This Stylist’s 1930s Rental Is a Master Class in Mixing Vintage, Color, and Collected Style

When prop stylist, interior decorator, and vintage expert Erik Kenneth Staalberg first saw this 1930s rental apartment in Glendale’s Rossmoyne historical neighborhood, it was all the intact, original architectural details that “dazzled” him and his partner, hair stylist Robert Harter.

The two-bedroom, 1400-square-foot space also came with tons of closet space — and it was previously inhabited by an interesting tenant.

“It was previously rented for 15 years before us by the set designer of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, so needless to say it was very gothic. Every room was painted a very dark color, and there were hardly any lighting sources,” Erik describes.

To personalize the space, the gothic vibes have been replaced with an eclectic, maximalist mix of warm, earthy colors; vintage treasures; and masterful styling. Erik describes it as having a “great sense of history and heritage. We have put many layers into it and filled it with memories and family mementos. There is a great play of color, too.”

This is the first time Erik has ever lived with a partner, and says it was a challenge learning to compromise on design. “My partner Robert is a hair stylist and is a creative and had a lot of input on how we laid out the plans for our home,” Erik admits. “We were able to come to a really beautiful meeting ground though!” 

This actually isn’t the first time Apartment Therapy has featured one of Erik’s homes; we showcased his glamorous and intriguing old Los Angeles rental back in 2017. Although his style has evolved in the near decade since we’ve had a look inside his home, his appreciation of architectural history and great vintage finds still persists!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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