My Houzz: Black, White and Metal Shine in a 1930s Live-Work Apartment
Mindfully curated vintage and antique finds fill this creative couple’s 850-square-foot rental in Los Angeles
Corynne Pless
December 13, 2015
Houzz Contributor. Los Angeles, California.
Joel and Sara Gasparotto prioritized flow and accessibility when designing their 1930s apartment. A palette of black, white and metal, inspired by Joel’s childhood home and even his first bike, flows through each space. Joel, an artist, and Sara, a hairstylist, added their own classic style with their collection of vintage finds and heirlooms. As a bonus, their living room doubles as studio space for Joel.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sara and Joel Gasparotto
Location: Los Angeles
Size: About 850 square feet (79 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Small candlestick lamps light the entry of Joel and Sara Gasparotto’s apartment. A twin headboard-turned-console table is a space-saving solution in the trim hallway, which also features one of Joel’s paintings.
Who lives here: Sara and Joel Gasparotto
Location: Los Angeles
Size: About 850 square feet (79 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Small candlestick lamps light the entry of Joel and Sara Gasparotto’s apartment. A twin headboard-turned-console table is a space-saving solution in the trim hallway, which also features one of Joel’s paintings.
The vintage leather sofa came from the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena. The glass coffee table, one of Joel’s favorite pieces, was designed and handmade by their friend Chris Earl.
Armchairs: Children Charities
Armchairs: Children Charities
Joel began painting nearly a year ago and transformed one of the living room walls into a studio space. When he isn’t painting, he covers his supplies with cloth.
Picture rail hangers connected to the picture rail molding double as a floating easel.
Picture rail hangers connected to the picture rail molding double as a floating easel.
A Ryan Korban book has a place of honor on the living room coffee table. Korban is one of Joel’s favorite designers, along with Sean MacPherson, Miles Redd and Kelly Wearstler. “They’re all so fantastical and distinctly their own. It’s like when someone sees a Porsche 911 or a painting by Lucio Fontana — there’s no question of what they’re looking at and who designed it,” Joel says. “These designers are like that. You know exactly who designed it.”
The living room is Joel’s favorite spot. “I love the two big windows and all the natural light it gets,” he says.
More of his canvases are tucked in the corner, with the taller one carefully hiding the wall heater.
Curtains: West Elm; table: Chris Earl Designs
More of his canvases are tucked in the corner, with the taller one carefully hiding the wall heater.
Curtains: West Elm; table: Chris Earl Designs
Joel credits his mom and uncle for influencing the way he designs now. “Growing up, we had white sofas, gray carpet and glass tables. And my uncle had a mix of contemporary design and beautiful antiques that he collected from auctions and his travels,” Joel says. “His was like walking into a Miles Redd home. Ours was a little more Ryan Korban via the ’90s.”
The mounted Cast Cassowary bone is another Chris Earl design.
The mounted Cast Cassowary bone is another Chris Earl design.
Joel spent a lot of time working with his uncle in hospitality when he was younger, and that influences his design approach now. “He taught me about the flow of the room and how to design the environment for the atmosphere you want to create,” he says. “Currently, we wanted it to feel more open and accessible from anywhere, which is why the sofa and cocktail table are situated in the middle of the room.”
Some of Joel’s favorite online shopping sites are 1stdibs and Du Mouchelles. In Manhattan Beach, he likes to frequent Dacha.
Some of Joel’s favorite online shopping sites are 1stdibs and Du Mouchelles. In Manhattan Beach, he likes to frequent Dacha.
Joel used a matte finish paint for the walls and a high-gloss finish for the trim to make it pop.
Artwork: Joel Gasparotto
Artwork: Joel Gasparotto
Design books and a mounted fencing mask occupy a corner wall adjacent to the kitchen. A gold sconce clamped to the black-painted molding lights the wall.
The couple kept the kitchen white to maximize the light in the space. Two thin wooden tables provide extra counter space and storage.
The gold and black chair is a vintage Dutch design.
The gold and black chair is a vintage Dutch design.
The landscape oil painting was discovered by Sara’s father at a garage sale in Detroit.
The console table and rug placement create a simple path from the entry to the kitchen.
The couple’s photos set in in gold frames are highlights in the display on the table behind the sofa.
A Cleo Baldon chair made of iron and oak offers seating in the bathroom. The ceiling and walls are painted black.
The couple’s bedroom features a tranquil, minimal aesthetic with calm colors and textures. The corner chair is a vintage 1970s Ethan Allen piece from Sara’s parents.
The art deco table was one of the first pieces the couple bought together when they were still dating.
The art deco table was one of the first pieces the couple bought together when they were still dating.
Sara and Joel relax in their living room.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Scott Davidson founded Davidson Builders in 1998. Scott graduated from Michigan State with a BS in Construction... Read More
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Super Cool!
love the way artwork in progress is hung - with supplies beneath. Brilliant!