A Prop Stylist’s 600-Square-Foot Rental Apartment Is a “Hidden Little Gem”
A Prop Stylist’s 600-Square-Foot Rental Apartment Is a “Hidden Little Gem”
Hina Mistry, a prop stylist originally from Toronto, says that she and her husband, Dan Balcaban, were looking for a new home out of necessity. “We were just let go as property managers of the first apartment we lived in and managed in LA,” she begins. “Essentially, we had just lost our home and job and had 30 days to relocate. It was a stressful time, but we luckily managed to find this hidden little gem on a property management site before it was even listed on more popular apartment search sites.”
Can't-Miss House Tours Straight to Your Inbox
Keep up with our latest house tours each weekday with our House Tour of the Day newsletter
Hina says it was the corner of casement windows “with a view of the surrounding hills and palm trees” that really caught their attention about this apartment, as well as features like the original hardwood floors. “The apartment only shared the back wall with neighbors (nobody above us either) and had a mini porch walk-up from the ground-level courtyard, so it really felt like a stand-alone bungalow,” Hina writes. “It was the safe little refuge we needed during a pretty turbulent time and continued to be that for us until we left LA.”
Although Hina says no major renovations took place, the apartment’s vibe before they moved in was a sort of “vintage California cottage.” And after Hina and Dan moved in, she says the style “became more of an eclectic contemporary space with color/pattern, more functionality, and hits of traditional elements.”
Resources
- Wallpaper — Minted Mural by Patricia Vargas of Parima Studios
- Paint — Sherwin-Williams’ “Greek Villa”
- Sofa — IKEA
- Coffee table — EQ3
- Shoe cabinet — IKEA
- Teal Side Chairs — West Elm (no longer available, but similar can be found at Amazon)
- Lamp — Target
- Similar Plant Pot — H&M
- Black Side Table — West Elm
Thanks, Hina!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
Share your style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form