Candace’s Old World Home with Modern California Charm

Name: Candace Soriano and Jason Rein
Location: Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 7 months; Rented

Candace is an interior designer by trade and when you walk into her home in the heart of Los Angeles, it exudes a beautiful, relaxed, grown up feel. She lives here with her boyfriend, Jason, and they chose this part of town because of its historical charm. The bones of the home are reminiscent of an older European style apartment; it is a combination of the white walls, black framed glass window panes, and the Spanish style arched hallways that create the vibe. Candace fosters a harmonious balance by mixing in modern pieces and great flea market and vintage shop finds. Luckily, Jason and Candace have similar taste so it was a fairly easy process to put together a space that both inspired them.

The living room is the biggest area of the home and feels very inviting and warm. It has a layered look with a variety of textures from the rug, accent pieces, pillows, and the mix of velvet, natural woven materials, leather, and cloth. The wood bar cart along the wall is framed with art pieces from the local flea market. The living room then leads into the kitchen and the kitchen nook has black bistro style chairs that reminds me of the people watching on the streets of Paris. The last room in the apartment is the bedroom which so simple, yet so pretty, with the crystal chandelier, white linens, and coral tufted wingback chair.

My Style: I’m torn because I have so many! I really do love the Modern Spanish Colonial, California laid-back aesthetic but I’ve always been mesmerized by Parisian flats because they’re so effortlessly chic. Our apartment has a bit of an Old World charm to it. I’m drawn to spaces that are interesting, inviting and lived in. I’m not a fan of spaces looking too new and catalog-like or things that are too precious. I prefer to keep an even balance of mixing new and old. If there’s some kind of meaning or history behind it, I have more of an appreciation for it. I tend to focus on incorporating various textures, natural elements, clean layering, bringing in high contrast and unexpected color. Overall, adding some depth and keeping it cohesive is important for me.

Inspiration: So many! Books, magazines, blogs, photography, fashion, 20th Century Design, Instagram, Pinterest, travel, hotels, European art.

Favorite Element: The living room has more things displayed and seems a bit busy but the bedroom is so light, airy and calming.

Biggest Challenge: I enjoy antiquing and scouring flea markets so it was challenging to design for the limited space we have without looking like a hoarder. There’s a difference between a collected home and a cluttered home.

What Friends Say: I keep switching things around! I tend to move furniture around, hang more art or switch rugs back and forth on a seasonal or monthly basis. I think it’s important to see the same things in a different perspective. It’s refreshing.

Biggest Embarrassment: I don’t think I have one! I’m pretty proud of how it turned out.

Proudest DIY: The vanity table in our bedroom. I bought it from the flea market when it was a very unattractive mint green color. I stripped and sanded the old paint away. Before I could even decide what color to paint it next, I was really happy with just the simplicity of the natural wood. Although it’s not the primitive piece that I was searching for, it’ll do for now.

Biggest Indulgence: Rugs! If only I had places to put them.

Best Advice: 1. Decorating is an organic creative process. 2. Invest a lot of thought into your home whether you own a house or rent an apartment. It reflects personality and creates a unique and special place to just… be!

Dream Sources: Cisco Home, Big Daddy’s Antiques, Nickey Kehoe, Brenda Antin Antiques, Hollywood At Home, shop in LA called T.I.N.I (This Is Not Ikea)

• Eggshell White with Black semi gloss window trims

• Rug: Anthropologie
• Sofa: West Elm
• Vintage leather club chair: Craigslist
• Vintage brass cocktail table: Etsy
• Pair of vintage brass lamps: Craigslist
• Indigo Mohair Stool: Flea Market
• Hmong Batik Throw pillows: Etsy
• Malachite box: West Elm
• Vintage brown distressed leather book (on table): Flea Market
• Record player: LA vintage shop
• Tan Leather Round Ottoman with brass wheels: Flea Market
• Wood Bar Cart: West Elm
• Pair of Jute poufs: Ikea
• Diptyque “Baies” candle: Diptyque
• Vintage apothecary bottles: The Mart Collective
• Assortment of wall art: Flea Market

• Dining table: Crate & Barrel
• French Bistro chairs: Masion Midi
• Rug: Ikea

• Headboard: Custom Made
• Brass chandelier: flea market
• Blush Velvet Wingback chair: Vintage shop, Casa Victoria
• Vanity table: Flea market / DIY
• Industrial metal stool: HD Buttercup
• Round Captain’s mirror: Pottery Barn Kids
• Pair of light gray X-Benches: West Elm
• Wire basket: World Market
• Brass mirrored vanity tray: Etsy
• Glass cloche with old doorknob handle: Etsy
• Wall art: An original Douglas Kirkland photography – Brigitte Bardot in Mexico,1965

Thanks, Candace!

• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE: Check out past house tours here.
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.

Follow Apartment Therapy’s board House Tours Apartment Therapy on Pinterest.

Updated daily with fresh tours full of photos for you to pin & enjoy!