A Cheery L.A. Rental Has a Cute DIY Yard Inspired by Mexico
A Cheery L.A. Rental Has a Cute DIY Yard Inspired by Mexico
Name: Erika Carlock, and fiancé Joe
Location: Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,150 square feet
Years Lived In: 5 years, renting
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Blogger and designer Erika Carlock has made a name for herself on Instagram with her love of bright and poppy pastels. The interior of her Los Angeles rental apartment, which she shares with her fiancé Joe, is filled with colorful accessories and dozens of plants to match her dreamy, jungle-y feed. To top it off, bright white walls serve as the perfect backdrop to make it all come to life.
Erika’s easygoing and upbeat personality is reflected in her home’s cheery design. While eye-catching colors are obviously a big inspiration, a lot of her home’s personality comes from a mix of textures, many of them soft and velvety. The plush textures found throughout her home help to soften the impact of a bright color palette and make the home feel balanced and inviting.
Another important aspect of Erika’s home is the incorporation of nature. She likes to use her petite (and rare-in-L.A.) outdoor space as an extension of her home as often as possible. Fresh flowers and an abundance of plants are brought in from outside to add an organic touch to the home’s whimsical design.
My Style: Bright, mid-century modern bohemian with a colorful twist. I like to start minimal and neutral, add a few bold pops of color, and then top it off with plants, plants, and more plants. I like to be surrounded by greenery and have a natural flow from the indoors to the outdoors.
Inspiration: Travel! I’m always bringing home inspiration from my travels like the bohemian jungle vibes of Tulum, the mid-century desert style of Palm Springs, bright white Scandinavian interiors, and Luis Barragán’s colorful homes in Mexico City.
Favorite Element: Playing with color throughout my home! I put colored gels in the bedroom window to create a modern stained glass, and it reflects the most magical colors onto the walls during the day.
Biggest Challenge: Space. I do major clean-outs a few times a year because we don’t have a lot of storage space other than one closet that we stuff everything into. I dream of having storage to tuck everything away, and being able to entertain in a dining area that seats more than two people.
What Friends Say: Friends always ask, “when can I move in?” or “Will you come decorate my house?” I just love that because it feels like they’re comfortable and at home in my space.
Biggest Embarrassment: A few things drive me crazy renting because I can’t change them, like the carpet on our staircase. Since I can’t change it, I try to just think of it as some added retro charm!
Proudest DIY: Our yard! We felt so lucky to have a yard in L.A., and we wanted to turn it into a jungle oasis inspired by our vacation to Tulum. We gutted the yard, added white rock, painted the fence white, and planted a bunch of cacti and lush jungle plants. Now it’s the perfect place to enjoy a glass of rosé (or a tiki cocktail!) under the California sun.
Biggest Indulgence: My Eames-style lounger. I always dreamed of having one, and it’s my favorite spot to read and sip a morning coffee.
Best Advice: If you want to change something in your space, just do it! For the longest time, we didn’t swap out the pendant lights that we hated, or paint the walls that made our home so dark. After every project we’ve finished, our reaction has always been, “I can’t believe we didn’t do this sooner! It’s a million times better!”
Dream Sources: Design Within Reach, Modernica, Herman Miller, the shops in Palm Springs, estate sales packed with vintage mid-century furniture, and flea markets.
Resources:
PAINT & COLORS
Sherwin-Williams — Flat White
LIVING ROOM
Hughes Sofa in Aqua — Joybird
Magic Potion Rug — Hesby
Plant Pot — Modernica
Amherst Mid-Century TV Stand — Target
Yellow Mini Tabletop Basket — Hesby
Sawyer Bookcase — Crate & Barrel
Marble Floor Lamp — Possini Design
Record Player Stand — Urban Outfitters
Baby It’s You Framed Print — Society6
Lilac Velvet Throw Pillow — Hesby
Yellow Faces Throw Pillow — Society6
Plant Lady Wall Art — Society6
Brown Leather Moroccan Pouf — Hesby
White Leather Moroccan Pouf — Hesby
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair — Hesby
DINING ROOM
BESTA Storage Unit— IKEA and legs from Pretty Pegs
Marble Dining Table — Poly & Bark
Pink Velvet Dining Chairs — Amazon
Bar Stools — Target
BEDROOM
Framed Art — Urban Outfitters
Duvet — Urban Outfitters
Rug — Hesby
Birch Bedside Tables — IKEA
BESTA Storage Unit — IKEA and legs from Pretty Pegs
Copper Planter — Hesby
White Laundry Basket — Hesby
Aqua Geo Laundry Basket — Hesby
Mid-Century Rocking Chair — Modernica
Shell Lamp — Urban Outfitters
Wall Art — Silke Bonde
You Da Best Wall Art — Society6
Shapes Wall Art — Society6
Minimal Abstract — Society6
Papaya Wall Art — Society6
Mustard Throw Pillow — Hesby
White Faux Fur Throw Pillow — Hesby
Round Shell Throw Pillow — Urban Outfitters
BATHROOM
Shower Curtain — Society6
Booty Print — Tio Cuchillos
PATIO
White Cono Table — Bend Goods
Pink Grapefruit Chairs — Bend Goods
Lounger — Article
OFFICE
Desk — IKEA
Pink Velvet Chair — Amazon
Wall Shelves — IKEA
Neon Sign — Oliver Gal
BESTA Storage Unit — IKEA
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