet, but even the name does not sound nice.) And thanks to AT for including pix of the diy'd driveway.
got it - thnx all!
let me know when you want to sell the couch! i live in ojai and will drive to your house get it in a heartbeat!
for anyone who was having issues viewing the tour...i just looked at it and there are 53 photos.
noticed that the one funky light greenish couch changed to an awesome white couch in the one room.
I still want the grey one though that is pictured in the main room! :-)
LOVE the DIY aspect. We should all get on that bandwagon of trading/selling unwanteds and building/making our own when can. Comment on garbage disposal: got rid of mine for composing--dig a hole and toss in frozen scraps (frozen fruits and vege leavings break down quicker after freezing). Win:win for the sewage system and your garden.
Love your house. Don't buy more furniture! Every single piece of furntiture or object is displayed perfectly - just enough space around them. Love the white walls. Am surprised by the black brick fireplace. I've had those kinds of fireplaces before and have always painted them white to blend with the walls but I really like the black. Is the planter pot with the snake plant in it a Jonathan Adler? Love your blog too. Have fun!
great kitchen! i love the original countertops and cupboards! i just wrote an entry on my blog (thevintagemodern.blogspot.com) about hideous modern kitchens and had i seen this house tour before then, i totally would have added your kitchen to the "awesome kitchen" pictures! love it! love your whole house. :)
Can I just tell you - this is my favorite Hot House Tour EVER! I love how everything is so hip, yet understated. Looking forward to seeing how you make out with your front lawn/garden!
wow! congrats on a gorgeous, brilliantly designed home. i think your definition of "thrifty" and mine may differ, though (unless your designer furniture is all knock-offs). i am jealous & inspired. thanks.
Beautiful house. Love the light in there and the personal touches, minimalistic without excess. Great! One question: where is the mini bullet planter (on the left side of the Mac) from? Love it1
Absolutely beautiful! NOTHING looks bargain - just soothing and stylish. Can't wait to check out your blog.
OMG I'm from Hemet. I'm so happily surprised to see such beautiful home design happening in a town of cookie cutter stucco homes. Incredible used finds! Truly beautiful home!
Love this house (and the owner's salty writing)! It feels calm, cool, and perfectly curated. It's nice to see such a good example of the importance of taste and thought over money.
Perfect.
love the kitchen! good design elements here. simple...plain...comfy...unlike so many other tours...
This is a wonderful home that shows the love and dedication the owners have for it. I believe the simplicity of it all is exactly what mid-century modern is - not overly complicated, classic. Also very evident that it has taken the owners quite a long time of piecing together a house they can both enjoy and call their home.
PERFECTION!
Love the house! We used to go trough Hemet to see my husband's family and I am so impressed by your innovation. I love the strategic placement of everything, and your editing eye :) Its a gorgeous gorgeous house!
You have a GREAT eye! I am not seeing a lack of money :) There is nothing low end or discount about your home... Really nice... Fab furniture. I love the kitchen... And your dog is just adorable...
Amy info on where the bed is from?