Every Inch of This 480-Square-Foot LA Rental Has Been Maximized for Function AND Beauty
Name: Kelsey Swarthout, partner Luke, and cat, Bean (who loves to make her way into photos)
Location: Los Angeles, California
Type of home: Apartment
Size: Approximately 480 square feet
Years lived in: 7 months, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My little bungalow was originally used as monks’ quarters for the monastery down the street. It’s over 100 years old, and I love how much character you can feel throughout the space. Although it’s tiny at only 480 square feet, my partner and I have been able to maximize every inch in a way that works perfectly for us. When we started apartment hunting mid-pandemic, one of the things that was high on our wishlist was having an outdoor space. Finding a one-bedroom at our budget with anything other than a balcony is rare in LA, so when we found our current place with a large enclosed patio, we knew it was the one for us. Having a private outdoor space to be able to garden in and take a break anytime has been such a gift. (Our cat, Bean is also a huge fan).
Because we’re both working from home we knew our new space would need to accommodate that, so I set up a desk in the living room, and Luke takes advantage of the LA weather and primarily works on the table outside. Because we’re home all the time, it was important to design a space that was somewhere I could spend 24/7 without feeling claustrophobic. Through creative layouts and careful decor selection, I believe my home creates the perfect combination of function and beauty.
The colors, style, and decor of my home are all a result of my personality, and having a safe haven that feels relaxing and inviting is crucial for me. The warm wood, bright walls, and sunset colors create a calming atmosphere that I never get tired of.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Bright, Warm, Calm, Boho, Simple
Painting the walls a fresh white when we first moved in helped to brighten and open up the space so much. Nature is something that always puts me at ease and I love being reminded of it in my home. Warm-toned oranges, tans, browns, and reds are all very comforting colors for me. They bring me back to the desert, rock canyons, and sunsets. Using plants as decor literally brings the outdoors in and brings life to every room.
What is your favorite room and why? The living room is definitely my favorite room in my home. Because we’re in a one-bedroom, it functions as an office, an entertainment space, dining room, a reading zone, and a cat playground. Despite having my desk in the living room, I never feel like it’s hard to separate my work and personal life because of the layout of the room. I effectively utilized the small space by using furniture to break up rooms in to multiple zones.
Our cat is a big part of our lives (and also the head of the house), so having furniture focused around her was really important to us. We managed to find the perfect cat perch that fit snuggly under the window that even matched our decor! It was clear she approved of our selection seeing her bask in the sun and watch the hummingbirds on the patio all day.
The best part of the living room is that the windows are south facing, so we get bright sun in the room for a majority of the day. Not only do my many plants love this, but it’s also such a mood booster having natural light streaming through the space we spend most of our time. Most days we have the door open with the screen closed, and having that combination of sunlight and continuous breeze makes for such a relaxing environment.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? Recently I was on the hunt for a new nightstand that included a lot more storage that fit the decor in my bedroom. I couldn’t find a style that I loved in my price range and was coming up empty on all of my usual secondhand channels (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist). I fell in love with an ’80s Art Deco-style lacquer nightstand I saw on Marketplace, but it was over $1,000 and was snatched up very quickly.
Finally I found a cheap laminate nightstand for $25 on Offerup that had tons of storage, the perfect dimensions and a unique waterfall front edge. It was rough, but I could see the potential and knew I could transform it in the ’80s art deco side table of my dreams. After picking up the nightstand, lots of research, and one Home Depot pickup order later I started on the transformation. With a lot of cleaning, sanding, priming, and painting the project was finally complete and turned out even better than I imagined!
Any advice for creating a home you love? A lot of people tend to want to create their dream home right away, but my biggest piece of advice is to take your time finding the right pieces that speak to you. Buying secondhand is a great way to find unique items for less. It took a cross-country move, multiple apartments, and endless hours in thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace for me to finally have a space I’m happy with. Starting out, I looked on Pinterest and Instagram to find the general style and color palette I was interested in, and then I slowly started to find the pieces that would work specifically for my space. Sometimes all it takes is the perfect rug, coffee table, or chair to start to build a room around.
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
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