Name: Wendy Withers + Gavin Lester, their two sons Boots + Oscar, two dogs Olive + Bear
Location: Mar Vista — Los Angeles, CA
Size: 1,100 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years — own
Wendy and Gavin share this incredible and cozy cottage with their two boys and their two dogs. As an art producer and creative director they have built a joyous home full of artwork and inspiration. Designing their home with traditional and eclectic elements, they have created an adorable family home.
Raising a baby and toddler can keep you on your toes. It also means you need space for comfort and family time. Wendy believes that the most important element in designing a home is "creating a comfortable living space that reflects who you are."
When you first walk into the yard, you are overwhelmed with a lovely garden and luscious yard. There are benches and a tire swing, there is a play house for their kids, and an incredible deck that over looks the yard. Wendy admits "because we have such great weather we spend a lot of time outside. it was important to design a space where we could flow in and out with ease. it was also important to create an outdoor living and play space with a sustainable design."
One of my most favorite aspects of the home were the personal art pieces by Gavin. He has created some incredible work that is spread out around the home; the Yours Sincerely typography sign in the master room, the neon sign above the front door, the larger than life receipt in the boys room. Additionally I really admire the landscape design that is appealing to both botany lovers, but accommodates the kids as well.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Eclectic
Inspiration: Life before and after kids, our collections, flea markets, art, travel and our talented friends and colleagues who have inspired us along the way.
Favorite Element: Pretty much everything
Biggest Challenge: lack of S P A C E
What Friends Say: "Ooooh, charming"
Biggest Embarrassment: Our couch that has been trashed by out kids
Proudest DIY: Gavin's artwork
Biggest Indulgence: Our garden
Best Advice: : Research, references and a solid plan. We have learned, from one or two projects, that any kind of home improvement must be done with 100% certainty regarding design and execution. Of course, there will always be the unforeseeable, but enlisting the help of those you trust implicitly, makes the process much more pleasant. Also, always follow your instincts. If a project doesn't look or feel right then it's probably not.
Dream Sources: ABC Carpet and Home and Parisian flea markets.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & ABOVE THE FRONT DOOR
- • neon sign by Gavin Lester
ENTRY
- •print by Sophia Vourdoukis
LIVING ROOM
- • built-in shelves by architect Hope Alexander
• antique pottery from flea markets and ebay
• ugs from flea markets
• couch from Restoration Hardware
• ottoman designed by Krista Schrock Design
• Matching lamps from Farnsworth, San Francisco
• Print by Philip Lorca Dicorcia from White chapel Gallery
• print by Damien Hirst
• print by Shepard Fairy
• mantel painting by Jean Jack
DINING ROOM
• benches by Ben Parrillo
• table by District Millworks
• pillows designed by Krista Schrock Design
• french ticking pillow by Euro Linens
• Tent print by Sophia Vourdoukis
• Various artwork by our kids and flea market finds
• Family portraits by Sophia Vourdoukis
• heart print by RJ Shaughnessy
• eames hang-it-all from Design Within Reach
• desk custom built by To Do Something
KITCHEN
- • clock from Habitat
• Viking stove
MASTER BEDROOM
• bed from Modernica
• paul mcobb dressers from ebay
• credenza custom built by Ben Parrillo
• duvet set by Dwell Studio
• yours sincerely by Gavin Lester
• cheat trophy by Gavin Lester
• baby portrait by Clang
• attack! print by RJ Shaughnessy
• building print by Daniel Rich found on Art Space
• plate artwork by Roy Lichtenstein
• print by Lawrence Weiner
• cork lamp found at a flea market
BATHROOM
• sink from Ikea
• barbie prints by Ilan Rubin
• artwork found at various flea markets
• bedroom print by Sophia Vourdoukis
KIDS ROOM
• bed custom built by Ben Parillo
• floor tiles from Flor
• bedding from Ikea
• large receipt by gavin lester
• i heart new york print signed by Milton Glaser
• various artwork by our kids and flea market finds
OUTSIDE
• garden design by April Palmer
• horse trough wild flower design and installation by Dandelion Ranch
• outdoor furniture custom built by Tumbleweed and Dandelion
Thanks, Wendy + Gavin!
Images: Bethany Nauert
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Imaginative with a light touch and a lot of thought. Congratulations.
that pink wall outside! gorgeous!
Such a gorgeous kilim rug in the living room, I don't understand why you put the black schmatta on top of it?
To AT: seriously, I am starting to think that all the mankind lives in California.
Lovely house and garden, love the dining table, those unexpected pops of color are a wonderful ideal.
I am just curious Canadianmango, are you in Canada right now? What does your garden look like?
This time of year, there are probably less options in the rest of the country... just saying...
My dream house... down to the Mrs. Meyer soap on the window ledge. Really, really wonderful and inspiring.
Charming cottage. I especially love the dining table.
I could look at these lovely California cottages all day long!!!
Beautiful, sunny cottage...looks like an inviting and fun place for those kids to grow up in. This house has a lot more stuff in it than I would prefer...but somehow it works here. I do agree with the previous poster about the kilim rug...why cover it up?
Love the yard/outdoor space!
Totally a graphic designer's home. Livestock feeder turned raised plant bed is very unexpected. Love it!
yours sincerely,
Mike
You cannot go wrong with interesting architecture and pure white. Lovely.
Where did she get those magnificent black mary-jane heels? I've fallen in love, and I'm not even a shoe person, at all. I must have them. Please share!
