Gregory and Jenny’s Relaxed Hippie Bungalow

Name: Gregory Beauchamp and Jenny Corgan
Location: Venice, California
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 3+ years; Rented

If the Brady Brunch could redecorate their house in a cooler, fresher way, I imagine it would look something like this. Gregory, a creative director/artist, and Jenny, a co-owner of Principessa on Abbott Kinney, share this cozy bungalow near Venice Beach. They embrace the minimalist lifestyle by keeping only what they really need, and love to create a place they call home. Each piece of furniture and each item they have chosen feels intentional and also aligns with their relaxed, earthy, hippie style.

I found this home to be uniquely refreshing because nothing in it is new. Each piece was gathered over time and is meaningful to the couple. Gregory and Jenny have also created their own work spaces in their home. Jenny happens to co-own a hip clothing store, so she uses her workspace as both a typical office and a place to store her inventory of beautiful printed caftans and dresses. Gregory has his own Etsy store where he sells prints and artwork, and uses his office to create his artwork.

My Style:

J: Relaxed mid-century hippie (warm, cozy, earthy, organic).

G: Warm colors, wood objects, and lots of blankets.

Inspiration:

J: My mom and the way she decorated our childhood homes. There was never a shortage of houseplants, pottery, rugs, art, and textiles. I always strive to recreate that comfortable and welcoming environment. I could also spend hours reading old 70s design books like Woodstock Handmade Houses, The Craftsman Builder and Rolling Homes.

G: It lies somewhere between the Ingalls’ cabin from The Little House on the Prairie and the 60s modern living room from The Brady Bunch.

Favorite Element:

J: It’s hard to narrow that down to one, but it would definitely be something given to me by my mom that I grew up with in the 70s — the signed and numbered print given to her by Richard Carbotti, a hand-thrown pottery bowl from Spring Pottery (formerly in Newport, Rhode Island), a carved wooden owl from the Norman Bird Sanctuary Harvest Fair, and her hand-loomed patterned rug from Poland.

G: The wood carvings my father made, a bear given to me for my 13^th birthday, and a face that my dad carved for his mom before he passed away.

Biggest Challenge:

J&G: We’ll go with the standard “that we rent” answer. It tends to limit the things you can do to the property, like add a redwood hot tub to the front yard (although it still may happen)!

What Friends Say:

J&G: “It’s so cozy, I could take a nap in here” is music to our ears.

Biggest Embarrassment:

J: That’s easy — the blinds. Obviously they came with the house, and I still haven’t got around to changing them out!

Proudest DIY:

J: Gregory built a beautiful garden bed for me in the backyard where before there was just dirt, old tree roots, and gravel. It was a long process that was obviously done right, because everything we plant there flourishes!

G: The backyard gets a lot of sun. Jenny wanted to get rid of the umbrella/table combo and wondered if we could build something else for shade. We came up with a three-legged, 10’ tall pergola with a 16’ shade arm and an old Indian tapestry that hangs like a sail in the wind. All pieces are routed out so it fits together like Lincoln Logs.

Biggest Indulgence:

J: The art. Sometimes a good frame job can cost more than the piece you’re framing…but it’s always worth it.

G: A growing collection of used novels and art monographs.

Best Advice:

J: Don’t be afraid of shipping! Some of my favorite pieces were found on visits back home to Newport, Rhode Island and on travels throughout New England, Oregon, and northern California. I can’t count the times I paid more for shipping than the actual item itself! But again, it’s always worth it.

G: The only piece of home advice I ever received was from my father. When I left Oregon to go to college in Southern California, he said, “Don’t hang heavy things above your bed. You’re moving to earthquake country.” I still follow it.

Dream Sources:

J&G: We’re pretty lucky to live in LA where we have such ample and easy access to wonderful mid-century stores, great thrift shops, and amazing flea markets — our dream sources! Specifically, Galerie Sommerlath and French 50s/60s, Surfing Cowboys and the Santa Monica Airport Flea Market. And I’ll be the first to admit I’m a bit of an Etsy and eBay junkie!

