a downtown LA loft.

I’ve always considered myself an East Coast-er through and through — I’ve lived on this side of the states my entire life. Sure, I’ve dreamt of days spent strolling through the markets of Seattle and I loved every second I spent in San Francisco, but I’ve never felt the all-consuming need to get myself to the sunny beaches of California or experience the allure of Los Angeles. Then one day at work, I noticed we were getting more and more weddings from Palm Springs: nuptials at the Ace Hotel and The Parker (my personal favorite), for example. I don’t know where or when it happened, but somewhere along the way, Palm Springs got… really fucking cool. A part of me hates to use such an underwhelming/overused word like “cool” here, but seriously. There’s no better description.

While I’m still not 100% sold on Los Angeles, I’m slowly starting to come around. This entire general area of California seems to be infused with some of the most creative minds I’ve seen in quite a while, and I can’t get enough of their ideas, their styling, their brilliance. Enter the home of Adam Pogue. This place renders me utterly speechless. One day, dammit, I will have a home like this. Or be half this talented.

From Adam: The space has gone through several transformations in the last few years. For a time, I had an IKEA bookshelf separating the “bedroom” from the rest of the space. I replaced that with curtain panels that I sewed together and dip-dyed. They’re not a solid separation, but they create an intimate space that feels separate. I also created the rolling ottoman and benches for the TV and under the windows. The ottoman is upholstered in dyed black canvas and has a washable quilted top (I have two cats). The benches are 10′ x 12′ dark stained doug fir on plumbing pipe frames. They used to be stacked with books on the lower level and the TV on top, but I wanted a bench, so I separated them. The wall behind the TV is stucco on masonry. I’m not so comfortable with hanging things in masonry, so my boyfriend (at the time) had painted a beautiful chevron pattern, which I recently re-painted.

I got the couch in an “as-is” section of a local shop like 10 years ago for $150. It’s huge and comfortable and I like the shape of it, so when it needed an update (and re-upholstering was too pricey) I ended up patch-working over the original upholstery. It took me a year of random hours with scrap fabric and spare time to cover most of the visible surfaces. I recently started re-covering the re-covering. I also ended up painting the credenza and replaced the legs with wheels so I can easily roll it away for projects, or gatherings, that require more space. I originally made the hanging above the bed as a knotted fleece rug and the sconces on either side are upside-down plant pots with rope-wrapped wiring.

I found the glass coffee table and my workspace shelving at St. Vincent de Paul’s (amazing thrift store) for $85 all together. The desk and the bench (between the “bedroom”) I got at a vintage shop, and used The Brick House refinishing method. And the plants! Some I’ve had for years, but most are from clippings. The stacked plants in the living room are attached to a drainpipe from the roof through the apartment. As for the rest, I try to choose things I love. I generally enjoy old, handmade and well designed pieces. I set aside spaces for things that are sentimental. Kind of shrines in a way.

All images by Dabito of Old Brand New, from here.