Beautiful, beautiful home--love the toy dinosaurs in the bathroom.
So lovely! And I have to say, I too, have a son named Oscar and dog named Olive. :)
GAWD!! That place is amazing! That yard alone- DIE. I hope all that lovely Cream ware is nailed down. The first thing I thought of when I saw that gorgeous collection was those pesky CA earthquakes! Great home all around.
Wonderful place! I adore the addition of the "double pugs" as well.
This might be one of my most favorites yet! love the ceilings and all the french doors. So light and bright! love this! I could move in right now.
What a warm and cheerful home! I LOVE your outdoor space and garden... wow!
Oh, so this is what "cottage-style" is supposed to look like! Beautiful spaces.
thank you all!!
i was experimenting with the dhurrie and layering the rugs in the living room. it's now in the bedroom...i'm sure it will tour the entire house before it finds a permanent home.
the pink pig was a gift. here's one in gold... http://aplusrstore.com/product.php?id=126
ww
Love everything about this house and yard! It's wonderful to see a space that's actually kid-friendly and beautiful!
Matching pugs!
Now that that's out of the way, love the home. Love all the color. Love the blend of cottage-y with mid-century modern. To me, it's well-balanced.
This makes me want to move to CA so badly.
i'd love to see this many outside photos on all house tours, they did such a good job outside. maybe even a garden section?
This was an absolutely delightful tour. Loved it!
You had me at the pugs!
Just bought the gold pig last week and am obsessed with it!
Love your furniture arrangements, textiles, artwork. So livable and cheery. A real delight - thanks for sharing :)
Oh - your outside areas - WOW! Great job.
Really beautiful.
one of my favorite tours in a long time. so fresh but textured.
Lo-hove your kitchen. So bright and airy and that sink is to die for!!
PUGS!!!! /squee
Normally not a huge fan of so much white but this just looks so inviting!! How on earth do you keep the pugs fur from showing up everywhere (we have 3, and man, it is hairy around here!)?
Love the desk, the kitchen table (source?), the tufted ottoman, and the trough of flowers in the yard. Very nice!
Ah--It's so bright and full of love and personality! The garden is enviable--that pink wall is a knockout and something I'd like to try on a narrower scale.
Also, noticed you have the Svan High Chair. Our family LOVES this chair because it lets little ones sit comfortably at the table and chair literally grows with the child. We put away the tray when our son reached 12 mos. and he's still using the chair seven years later. (The table reaches mid-sternum when he sits in our regular dining chairs. The Svan allows him to sit comfortably like the adults.)
In love with this house, that table! rocking chair! rugs! doors! garden! art! pottery! kitchen! so bright! lovelovelove
You have an AMAZING house! I just LOVE everything about it <3
Was the dining room table custom-designed? Do you mind me asking what the dimensions of you nook are? We are looking for something almost identical for our kitchen dining nook!
Definitely excellent motivation to move to California. Sunny, relaxed, and creative -- just how I imagine the best version of L.A.
Cozy. Adorable. Your dogs are super cute. Paul Mccobb furniture is super.
I like the sign in the master bedroom. The rest I just don't get? Have we run out of kachow homes AT?
HOLY COW! Favorite AT House Tour EVER! Too much to comment on, really. I now have a new dream home. Awesome job you guys, so inspiring!
I am amazed by how good the Obama poster looks in the living room. Like the man or hate him, you've got to admit his poster looks great in this interior...
AT: Thanks for listening when we asked to see the rest of Wendy and Gavin's home. As I'd hoped, the rest of the place is as awesome as Oscar and Boots' little room.
So impressed at the personality and the eclectic selection of objects stuffed into every corner of this place, with enough restraint and storage to make it look all light and airy and spacious --- though it is clearly, in many ways, a modest and challenging space (the Jack&Jill bathroom, the kitchen that slightly isolates the cook from the living space, the lack of separate TV and dining rooms that so many take for granted).
This is one of the most inspiring tours I've seen here.
I'm OBSESSED with your entire house! I started pinning images on pinterest one at a time and realized I wanted to pin every picture! We have the same taste and I LOVE your home! I'm bookmarking this page to come back to later for inspiration. You're home is amazing! From the garden, to the living room, bathrooms, and kitchen - love love LOVE!
This is one of the closest I've seen any home tour, that resembles country style. I love the white bright walls and I actually love the walls themselves. And the exposed beam ceilings. The kitchen cabinets, fridge and countertop are great. I loved the couch in the living room, and all the bed linens. I only did not like the Obama pic. I like the style, but would love it if it was, let's say, Ronald Reagan instead.
dogs, kids, art, plants and cosy places to hang out. pretty perfect
Love this house--it's charming and livable and inspiring. Totally looks like a house in which life can be lived, well. We've just moved in to a dark, though similar house in Orinda, in the SF Bay Area. Toying with painting everything white. Currently there's a dark stained A frame ceiling and two kinds of trim in more of a honey color that's driving us nuts. Did you experiment with different shades of white? I'm worried about it looking too chalky....would you mind sharing the paint color you settled on?
hi!
@annemariefeld, our white is: simply white by benjamin moore. i once struggled with a dark room. i was told bright colors is the way to go with dark rooms... that's a tricky one...
@janelleb, our table was custom designed by district millworks in los angeles. the nook is 4.5' x 9'
I love that breakfast nook. This whole house just has really good juju.
Wow! Your place is amazing! One of my favs on AT for sure! Your use of color and white are pitch perfect!