Andrew & Molly’s Newfound Minimalism in Los Angeles

Name: Molly Cranna and Andrew Rudmann
Location: Silver Lake — Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,700 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years; rented

Molly Cranna and Andrew Rudmann have lived in their Silver Lake apartment for two years, but at first it’s hard to tell. The couple has taken their time making the space their own, filling it with only the most essential and desired pieces. “For both of us, this is our first apartment without roommates, so we felt we were finally able to have full control over the aesthetic,” Molly says. At the heart has been a “less is more” mentality with furniture that respects the open layout and light-filled nature of the apartment. Rather than under-furnished, the minimalist approach feels just right — visually clean but also comfortable and livable. In a city like Los Angeles, refuge from oft-hectic work life is essential. And despite its proximity to a freeway, Molly and Andrew’s apartment is a breath of fresh air.

Molly, who works as a photographer, had been living in LA for nearly a decade when she met Andrew in New York City. Andrew works as product designer at Tinder, and when he relocated to LA he won Molly over with his minimalist tendencies. “When Andrew and I first met, he lived in Brooklyn and owned about five things,” Molly explains. “When we moved in together, he was appalled at how much crap I had. Old essays from college, stuffed animals from ex-boyfriends, every prop from every photo shoot. So I changed my ways and we both agreed that we wouldn’t allow unnecessary ‘stuff’ into our place.”

The “stuff” they’ve chosen has been a slow process, the couple thinking hard about each decision, sometimes choosing to go without rather than buy something they don’t love. The selected pieces have minimal footprints and complement the unique features of the tri-level apartment. The dining chairs, with their slotted construction, mimic the railings on the stairs while letting light pass through. And the scattered plants and cacti — the greenery serving as the only real “pop” of color — help connect the apartment to the outdoors. Molly works part of the time from home, and having the second bedroom as a studio and the loft office to edit is essential, both for work and keeping the common areas a neat and work-free zone. “I have a lot of crap that I keep hidden in my studio — I’m sure if I lived alone a lot of it would find its way into the public space,” Molly admits. “But I’m glad we keep each other in check.”

Our Style: Minimal, clean lines, careful use of color.

Inspiration: We just wanted to keep things sleek and uncomplicated. Neither of us wanted to go full Danish modern, MCM, or industrial chic. We looked for simple pieces that we wouldn’t get tired of.

Favorite Element: The high ceilings and big windows.

Biggest Challenge: Keeping the place clean. Dust just builds up EVERYWHERE.

What Friends Say: IS IT LOUD BEING NEXT TO THE FREEWAY?? (Answer: we couldn’t afford it if it wasn’t)

Biggest Embarrassment: The dead bugs on the window sills that we’re too lazy to clean.

Proudest DIY: Andrew’s George Nelson “inspired” bench. He worked on the bench every night after work — he set up a little area outside and used a Japanese saw that my dad bought for him. We bought the hairpin legs from hairpinlegs.com (haha!)

Biggest Indulgence: The couch and coffee table were both big purchases for us.

Best Advice: Obviously this varies person to person, but for us, we really wanted to take our time furnishing the place. We don’t have all the money in the world to spend, but we wanted to get pieces that we really really loved and would have for a long time. For both of us, this is our first apartment without roommates, so we felt we were finally able to have full control over the aesthetic. For the first year, we made one big purchase every few months, which meant that we were without a dining room table for a long time and then once we got one, we waited a few months to get chairs for it. Slow and steady… Also, turns out cacti really don’t need much water at all!

Dream Sources: The Future Perfect (in small, cautious quantities), Jules Seltzer, Knoll

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