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Wendy & Gavin’s Bright White Cottage

Bethany Nauert
Bethany Nauert
A Los Angeles photographer with a weakness for adorable house pets and quesadillas.
published Feb 14, 2012
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Name: Wendy Withers + Gavin Lester, their two sons Boots + Oscar, two dogs Olive + Bear
Location: Mar Vista — Los Angeles, CA
Size: 1,100 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years — own

Wendy and Gavin share this incredible and cozy cottage with their two boys and two dogs. They have built a joyous home full of artwork and inspiration, designed with traditional and eclectic elements; an adorable family home.

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Raising a baby and toddler can keep you on your toes. It also means you need space for comfort and family time. Wendy believes that the most important element in designing a home is “creating a comfortable living space that reflects who you are.”

When you first approach the home, you are overwhelmed with the lovely garden and luscious yard. There are benches and a tire swing, a play house for the kids and an incredible deck that overlooks the yard. Wendy says, “Because we have such great weather we spend a lot of time outside. It was important to design a space where we could flow in and out with ease and it was also important to create an outdoor living and play space with a sustainable design.”

One of my favorite aspects of the home are the personal art pieces by Gavin. He has created some incredible work that is spread out around the home; the Yours Sincerely typography sign in the master bedroom, the neon sign above the front door, the larger than life receipt in the boys room.

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Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Eclectic

Inspiration: Life before and after kids, our collections, flea markets, art, travel and our talented friends and colleagues who have inspired us along the way.

Favorite Element: Pretty much everything

Biggest Challenge: lack of S P A C E

What Friends Say: “Ooooh, charming”

Biggest Embarrassment: Our couch that has been trashed by out kids

Proudest DIY: Gavin’s artwork

Biggest Indulgence: Our garden

Best Advice: : Research, references and a solid plan. We have learned, from one or two projects, that any kind of home improvement must be done with 100% certainty regarding design and execution. Of course, there will always be the unforeseeable, but enlisting the help of those you trust implicitly, makes the process much more pleasant. Also, always follow your instincts. If a project doesn’t look or feel right then it’s probably not.

Dream Sources: ABC Carpet and Home and Parisian flea markets.

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Resources of Note:

PAINT & ABOVE THE FRONT DOOR

    • neon sign by Gavin Lester

ENTRY

LIVING ROOM

    • built-in shelves by architect Hope Alexander
    • antique pottery from flea markets and ebay
    • ugs from flea markets
    • couch from Restoration Hardware
    • ottoman designed by Krista Schrock Design
    • Matching lamps from Farnsworth, San Francisco
    • Print by Philip Lorca Dicorcia from White chapel Gallery
    • print by Damien Hirst
    • print by Shepard Fairy
    • mantel painting by Jean Jack

DINING ROOM

KITCHEN

    • clock from Habitat
    • Viking stove

MASTER BEDROOM


    • bed from Modernica
    • paul mcobb dressers from ebay
    • credenza custom built by Ben Parrillo
    • duvet set by Dwell Studio
    • yours sincerely by Gavin Lester
    • cheat trophy by Gavin Lester
    • baby portrait by Clang
    • attack! print by RJ Shaughnessy
    • building print by Daniel Rich found on Art Space
    • plate artwork by Roy Lichtenstein
    • print by Lawrence Weiner
    • cork lamp found at a flea market

BATHROOM


    • sink from Ikea
    • barbie prints by Ilan Rubin
    • artwork found at various flea markets
    • bedroom print by Sophia Vourdoukis

KIDS ROOM


    • bed custom built by Ben Parillo
    • floor tiles from Flor
    • bedding from Ikea
    • large receipt by gavin lester
    • i heart new york print signed by Milton Glaser
    • various artwork by our kids and flea market finds

OUTSIDE

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Thanks, Wendy + Gavin!

Images: Bethany Nauert

Re-edited from a post originally published 2.14.12 – JL

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