Kathryn & David’s Mix of Modern & Craftsman Apartment (2024)

Design Ideas

Marcia Prentice

Marcia is an interior, portrait, and travel photographer and has photographed over 50 homes of creatives. Her photographic style is capturing her subject in the most natural state and creating an emotional response.

published Aug 18, 2011

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Name: Kathryn Bentley & David Scheid
Location: Echo Park – Los Angeles, California
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years

Craftsman love! Every time Kathryn and David start the search for a new apartment with more space, they are reminded how lucky they are to live in a space with the original architectural details beautifully restored. They juxtaposed modern and brightly colored furnishings against the dark wood tones typical of Craftsman architecture and have embraced all the elements of this particular architectural style.

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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

One of my favorite rooms in the house is the guest bedroom (or could be called the utility room with a water heater). Kathryn and David needed to maximize space and lacked a dedicated room for guests to spend the night. They had a back room that housed the water heater, but had its own door for extra privacy. A twin bed fit perfectly in the space and with a few fun accessories, rugs, and flags you barely even notice the water heater in the corner. The space is so cozy, I don’t think guests mind being in the converted bedroom.

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Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: My boyfriend doesn’t really care about things being perfect. I am maybe a little more of a perfectionist, but can appreciate the “wabi sabi”-ness of things. So I feel like that’s what we are going for, a sort of “anything goes”, as long as it’s comfortable. It’s how I design my jewelery; how I want it to feel: old, timeless, organic. My taste may be a little more classical than his but that’s okay; I don’t mind pairing a Bast collage with a flea market oil painting.

Inspiration: My inspiration for my home springs from a desire to be inspired by my surroundings. I want to create a cozy, comfortable space that i look forward to returning to whether from a long trip or a day in the studio. I love sitting on the couch and seeing art on the walls or patterns on some textile or a book on the shelf that will inspire me the next day when I am back at work. Or even that will make me get up and go draw or make something.

Favorite Element: We had this planter on our porch. It was shaped like a bisected egg and made of fired clay. We grew small succulents in it. Someone just tried to steal it and dropped it in the street and broke it. Now we are obsessed with figuring out how to produce it since we’ve never seen one, anywhere.

Biggest Challenge: Our apartment is in a century old craftsmen. There are lots of dark floors and dark wainscotting so it’s hard to lighten it up. We are constantly looking for lamps and light bulbs.

What Friends Say: They say it’s where our dog, Dot, lives.

Biggest Embarrassment: My boyfriend’s bobbleheads buried in the closet.

Proudest DIY: Our succulent collection. The basket of lights.

Biggest Indulgence: There aren’t really any indulgences. Most of the “big ticket items” we have have been trades or barters. We have spent some money on art, but it’s always worth it if you love looking at it. But even some of the art has been traded for. It’s one of the nice things about living in LA; there are so many friendly, talented, community oriented artists, galleries, and craftsmen here. It’s not like NYC where everyone has to make a buck to pay the rent. The cost of living and working is easier here which makes it easier to cut deals and pay the rent.

Best Advice: If you’re moving to LA from NYC give it at least two years. You’ll thank yourself later when you can’t imagine going back.