Erik & Paul’s Happy Los Feliz Home

Name: Erik Perez, Senior Director at HL Group, and Paul Hardoin, Associate Director at Ernst & Young
Location: Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA
Size: 2,800 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years; Owned

I often joke with Erik that, given his smoldering looks, he could’ve been a film star during the silent era. So I wasn’t surprised when he posted a photo on his Instagram of an actor from the twenties to whom he bore striking resemblance. Neither was I surprised when, after years of hinting around for an invitation to his house, to find that it, too, had that era’s air of impeccable glamour.

When Erik and Paul made the move from NY three years ago, they were eager to dive into west coast-style living. Literally. They wanted a house with a pool. The three story home that they found (and which made an appearance on Curbed the day they put in an offer!) was exactly what they were looking for. Though it’s just steps off of Los Feliz’s main drag, the busy boulevard fades away the moment you step through the front door, which is painted a glossy, welcoming red. The home’s restful and relaxed vibe is underlined by the pool, of course (and also by the tasty cocktail Eric pressed into my hand), but also by the feeling that this is home where casual entertaining — whether pool party, TV viewing, or sit down dinner — is the key to the good life. Instead of hiring an interior designer — and with only the occasional advice from Erik’s large network of colleagues in the design business — Paul and Erik tackled the interior themselves, painting, wallpapering and scouring flea markets. The result is a home that is as happy as the neighborhood’s name — Los Feliz — promises.

My Style: Our house is definitely “collected” versus decorated. We love to hunt for a “great find” at flea markets, sales and during our travels. I (Erik) am definitely more drawn to modern and contemporary design and Paul is more in-tune with traditional design. We have an agreement that we both have to love whatever piece we get, otherwise it’s vetoed.

Inspiration:Casual living. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and are lucky enough to have friends in the design industry that we can run things by for guidance if we are questioning something. Erik: Through my work at HL Group, I’m exposed to great resources such as trends from the team at Crate and Barrel and tips from top designers like Trip Haenisch.

Favorite Element: Erik – I love the backyard. Since we moved from NY three years ago, having such an open space is such a luxury! Paul – My favorite room is definitely the TV room. The room’s wood paneling has an original old-Hollywood charm that is difficult to replicate these days.

Biggest Challenge: Moving from a one-bedroom apartment in New York, we had very few pieces, and buying an older home that needed work left us with a small budget for furniture. People are impressed when we tell them that many of our pieces—such as the moose antlers above the living room fireplace mantel—are from the flea market. Paul lived in Rome, Italy for five years so one of our bedrooms consists of an ornately sculpted bed and wooden chest that he found at a flea market there as well as an armoire from an antique store in Rome.

What Friends Say: One of the most common things we hear is that our home is “welcoming” which, in our opinion, is the best compliment people can give us as we strive for design mixed with comfort.

Biggest Embarrassment: it used to be the wet bar in the TV room, but it’s amazing what a can of high-gloss paint and some accessories can do.

Proudest DIY: oh so many… from doing the entire interior paining of the house ourselves, to putting up the wallpaper in the half bathroom. Selecting the wallpaper was quite a chore to find something compatible with the original pink tile and a burgundy sink.

Biggest Indulgence: speakers throughout the house and outdoors – music helps set any mood.

Best Advice: Have fun with design and make every space a room that you want to be in.

Dream Sources: We are thinking of redoing the master bathroom (someday), and we love Waterworks.

• Behr Paint – Elephant Skin (Dark Gray in Dining Room)

  Behr Paint – Graceful Gray (light gray throughout)

  Glidden Paint – Natural Linen (beige bedrooms)

  Gliden – Wrought Iron (dark blue accent wall in guest bedroom)

  Marta Stewart Paint – Brook Trout (brown accent wall in master bedroom)

  Behr – Ashes (outdoor)

  Behr – Dark Ash (dark outdoor)

  Wallpaper – Sister Parish (through Harbinger)

  Original wood floors, ebonized

  All window treatments by Restoration Hardware ENTRY Carpet from OneKingsLane

• Dining Table / Chairs – Crate and Barrel (Rocha Collection)

  Umbrellas – Crate and Barrel

  Carpet from OneKingsLane

• Sofa / mirror / console table – HD Buttercup

  Coffee table / side chairs / square side table / lamp pair – Rose Bowl Flea Market

  Circular side table / Settee – OneKingsLane.com

  Lighting from Pasadena Flea Market

  Tray – Bloomingdales

  Pyrex jar – Rose Bowl Flea Market

  Purple vase – Crate and Barrel

  Throw pillows – Crate and Barrel

  Coral fan – found by homeowners

  Silver candleholders – antique store in Marrakesh, Morocco

  Wooden clock with inlaid mother of pearl – antique store in Irun, Spain

  Rug from Lester Carpets

• Table – 22 Bond St (on La Cienega)

  Mirrored Console – Z Gallery

  Chairs – World Market

  Lighting – Horchow

  Clear Candleholders – CB2

  Ceramic table pot – Ligne Roset

  Ceramic foo dogs – Rose Bowl Flea Market

  Vintage Mirror

  “Lady in Red” dog print – HD Buttercup

  “Accept and Be” – CB2

  Rug from Lester Carpets

• Stove and Refrigerator – GE Café Series (through sears.com)

  Nespresso – Crate and Barrel

  Original Hardware

• Sectional – ABC Home
• Back console – HD Buttercup
• Lighting from Andrew Martin (HD Buttercup)

• Bar – vintage decanters, cocktail shakers and glassware – flea market / ebay

  Rug from Lester Carpets

• Bed – ABC Home

  Settee – Donghia (found at Housing Works in NY)

  Dressers – Rose Bowl Flea Market

  6-mirror wall configuration – Crate & Barrel

  mirrors by Crate and Barrel

  “torero” oil painting – purchased at art gallery in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (France)

  Vanity mirror – Rose Bowl Flea Market

• Ornate Table – Rome Flea Market

  Antique Armoire – Rome Flea Market

  BATHROOM

• Copper Candlesticks by Gregg Hassel – BespokeGlobal

  Wallpaper – Sister Parish

Thanks, Erik and Paul!

(Images: Bethany Nauert)

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