• Landlord’s choice 🙂

• Soldered shell pendant lamp: Santa Monica Airport Flea Market

• Fossilized fern tile coffee table: French 50s/60s Mid Century Modern Furniture at Galerie Sommerlath
• White coiled pottery planter (on coffee table): Double Vision
• Shag rug: French 50s-60s
• Couch: Santa Monica Airport Flea Market
• Agate side table (with books & nude sculpture): French 50s-60s
• Marble side table (with cork lamp): Venice thrift store
• Terra cotta nude sculpture (on books): Ebay
• Kilim pillows: various flea markets
• Large bird oil painting: Gregory Beauchamp
• Framed birds watercolor: Susan Carter Hall (friend and favorite local artist)
• Knoll chair (from UCSanta Barbara library): eBay
• Rattan bucket chair: French 50s-60s
• Leather pouf: Cold Springs, NY antique store
• Teak bar cabinet (tv stand): Surfing Cowboys
• Milo Baughman credenza: Surfing Cowboys
• Cork lamp: French 50s/60s
• Teak lamp: French 50s/60s
• Pottery lamp (on credenza): Long Beach Flea Market
• Hanging macrame plant holder: eBay
• Clay nude sculpture (on credenza): Etsy
• Framed charcoal drawing (above credenza): Chad Crouch (friend of Gregory’s from Portland, OR…first piece of art he ever bought)
• Patterned rug: Jenny’s mom’s hand-loomed rug from Poland (purchased in early 70s)

• Teak dining room table (with built-in leaf): Santa Monica Airport Flea Market
• White pottery beery bowl (on dining room table): Farmhouse Pottery
• Hanging macrame jute light: Etsy
• Ernest Trova print: The Mart Collective
• Kilim stools: Santa Monica Airport Flea Market

KITCHEN

• Farm table: Santa Monica Airport Flea Market
• Wood bench: Santa Monica Airport Flea Market
• Rattan hanging light: eBay
• Framed crayon & ink drawing: Palm Springs, CA antique store
• Pottery bowls: vintage Spring Pottery and various flea markets

• Don Freedman macrame textile wall hanging: Huntington Beach, CA antique store
• Night stands: Venice, CA thrift store
• Upholstered side chair: Santa Monica Airport Flea Market
• Tree oil painting: Long Beach Flea Market
• Kilim pillows: Fairfax Flea Market
• Mid-century wool blanket: Etsy
• Lamps: flea markets
• Framed oil painting (on night stand): Chad Crouch
• ”Farm” oil painting (over tv): Susan Carter Hall

JEN’S OFFICE

• Mid-century desk chair: French 50s/60s
• Mid-century teak desk: French 50s/60s
• Mid-century bookshelf: French 50s/60s
• Striped pottery planter: French 50s/60s
• Cork covered pottery pitcher (on desk): 50s/60s
• Hand carved owl: from Jenny’s mom
• Macrame covered wine jug (on bookshelf): Etsy
• Kilim pouf: Colcha
• Framed “Venice Blvd Cityscape” by Susan Carter Hall (over desk)

GREGORY’S OFFICE

• Pottery whale (on work table) : Larry Carnes The Master Potter
• Love Log (on work table): Simon Maltby Designs
• Clay owl sculpture (on work table): Trading Post Antique Mall Sherwood, OR
• Framed tree photograph: Kwaku Alston
• Kiln gods (on tree photo): Larry Carnes
• Farm table desk: Wertz Brothers Wertz Brothers Furniture, Inc.
• Unframed bird oil painting: Sage Vaughn Sage Vaughn
• American flag: Wertz Brothers
• Hand-carved bear (on stereo): Ron Beauchamp (Gregory’s dad)
• Hand-carved man’s face (on bookshelf): Ron Beauchamp (Gregory’s dad)
• Rug: Santa Monica Airport Flea Market

HALLWAY

• String art: Newport, RI thrift store

Thanks, Gregory and Jenny!

(Images: Monica Wang)

• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE: Check out past house tours here.
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.