Small-Space Solutions (and Lots of Natural Light) Make This 408-Square-Foot Rental Apartment Lovely

We found this little slice of L.A. on Craigslist. I was sold on the windows. We jumped on it as quick as we could! We were living briefly in an Airstream before this (we unfortunately had to sell that beauty due to job opportunities in L.A., where there was no room for an Airstream), so we had majorly downsized and didn’t have ANY furniture. That was a blessing and a curse, but it was nice to build up again slowly and thoughtfully, and buy things that we knew we’d want to keep where we could.

We had a lot of fun making this place ours and thinking up small-space solutions. We’re project people. Virgil even built a screen door for us—the heat gets WILD in the summer and our insulation is old and virtually useless, if it exists at all. Sometimes you have to take things into your own hands.

Whenever friends visit, everyone appreciates the homey-ness we’ve created. I feel like our space really reflects who we are and what we appreciate most, like a cozy dinette to sit and enjoy our meals, or to scheme our next project together. It’s open and simple, and having a place to call home that calms the mind is everything.

My Style: We love the charm and character found in old houses. I think we both find ourselves drawn to that more than shiny and new. Our apartment was built in the late 1930s and is distinctively craftsman style, which we both love. I think our collective style is evolving into an old-meets-new situation, embracing and respecting the character of the timeworn things and contrasting those with modern pieces. It’s a timeless juxtaposition.

Inspiration: Natural light! How it bounces off of things, draws your attention to the shapes around you, the incredible show of color in the sunset turning to dusk. It’s nothing and everything all at the same time; the mood in a room, the way it changes through a day’s time. Also, old buildings are endlessly inspiring to me. Old, like around 100 years or more—the quality and detail in these kinds of historic structures are unmatchable and incredible.

Favorite Element: The LIGHT! We’ve come to know that the most crucial part of a dwelling for us is abundant natural light. It’s the biggest game-changer. A few years ago, we lived in a 1900s shoe factory that was converted to apartments. We had 12-foot ceilings and three MEGA windows that were about 5 feet wide by 7 feet high. After that magical light situation, we can never go back to anything short of light-flooded. Also, I love that our apartment is a single unit over the garage—we don’t share walls with anyone!

Biggest Challenge: This place is small, which is a challenge, but the real dilemma is the lack of storage. We have struggled with that since the get-go and have added as much additional storage as we could. We built the corner dinette out of IKEA above-refrigerator cabinets that are multifunctional: seating and storage. Virgil built the plywood shelves we have in the entry, which hold plants on top and miscellaneous items below—books, a printer, and smaller items tucked away in a thrifted basket. We also use four under-the-bed fabric boxes from The Container Store basically as a dresser—there is no room for a real one and our one closet is TINY. In the bathroom, we added an over-the-toilet bamboo cabinet that we found at Bed Bath & Beyond. It works, but it definitely isn’t as ideal as a walk-in closet and a pantry would be. We have big dreams.

Proudest DIY: Our ottoman! I actually wrote up a whole DIY on how we made it that you can find on my blog, TerraMade Design. CliffsNotes version: Virgil built a simple plywood box (which was our coffee table for MANY months until we got around to finishing the project), and we covered that in batting. We wanted something that felt a little luxe but also handmade so we opted for a Block Shop Textiles-inspired block print. I designed the pattern and Virgil carved the linoleum blocks. I did the printing, and that process was a labor of love but it was also SO fun. I highly recommend everyone try block printing, if only once. When our fabric panels were dry, Virgil sewed them into a cover. We pulled it over the box and secured with staples underneath. We’re really happy with how it turned out.

Biggest Indulgence: I guess I’d have to say our sofa. It has a pretty decent pullout bed, so it was a little pricier. But we wanted to have somewhere for visitors to sleep, and we really don’t have the space for anything else. It made the most sense to spend a little more for the convenience. We kept most things bare minimum because we were transitioning from Airstream living and we really didn’t want to overindulge. Nor did we have the cash! Moving to L.A. is hard and expensive at the beginning, but we did the best we could with the resources we had. The Cesca chairs were a small indulgence—I went for ones that were made in Italy because I trust Italian craftsmanship more than most things.

Best Advice: Don’t ever compromise on the things that make your day-to-day living more joyful. I think I’ve made a point here to explain how important natural light is to me, and I’m so glad we prioritized that. It also conveniently equals better airflow, with windows on every wall.

I’m still striving every day to live by these words from William Morris: “Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

What’s your best home secret? There’s always a solution that checks all the boxes, you just have to be willing to find it (or make it yourself). Also, find yourself a partner who complements you—that is, someone who can and will do the parts of the project you can’t or won’t.

ENTRY / DESK

• Runner — Block Shop Textiles
• MAGIC Flag — Secret Holiday Co.
• Matte Black Hooks — Target
• Most of the Plant Pots — Planta
• Speaker — Sonos
• Pencil Tumbler — Humble Ceramics

LIVING ROOM

• Shelter Sofa — West Elm
• Striped Pillows — The Modern Farmhouse Co
• Kilim Pillow — Epic Rug
• Hanging Chair — Studio Nudo

DINING NOOK & BAR CABINET

• Tulip Table — IKEA
• Pendant Light — Clay Cafe
• Storage Cabinets — IKEA
• Cesca Chairs — Seats and Stools
• Leather Pulls — Rowzec
• Kilim Pillow — Valiente Goods
• Corner Shelves — Target
• Brass Moon Bells and Vintage Ceramics — Familiar Folk Shop
• Rainbow — Eloeil
• White Storage Baskets — Target
• Bar Cabinet — IKEA

KITCHEN

• Counter Stools — Urban Outfitters, this color sold out
• Carved Black & Wood Bowl — Familiar Folk Shop
• Plant Hanger — Planta
• Wine Decanter — Shoppe by Amber Interiors
• Large Ceramic Bowl — Shop on the Mesa
• Walnut Knife Magnet — Messermeister
• Spice Rack — IKEA
• Espresso Machine — Capresso
• Wooden Hand Dish — Favor the Kind

BEDROOM

• Bed — IKEA
• Sconce — Urban Outfitters
• Linen Duvet Cover — Parachute Home
• Black Side Table (as a plant stand) — IKEA
• Awesome Print — Jessica Hische / Virgil made the oak frame!
• Hamper — Target (large size no longer available)
• Tassel Basket — Xinh & Co.
• Ceramic Chimes — Gift, very similar available at Mud Puppy
• Moroccan Pom Pom Blanket — Natural and Moroccan
• ‘Night Stand’ — IKEA

BATHROOM

• Bamboo Cabinet — Bed Bath & Beyond
• Shower Curtain — Target (discontinued)
• Basket — Amazon
• Towel Hooks — Urban Outfitters
• Towels — Parachute Home

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