Once a “Landlord Special,” This Historic Rental Is Now a French-Inspired Gem

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Dec 30, 2024

Once a “Landlord Special,” This Historic Rental Is Now a French-Inspired Gem

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Dec 30, 2024
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
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Alyssa Kluge is the director of communications at Thrive Market and a home interiors hobbyist. And three years ago, she was “just looking” for a new apartment before her last lease expired. “Zillow’s alerts led me to a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment a few neighborhoods over in Ocean Park. With low expectations, Christopher and I booked a next-morning appointment, figuring the lackluster photos and suspiciously low price were red flags,” she begins of the apartment search she went on with her partner, actor Christopher Dietrick.

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Credit: Torrey West
"Though not unusual, we’ve divided the small space into 'working' and 'living' areas, with a 'door-closed' policy at the end of the day to signal the home office’s 'closure,'" Alyssa explains.

“The building manager, wearing a KN95 mask, guided us through a dingy, carpeted entry and shared with us that the building, perched on a primary street, originally served as a lookout to signal sailors if it was safe to come ashore. More than a century old, sloped walls and warped wooden floors puzzle together the 750-square-foot space, the oldest apartment building in Santa Monica’s Ocean Park,” Alyssa writes.

Credit: Torrey West
"Outside of the kitchen, we swapped out the light fixtures, painted, replaced the bathroom vanity, sourced and scoured Marketplace daily, removed 100-plus years of paint from doorknobs and handles, installed no-drill Roman shades, patched drywall, and (so much) more in a very DIY approach. Introducing electrical work was a challenge, though we ended up calling my dad on Facetime to be 'sure' we weren’t going to electrocute ourselves," Alyssa writes.

“Midmorning light shone through the lead-based windows, complete with original pulley mechanics. The narrow-plank wooden floors were highlighted by small “pokes” left from the high heels of past residents. The Pacific peeked through the western windows of the corner unit. I wrote a check on the spot, taking the keys within the hour for the Beaux-Arts building beauty,” Alyssa admits.

Credit: Torrey West
"If I had to pick a favorite time at home, it would be late Sunday afternoons. The three of us settle into the couch with stacks of magazines and books — our print subscriptions always feel like a treat, and the Ocean Park library is just a short walk away," Alyssa writes.

Alyssa says that learning to decorate slow has been a challenge, but a rewarding one. “After nearly three years, the space feels right — a reminder that perfect is often the enemy of good. We avoided the temptation to overhaul everything at once or spend a fortune up front, opting instead to tackle it slowly and intentionally,” she writes.

Credit: Torrey West
When asked what her home's zodiac sign would be, Alyssa writes: "Unequivocally, a Virgo — tidy, intentional, functional, and grounded by natural elements — linen, wood, copper, stone, etc."

“By picking up extra shifts and setting aside money bit by bit, we made thoughtful choices, considering not just what we purchased but how it would be used and why it brought us joy. That deliberate pace gave the process a more profound sense of purpose — and made every improvement feel earned.”

Resources

Credit: Torrey West

PAINT & COLORS

  • Entry and office space — “Wet Sand” @ 50% (Sydney Harbour Paint Company)
  • Bathroom — “Milk Chocolate” Limewash Limewash (Sydney Harbour Paint Company)
  • Kitchen — “School House White” & “Wimborne White” (Farrow & Ball)
Credit: Torrey West

ENTRY

  • Solange Metal Flat Mirror — Wayfair
  • Vintage Vase — From a Cairo ceramics shop 
Credit: Torrey West

LIVING ROOM

  • Linen Sofa — San Fernando Valley Upholstery 
  • Linen Pillowcases — Etsy’s Heedful Embroidery 
  • Brown Alpaca Blanket — From a small shop in Lima
  • White Alpaca Blanket — From a small shop in Arequipa
  • White Shearling — From a small shop outside of Edinburgh 
  • Coffee Table — Handmade by Ed Kluge
  • Seashell Plinth — From Sylvie 
  • Black Alabaster Vase — From a small shop in Giza
  • Brown Vintage Drinking Cup — From a flea market in Maasai Mara 
  • Onyx Candle Stand — Olive Ateliers 
  • Onyx Jewelry Dish — Olive Ateliers
  • Elmwood Bench — Olive Ateliers 
  • Linen Curtains — Fabric Planet Store (Venice) 
  • Vintage Pages & Ivory Candles — St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop (Santa Monica)
  • White Linen Pendant — Ramble Interiors 
  • Pendant Kit — Etsy
Credit: Torrey West

DINING ROOM

  • Belgian Farmhouse Chairs — Ojai Estate Sale 
  • Linen Seat Cushions — Etsy 
  • Dining Table — Olive Ateliers 
  • Horizontal Mirror — St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop (Santa Monica) 
  • Curved, Wrought-Iron Mirror — Berbere Imports 
  • Gold Rounded Mirror — From a small shop in rural France
  • Extra Large Bread Board — Olive Ateliers
  • Art — Made by me with leftover paint & fabric 
Credit: Torrey West

KITCHEN

  • Kuba Cloth — From a small shop in rural Kenya
  • Unlacquered Brass Pot Rack & Curtain Rods — Etsy 
  • Linen Curtains — Fabric Planet Store (Venice) 
  • Cast Iron — Smithey Ironworks 
  • Various Cups, Plates, Bowls — NOM Living 
  • Copper Pots / Pans — Facebook Marketplace 
  • Various decorative bowls, vases, pots — From small shops in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Germany, Hungary, etc.
  • Cabinet Hardware — Facebook Marketplace
  • Light Fixture — Etsy 
  • Cast Iron White Sink — Kohler 
  • Unlacquered Brass Taps — Etsy 
  • Small Mirror — Chairish 
Credit: Torrey West

BEDROOM

  • Bed Linens — Piglet in Bed 
  • Bedframe — Floyd / Facebook Marketplace
  • Thonet Chair — Facebook Marketplace 
  • Lamp Base — St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop (Santa Monica) 
  • Lamp Shade — Etsy 
  • Various Pots — Berbere Imports
  • Small Stool — From a flea market in Maasai Mara 
Credit: Torrey West

BATHROOM

  • Hardware — Etsy
  • Towels — Quince / Facebook Marketplace
  • Shower Curtain & Bath Mat — H&M Home / Facebook Marketplace

Thanks, Alyssa and Christopher!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.