This isn’t the first time we’ve had the chance to visit hair stylist John Ruggiero at home. Seven years ago we toured a Hollywood house he shared with two roommates, and now we’re touring the Carthay Circle rental he shares with his roommate Jake. Jake and John both have a love of vintage mid-century pieces, photography, and colorful spaces. And when it comes to designing and decorating a home, Jake believes: “Everything is essential and it’s important that it all work together, flowing as one cohesive experience, even when rooms are slightly varied in aesthetic.”

Both Jake and John are originally from New York, and they wanted to bring that New York edge into their home. “What’s resulted, in our opinion, is a perfect mashup of West Coast meets East Coast vibe.”

In just 1200 square feet, there is so much to feast your eyes on. Together they have an incredible collection of artwork, books and memorabilia from their childhoods. Jake says the most significant thing in the home are the “Louis Kahn paintings that he gifted to my great grandmother (they were friends), that she gifted to me before she passed away.” And for John, it’s the “1940s original Knoll day bed that was found at an estate sale and purchased for less than $500!”

Our Style: Heavily mid-century modern influenced, mixed with collected pieces from international travels, always ensuring that nothing is too serious.

Inspiration: 1960s gay culture, childhood nostalgia, mid-century modern

Favorite Element: Childhood/family photos, collected African pieces

Biggest Challenge: Stopping/editing down, and HIDING CORDS

What Friends Say: “Can you come do my apartment!”

Biggest Embarrassment: Nothing comes to mind! YAY!

Proudest DIY: Wifi enablement/automated home installation – lighting, thermostat, video doorbell, coffeemaker

Biggest Indulgence: Farrow & Ball Paints

Best Advice: Buy things you love, and THEN figure out where to put them, rather then setting out to fill specific spaces and shopping for items for those spaces.

Dream Sources: Mid Century Mobler in Berkeley

PAINT & COLORS
Jake’s Bedroom – Valspar Pitch Cobalt
Johnny’s Bedroom – Farrow & Ball Green Smoke
Living Room, Kitchen, Hallway – Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone
Entryway and Dining Room – Farrow & Ball Charleston Grey
Bathrooms – Farrow & Ball Pigeon

ENTRY
Bench – Overstock.com, upholstery
Hooks – Homart.com
Framed Insects – Golden Bug Pasadena
Vintage Danish mirror with lamp – Mid Century Mobler, Berkeley

LIVING ROOM
Desk – Sunbeam Vintage
Herman Miller Aeron Chair – Design within Reach
Vintage hanging lamp above desk – Urban Americana, Long Beach
Orange Planter – Vintage – Rose Bowl
Dancing Giraffes – Handmade in Tanzania, purchased there
Original Louis Kahn Sketch above desk – Gift from Louis Kahn
Both Credenzas – Sunbeam Vintage
Bench behind sofa – West Coast Modern
Sofa – West Coast Modern
Vintage Noguchi Coffee Table – Estate Sale in Palm Springs
Plants – Mickey Hargitay Plants, West Hollywood And Rolling Greens
Nested Coffee tables – Hernandez Furniture, LA
Vintage Taxidermy Raven – Deyrolle Paris
Vintage clock – Paris Flea market
Stone carved pyramid and vase – street market in Cairo
Wood carvings – handmade and purchased in Tanzania
Russian Dolls and Vintage Japanese Vase – Ruggiero Family Heirlooms
Large Yellow chair – Revivals Palm Springs
Grey Ceramic Side Table – HOM Palm Springs
Tripod Lamp – West Elm (discontinued)
Small planter with wood base – West Elm
Yosemite pillow – Pendleton
Candles – Mad et Len, purchased in Paris
Ceramic bowl on credenza – Heath
Vintage lit globe – Palm Springs Vintage Market
Blue Rug – Rose Bowl
Purple Rug – Vintage Afghani Rug, Etsy
Round rugs – Overstock
Large Rosary – Rose Bowl, set and framed by The Framing House in Los Angeles
Navy Papa Bear Chair – Overstock
Orange Textured Planter (rubber tree plant) – Urban Americana, Long Beach

