A Classic LA Art Deco Apartment Gets a Furniture Switcheroo
Name: Amanda
Location: Beverly Grove — Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,500 square feet
Years lived in: 17 years, renting
My apartment was built in 1926 and has that classic Los Angeles Art Deco architecture and history that I adore. I live there alone and I work from home, so we spend a lot of time together. Honestly, it sort of does feel like this place is its own character. She’s gone through a lot of reinventions, but this latest one is definitely my favorite. In 2016 I decided to completely change how I use the space. It was quite a switcheroo — the living room became my office, the office became my bedroom, and the bedroom became a TV den. Now the natural light and the scale of the rooms syncs up with how the spaces are used and everything just makes more sense.
What is your favorite room and why? The office hands down. It’s a large (15’x25′) room with a floor-to-ceiling picture window and a giant faux fireplace. It gets gorgeous morning light and is a great place to work. I love working from home and I love working from other people’s homes, so I specifically set out to make my office feel “not officey.” I wanted a clean, comfortable look that looks and feels like a home, but functions like an office and a meeting space. I freelance on a lot of projects and love to have the whole team here working together.
Which fictional character would be most at home in your place? Love this question. I often think about when this apartment was new; how it was decorated in 1926, what the people who lived here were wearing, where they hung their hats…I’d like to think Nick & Nora could make themselves at home here — as long as I stocked the bar in advance.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t worry too much about where things are from or the overall picture. Just choose things you love and put them all together. You’re guaranteed to love what you create.
If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? Well sometimes I lament the drawbacks of my 1920s kitchen and wish for modern conveniences like a garbage disposal, dishwasher, or smooth closing drawers. But then I look at the mouldings, high ceilings, and archways, and I tell myself to shut up.
The right balance of new and old is something I like to play with. There’s no replacement for perfect flea market treasures, but a room full of them doesn’t feel quite as alluring. Meanwhile a room of return-friendly box store finds is missing soul. It takes some time traveling to put together the right feel.
Thanks, Amanda!
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