An LA Studio Went from “Sparse, Possibly Haunted” to "Playful, Colorful Oasis"

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Studio Apartment

LOCATION: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

STYLE: Colorful, Eclectic, Glam

BEDROOMS: 0

SQUARE FEET: 485

“Last year I made the decision to move to Los Angeles after having lived in New York City for almost my entire adult life,” begins Greg Mania, a writer, comedian, and one of my favorite AT house tour participants of all time. “I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for, just somewhere affordable and free from black mold — preferably kept down to a shout (a luxury for a New Yorker!). My best friend, Tara, lived in LA for many years, so she helped me peruse places online, until eventually she stumbled on this one. We both instantly fell in love with it.”

“What stood out to me the most is the building’s history — it’s almost 100 years old, right in the heart of Hollywood,” Greg continues. “The Black Dahlia briefly stayed here, as did Walt Disney, among other icons and artists because of its proximity to the studios. Another part of its charm is that it’s a true Hollywood building disguised as a Brooklyn tenement; if it weren’t for the pair of palm trees out front, you’d think this building was in Crown Heights.”

Greg describes his 485-square-foot studio apartment before he moved in as “sparse, possibly haunted.” But he says it was also a “total dream,” featuring charming elements like “exposed brick, stunning windows that swing open, the original built-in 1920s vanity. It’s the complete opposite from my last apartment, which many of you may remember from my last tour, and which was only a few years old; it was sleek, modern. I love that I live in a place with so much rich history, and how it has textured my personal aesthetic and design choices.”

While it’s true this LA apartment is different than the last place we toured, it’s also got plenty of similarities, too, like plenty of bold colors, fun art, and, of course, books (including his own debut memoir, Born to Be Public.) It’s been a year since Greg has moved into this new home, and he describes it perfectly: “A playful, colorful oasis that blends vintage glamor with a rebellious edge.”

Resources

LIVING ROOM

• Jovina Velvet Loveseat — Hualala Home

• Green Palm Pillow Covers — Etsy

• Iridescent Table — Litelamps

• Floating Bookshelves — TEEbooks

• Bookcases — Bauhaus2YourHouse

• Crystals and Skulls — Lustrum Apothecary

• Dresser — The Home Depot

• “Hello There” Neon Sign — Etsy

DINING ROOM

• Table and Chairs — Homary

• “Sailor Moon” Neon Sign — Etsy

KITCHEN

• Toaster — Buydeem

• Microwave — Best Buy

• Mason Utensil Jar — Amazon

• Coffee Canister — Etsy

• Vintage Kettle — Etsy

• Diner Menus — Ebay

BEDROOM

• Bed — Casper

• Bedside Tables — Finnish Design Shop

• Bed Bench — Wayfair

• Retractable Media Console — Wayfair

ART

• Art — JP Brammer, Dean Dempsey, Virginia Elwood, Zach Grear, James Jeffers, Uzo Njoku, Tommy Pico, Benjamin Saulnier, and Tara Savelo

Thanks, Greg!

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

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Further Reading

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture

See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room