Originally from Ohio (and after a short stint in New York), Raquel and her husband Adam found their way to Los Angeles two years ago. Situated in Silver Lake, this recently renovated apartment is in a great location, but the couple needed this space to be more than just a home base for exploring Los Angeles. Adam is a music producer and Raquel is a social media manager for equestrian brands and the creator of the blog Horses & Heels. They harnessed their creativity to decorate a cozy, horse-themed home to live and work in.

“I like to call my style western modern glam. I love cowhide, all things furry, gold accents, steer skulls, leather, and serape,” Raquel described. “I’ve done a lot of DIY projects for this space including horse head silhouette paintings, sheepskin stools, a graphic accent wall, serape shower curtain, and serape couch.”

You might notice another theme throughout the apartment: horses.

“If my blog’s title, Horses & Heels didn’t give it away — I’m horse obsessed. I grew up riding and competing. I am currently horse shopping and am looking forward to getting back into riding again. I took a couple years off and ending up selling my horse when we moved to LA.”

Our Style: Western modern glam with a dash of mid-century

Inspiration: I’m inspired by the western and equestrian lifestyle. There is horse art, cowhide, serape, leather, and fringe throughout our space. I grew up on a farm and riding horses; they have influenced a lot of my decorating choices. I love gold or brass accents, modern and mid-century pieces. As a blogger, I keep up with a lot of lifestyle, interior and home decor websites. Los Angeles is full of inspiration; I get ideas for decorating and styling at every coffee shop or boutique I visit.

Favorite Element: A spacious kitchen with plenty of counter and cabinet space for an apartment. I cook a lot and am a foodie. I was thrilled to find a place with enough room for all of my spices and cooking supplies.

Biggest Challenge: Keeping things organized and clean! Adam and I both work from home and he often has artists and songwriters over throughout the day. There is a lot of foot traffic here and I’m always balancing style and function.

What Friends Say: Usually the first thing they say is, “It’s so clean!” I’m a neat freak and it certainly shows. We get tons of compliments on the décor and style.

Biggest Embarrassment: I’m not crazy about our light fixtures and would love to swap those out. There are also a few areas I’m working on finishing. Decorating is never done; it’s a constant work in progress.

Proudest DIY: I’m always working on a DIY project so it’s hard to just pick one. I would have to say the sheepskin stools in our entryway. I took $10 IKEA stools, spray painted them gold and covered each one with sheepskin I found on Etsy. They get so many compliments.

Biggest Indulgence: Definitely our couch. Adam and I both fell in love with it at West Elm and waited until there was a sale to make the purchase. It was well worth the investment and will be with us for many years.

Best Advice: Buy whatever makes you happy and invest in quality pieces. Create a home that inspires and makes you happy whenever you walk in the door.

Dream Sources: Jonathan Adler, Texas Antique Week, Ralph Lauren, Restoration Hardware, Anthropologie (for big furniture pieces).

PAINT & COLORS

We did not paint. The black-striped accent wall with the steer skull was made with craft tape and is another awesome and affordable DIY project. I also did the same DIY under the kitchen island.

ENTRY
Runner rug – Urban Outfitters (old)
Silhouette horse art – A DIY project I made.
Horse head hook – vintage
Peekaboo acrylic console – CB2
Sheepskin stools – DIY project. I purchased bright orange stools from IKEA for $10 and found sheepskin on Etsy. I spray painted that ugly orange and added the sheepskin.
Steer skull – HomeGoods

LIVING ROOM
Leather Dressage rug – CB2
Hamilton sofa – West Elm (they make similar versions, but not the same one anymore)
Mongolian lamb pillow – West Elm
Black and gold beaded pillow – Target (no longer available)
Black and white pillow – West Elm (no longer available)
Terrace coffee table – West Elm
Bar cart – West Elm (no longer on website)
Vinyl record storage shelf – Urban Outfitters
Cowhide lamp shade – DIY project
Black leather butterfly chairs – Wayfair
Black and gold cowhide pillows – Joss and Main (no longer available)
Sperha floor lamp – CB2
Amplifier – vintage
Media shelf – IKEA
Horse Art – Minted
Cowhide – IKEA

RAQUEL’S OFFICE
Darley secretary desk – Target – I love this piece! It hides my messy desk and is perfect for a small apartment.
Chair – Anthropologie (no longer available)
Tiled horse art – DIY project

KITCHEN
Coffee grinder – World Market
Metal barstools – Target

BEDROOM
Zack Mid-Century loveseat – Wayfair – I added covered this detachable seat in a serape blanket purchased at the Rose Bowl Flea.
Darley bookcase – Target
Cowhide rug – IKEA
Horse art – Minted
Alchemy bed frame – CB2
Pink and fringe pillow – gift
Edison table lamp – World Market
Smoke and concrete lamps – World Market
Steer skull – Target (no longer available)
Nightstands – Home Goods

BATHROOM
Sheepskin rug – World Market
Serape shower curtain – DIY project.
Nate Berkus stone and gold soap pump – Target

⇒ House Tour & House Call Submission Form

See More:
⇒ Recent House Tours
⇒ House Tours on Pinterest