DINING ROOM
Dining room table – West Elm
Vintage Dining Room chairs – an estate sale in Palm Springs (Johnny refurbished)
Cow Hide Rug – Sunland Home Décor
Side Shelving – Overstock.com
Plate set – Heath
Vintage double tiered lamp – Decades Vintage, Fort Lauderdale
Vintage ashtray and ceramic box – Antiques Mall Palm Springs
Vintage dancing figures – Post War Modern
Cross stitch fruits – Ruggiero family heirloom
Fig Plant in Vintage Gainey Pot – Estate Sale Palm Springs
Hanging lamp above dining room table – West Elm
Original Black and White Chanel sketches – Rose Bowl, Los Angeles

KITCHEN
Magnet collection – various locations
Plants and planters – Mickey Hargitay Plants
Ceramic Houses above stove – KLM business class flight giveaways
Antique Hand Towels – Paris Antique Markets
Butcher Block – IKEA

JAKE’S BEDROOM
Vintage hanging owl macramé planter – Post War Modern, Redlands
Bookshelf – West Elm
Brass Shelving – Restoration Hardware, spray painted by us
Plants – Mickey Hargitay Plants, West Hollywood
Framed Princess Leah – Alex Garant numbered print
Vintage Dresser – Rose Bowl
Vintage owl Piggy Bank – Rose Bowl
Insect Collage – handmade at Deyrolle, Paris
Vintage Atomic Lamp on dresser – Post War Modern
Islamic Art Tray on Dresser – Shop in Cairo, Egypt
Hand carved wood figures – Shop in Moshi, Tanznia
Fragrances – Le Labo, Mad et Len, Tom Ford, Diptyque
Handmade Brass incense holder – Tennen
Sketch on top of brass shelf – Louis Kahn original
Vintage Safari Style Chair – HD Buttercup
Nightstands – West Elm
Bed – Room and Board
Linens – Restoration Hardware
Small side table next to chair – purchased at an Islamic art shop in Cairo
Candles – Mad et Len
Small planter with wood base – West elm
Vintage acupuncture charts – Hutch, Palm Springs
Antique California Map – The Philadelphia Print Shop
Antique 1950s Celebrity Homes Map – Schein & Schein San Francisco
Antique 1882 Hand painted world map – Paul Bert Serpette, Paris
Vintage brass bedside lamps – Sunbeam Vintage
Beni Ourain Rug – Handmade in Morocco, purchased on Etsy

JOHN’S BEDROOM
Painting of Male above wall lamp – Antiques Mall of Palm Springs
Photograph of apples – John Arsenault Original
White planter with wood support – West Coast Modern
Snake Plant – Home depot
Rooster wall lamp – Melrose/Fairfax flea market
Vintage Green Knoll original Sofa – Estate Sale, Palm Springs
Dresser – Antiques Mall Palm Springs
Planter on dresser – Homart
NYC Map – Vintage taken from a NYC taxicab
Shelves – Home made with supplies from home depot
Monkey figure – antique store in Provincetown
Paper Palm Springs House – Hand Made by friend Michael DeJong
Large mirror – IKEA
Bedside wall mounted lamps – HOM Palm Springs
Tray on nightstand – Target
Nightstand – West Elm
Side Table – Sunbeam Vintage, spray painted by Johnny
Vintage Clock on night stand – Urban Americana
Painting above bed – Johnny’s own work in art school
Black and White photo – Robin Black photo shoot, hair by Johnny
Leatherman photo – John Arsenault
Antique Metal Chest under nightstand – Belonged to Johnny’s mother, dating back to around 1950
Bed – Living Spaces
Various hooks and nails – Homart
Candle – Diptyque

This tour was co-photographed by Bethany Nauert and James Tiffany

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