USA Houzz: A Warehouse Conversion in Downtown LA
New York's no longer the only home of chic inner-city loft living in the US – now LA's getting it's share too
Beachfront properties and hillside bungalows are often the first images that come to mind when envisioning Los Angeles living. But a revitalisation has been taking place in the Californian city’s historic centre that now offers Angelenos chic industrial spaces, a vibrant cultural scene and life without a car. For Glenn Shelhamer and Yara Jasso, there was little discussion about where to live once they got engaged.
“I’m definitely an Eastside girl,” says Jasso, who works in transportation and urban planning and grew up in Echo Park and Mount Washington, two neighbourhoods close to downtown LA. “I love living downtown and using the transit systems. I actually went three years without a car here.” For Shelhamer, a real estate expert for Sotheby’s International Realty and editor of the Silver Lake Blog, it’s all about the great sense of community. “We’ve made friends with about 70 percent of the building’s residents,” he says. “Nothing beats just having to take an elevator ride to see your friends.”
“I’m definitely an Eastside girl,” says Jasso, who works in transportation and urban planning and grew up in Echo Park and Mount Washington, two neighbourhoods close to downtown LA. “I love living downtown and using the transit systems. I actually went three years without a car here.” For Shelhamer, a real estate expert for Sotheby’s International Realty and editor of the Silver Lake Blog, it’s all about the great sense of community. “We’ve made friends with about 70 percent of the building’s residents,” he says. “Nothing beats just having to take an elevator ride to see your friends.”
The couple’s style is a mix of vintage, rustic and modern elements punctuated by a few bright and colourful pieces. Here, a 1960s TV cabinet modified by Shelhamer serves as an armoire. “The loft is truly an open space and comes with no closets,” Shelhamer says, “so we’ve had to be creative coming up with storage solutions.” When they found the cabinet on Craigslist, it had a peach veneer. They painted it black and gold using Ralph Lauren paints.
A collection of antique Turkish and Persian rugs warms up the floor. “I love antique rugs since they all have a story to tell,” Shelhamer says. The couple have acquired them from vendors and secondhand markets all over the world. Of the one in front of the armoire, Shelhamer says he found it in a used bookstore in Brooklyn. “It wasn’t for sale and I just had to have it,” he says.
The couple enjoy bargain hunting and find Craigslist and garage sales to be reliable sources, though they say secondhand markets are more exciting. However, the weathered leather couch was a big splurge. “Sometimes it’s worth it to go all out. We looked around but no other couch was just right,” Shelhamer says. “It’s the couch I’ve always dreamed of, and the distressed leather also makes it practical with a dog.”
Maxwell Sofa: Restoration Hardware; mid-century glass and marble coffee table: garage sale
A collection of antique Turkish and Persian rugs warms up the floor. “I love antique rugs since they all have a story to tell,” Shelhamer says. The couple have acquired them from vendors and secondhand markets all over the world. Of the one in front of the armoire, Shelhamer says he found it in a used bookstore in Brooklyn. “It wasn’t for sale and I just had to have it,” he says.
The couple enjoy bargain hunting and find Craigslist and garage sales to be reliable sources, though they say secondhand markets are more exciting. However, the weathered leather couch was a big splurge. “Sometimes it’s worth it to go all out. We looked around but no other couch was just right,” Shelhamer says. “It’s the couch I’ve always dreamed of, and the distressed leather also makes it practical with a dog.”
Maxwell Sofa: Restoration Hardware; mid-century glass and marble coffee table: garage sale
Linoleum in a faux marble pattern covers the floor. It’s warmer underfoot and handles sound better than the polished concrete found in most lofts.
Pacific Northwest Bank, which has also been converted into lofts, can be seen through the windows.
Pacific Northwest Bank, which has also been converted into lofts, can be seen through the windows.
“We entertain a lot and often have dinner parties,” Jasso says, “so the open kitchen and dining area works great.”
One of the couple’s best Craigslist finds is a set of four original 1960s Mies van der Rohe Brno chairs in purple velvet.
The dining table was custom-made with reclaimed wood by a French carpenter in Venice Beach. Jasso loves the table and imagines it being in a garden one day.
One of the couple’s best Craigslist finds is a set of four original 1960s Mies van der Rohe Brno chairs in purple velvet.
The dining table was custom-made with reclaimed wood by a French carpenter in Venice Beach. Jasso loves the table and imagines it being in a garden one day.
The kitchen is largely unadorned except for two framed pieces made by Shelhamer for Jasso, which hang above the cabinets. “To the left is a drawing I made of Yara’s favourite photo of the two of us,” Shelhamer says. “To the right are printouts of our first emails to each other right after we met. We’ll be getting a laugh out of these emails for many years to come,” he adds.
An indigo-coloured ceramic French bulldog and mosaic mirror liven up a the end of a bench.
The far corner of the loft is used as a home office for Shelhamer, who specialises in selling residential real estate properties in specific parts of LA. “These are neighbourhoods, like downtown,” he says, “that are experiencing active gentrification and are the focus of Silver Lake Blog,” which he edits.
The office space is outfitted simply, with a 19th-century oak desk from an antique store, and a pine chest found on Craigslist. A large portrait by Furtographs of their French bulldog, Oliver, hangs above the chest.
The office space is outfitted simply, with a 19th-century oak desk from an antique store, and a pine chest found on Craigslist. A large portrait by Furtographs of their French bulldog, Oliver, hangs above the chest.
Industrial shelves for shoes and a rolling clothes rack serve as an alternative to closet space. “I actually don’t mind not having a closet since it forces me to keep everything neat and tidy,” Jasso says. A small space beneath the ceiling is cleverly used for additional storage. “Glenn built this simple ladder to gain access to it,” she adds.
Shelhamer also built the couple’s bed frame. “I wanted something mid-century but with an antique finish,” he says. “I went to Home Depot and had the wood cut to my specifications. The finish is white paint that was sanded and then covered in different coloured lacquers.” They splurged on the mattress and bedding. “Getting a good rest and having a luxurious bed to relax in is an indulgence worth having,” Jasso says.
Stonewashed Belgian linen bedding: Restoration Hardware
Shelhamer also built the couple’s bed frame. “I wanted something mid-century but with an antique finish,” he says. “I went to Home Depot and had the wood cut to my specifications. The finish is white paint that was sanded and then covered in different coloured lacquers.” They splurged on the mattress and bedding. “Getting a good rest and having a luxurious bed to relax in is an indulgence worth having,” Jasso says.
Stonewashed Belgian linen bedding: Restoration Hardware
Glenn Shelhamer and Yara Jasso with their dog, Oliver.
Who lives here: Glenn Shelhamer and Yara Jasso, with their French bulldog, Oliver
Location: Downtown Los Angeles, California, USA
Size: 84 square metres; 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms
Year built: 1913
Shelhamer and Jasso’s loft is located in what was once Lloyd’s Bank, when Spring Street was known as the Wall Street of the West. The street is now called Gallery Row, thanks to the more than 40 galleries and museums that have moved in.
It’s also home to the monthly Downtown Art Walk, a self-guided nighttime art tour and celebration. Unlike the neighbouring buildings, which were built in the Beaux Arts style popular at the time, Lloyd’s Bank was built in the Commercial style, which used steel frame construction to allow for larger window areas. The building was converted into rental lofts in 2000.
“The large windows are a huge plus not only for the great natural light but also for the connection to the street,” Jasso says. “The Art Walk festivities and live music starts at 6pm, and we only need to open our windows to feel like we are right in the thick of it.”