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My Houzz: Art Deco–Contemporary Mix in Los Angeles
A designer couple puts a contemporary spin on their historic art deco apartment with choice furniture and a modern color palette
We are a mother-daughter team of interior design professionals who are absolutely obsessed with interiors. We are home tour contributors for Houzz and have been in business since 2008 and have a thriving home staging business. We work with clients to help them sell their homes quickly for top dollar. We also help people all over Southern California to design the homes of their dreams.
We are a mother-daughter team of interior design professionals who are... More »
Midcentury-inspired furniture, playful accents and a modern color palette helped this couple turn their 1920s apartment into a place that felt like home. A designer couple with a modern aesthetic, Shawn Smith and Leah Russell were challenged by their 1926 apartment's vintage bones and art deco charm. Bold textiles, neutral walls and classic furniture helped them pay tribute to the building's history while still creating a more modern look of their own.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Shawn Smith, Leah Russell and their dog, Winston
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 750 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
That’s interesting: Their building was once home to former president Ronald Reagan
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Shawn Smith, Leah Russell and their dog, Winston
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 750 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
That’s interesting: Their building was once home to former president Ronald Reagan
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| "Our decorating philosophy is 'in with the old and new,'" says Smith. "We've tried to show modern pieces in conversation with the 1920s architecture, and how it can make a home an eclectic blend of styles." |
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| The spacious, naturally lit bedroom features a custom-built bed complete with built-in nightstands and underbed storage. Folded clothes are tucked away, eliminating the need for a dresser. Wall paint: Mushroom, Martha Stewart More underbed storage ideas |
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| An Ikea storage system fits snugly between the moldings of two closets to house incidentals and provides a perch for framed photos. |
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Three-dimensional wall tiles in the entry add an element of surprise for visitors. Smith chose a deep plum shade to complement the beautiful view outside the living room windows. A cowhide rug helps define the foyer.
Wall tiles: Mio Culture
Wall tiles: Mio Culture
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Smith and Russell scored big at a garage sale with this original mustard-color Eames molded plastic chair. "The seller had no idea what they were getting rid of. We got a great deal!" says Smith.
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A gallery transforms an awkward piece of wall with electric wiring down the middle. Instead of camouflaging the wiring, the couple worked it into the design, layering the frames for a 3-D effect.
Painted concrete floors lend an industrial element to the warm neutrals on the walls and furniture. An area rug placed perpendicularly adds visual interest.
Painted concrete floors lend an industrial element to the warm neutrals on the walls and furniture. An area rug placed perpendicularly adds visual interest.
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| A vintage cocktail table from Russell’s native Alabama displays a handmade box, a small sculpture and some favorite art books. The media unit is a small bedside cube table paired with a leftover cabinet base turned on its side. The clever combination looks like a modern piece of furniture and is just right for storing books and DVDs. |
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In the dining area an original classic black and white checkerboard floor and chalkboard wall lend a bold punch to the sunny room. The couple switches up the graphic or message seasonally.
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Finding a dining table suitable for their tight dining space was the couple's biggest design dilemma. They ended up choosing a round table paired with bright white Bellini-style chairs.
Table: Room & Board; chairs: Design Within Reach
Table: Room & Board; chairs: Design Within Reach
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| A stylish dish drainer by the couple's favorite designer, Marc Newson, adds a citrus-colored punch to the black and and white tile countertop. "We love his forward-thinking ideas and extreme versatility,†Smith says. |
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In the bathroom Russell made the unisex shower art to match the CB2 wall vase. The color palette is modern gray and yellow.
Ideabook published on May 17, 2012.
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We have the same IKEA table (Besta Burs) that we use as a desk and its holding up great!