Room of the Day: A 1970s Living Room Slides Into the 21st Century
Vintage finds and contemporary touches create an inviting living space in West Hollywood
The owners of this West Hollywood, California, condo liked its 1970s vibe but didn’t want the design to be stuck in the disco era. So they called on designers Gabriela Eisenhart and Holly Conlan to give their living room a minimalist look that was also textured and finished.
The designers started with a coat of white paint to tie everything together. They then kept the existing carpet, which is tightly woven, and layered a thicker vintage rug the homeowners already had over it to ground the space. They also kept the couple’s pullout couch.
The room opens to the dining area, with the kitchen beyond, so Eisenhart and Conlan continued the look with a midcentury-inspired overhead lamp and a custom-made dining table.
Chair, coffee table and console table: CB2; side table: Urban Outfitters; lamp: West Elm; pillows: West Elm, ModShop, Urban Outfitters
The room opens to the dining area, with the kitchen beyond, so Eisenhart and Conlan continued the look with a midcentury-inspired overhead lamp and a custom-made dining table.
Chair, coffee table and console table: CB2; side table: Urban Outfitters; lamp: West Elm; pillows: West Elm, ModShop, Urban Outfitters
A spot opposite the fireplace and near the dining area was perfect for the piano.
Eisenhart and Conlan filled the existing bookcases with a mix of pieces found locally — at West Elm, Melrose Trading Post, flea markets and small boutiques — and objects the couple already owned, such as books, records and a vintage radio. Touches of gold add an unexpected highlight throughout the room.
The homeowners are plant lovers, and their collection adds organic accents to the space.
A sweater-inspired pillow and matching throw blanket cozy up the seating.
Chair: CB2; pillow: ModShop; throw blanket: West Elm
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Chair: CB2; pillow: ModShop; throw blanket: West Elm
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Living Room at a Glance
Location: West Hollywood, California
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters)
Designer: Wake + Loom Design
The two designers were given free reign, but “there was not a crazy budget,” Conlan says. By blending existing pieces, making cost-effective choices and playing up the beautiful details in the space, they created a comfortable, bright living room that successfully bridges the years from midcentury to today with a mix of vintage and new pieces.
The fireplace, with its existing paneling, became the room’s focal point rather than the TV. “It instantly drew the eye to it, so it played a major role in deciding where to base the room,” Conlan says.