Matthew’s Magical Woodland Wonderland
Name: Matthew Eikelberger
Location: Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,000 square feet
Years lived in: 7 Years
You may recognize this home from a prior Apartment Therapy post a few years back. It is always fun to see how a space has evolved over time, and Matthew’s loft is no exception. He has created a home all his own and let his imagination run wild. The different shades of green and turquoise on the walls and drapery are reminiscent of a lush forest, and the animal statues and figurines are the furry little creatures that dwell in this magical place. And there are enough knick-knacks to give your grandma’s collection a run for its money.
The layout of the loft is open, sun-filled, and airy. The spiral staircase leads up to the second floor, where there is a bedroom that opens up to a cozy outdoor area that feels like a mini jungle, filled with overgrown plants and greenery. The artwork that fills the walls and the decorative accessories on the shelves all have a playfulness about them, and many of them made me do a double take. This is a home that allows you to go off in your own dreamland and get away from the mundane outside world.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: My style has often been described as Alice in Wonder/Hoarder land, decadent grandma, or Golden Girl on acid. I certainly subscribe to the philosophy that More is More.
Inspiration: Marie Antoinette meets Lord of the Rings. Opulent, with a strong woodland influence.
Favorite Element: My favorite element, without a doubt, is the history that lives on in my home. So many things in my apartment were passed down to me from my grandmother, so they are not only family heirlooms, but they carry a great amount of memories and history with them. For instance, the chandeliers, which originated in Italy,were my grandmother’s from the 60’s, and the accent table in the living room went through the San Francisco earthquake during the 1900’s.
Biggest Challenge: My biggest challenge has been trying to make my seemingly necessary impulse purchases fit into my very limited space.
What Friends Say: “Wow! You are really easy to shop for” and “your tchotchke-‘itis’ is certainly terminal.”
Biggest Embarrassment: My biggest embarrassment will be, if I am still alive after the big earthquake hits, revealing to my insurance representative the sum that I wish to be reimbursed for the amount of money I have spent on knick-knacks.
Proudest DIY: I know it sounds lackluster but I guess I would say that I was ambitious enough to paint half of the place myself, with the help of my friend Athena. Although I am afraid of heights, so I had to hire painters to paint the stair area.
Biggest Indulgence: Well, seeing how I cannot deal with blank wall space, my biggest indulgence most definitely has been custom framing. I have gone to great lengths to fill the walls of my apartment.
Best Advice: Always find some way to include a sense of humor in your decor aesthetic, and create a space that gives you some sense of escapism and peace. It’s a scary world out there.
Dream Sources: The Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berg estate sale.
Resources of Note:
paints and colors:
- indian ocean: hallway and most walls (Behr)
- scotland isle: kitchen and doors (Behr)
entry:
- vintage chadelier
- antique deer statues
- candle holders: anthropologie
living room:
- statue lamp: vintage italy
- chandelier vintage italy
- coffee table antique 60’s
- couch and chairs recovered
- rug: crate and barrel
- accent table and lamp vintage
- cabinet: danish modern LA
- pouf: horchow
dining room:
- chandelier: vintage, Italy
- table: vintage
Thanks, Matthew!
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