USA Houzz: Compact Living Done Right
Colour and personality transform this tiny Los Angeles house from Frankenstein-ugly into a loveable family home
Interior designer Frances Merrill believes houses can exhibit their own personality. If that’s true, then her home’s original personality could only be described as Frankenstein’s monster. When she and her husband, Chris, found it, the structure was dilapidated and saggy, with dirty cream-coloured aluminium siding, fake wood plastic trim and space so tight, it was like the monster himself was trying to squeeze into a child-size tuxedo.
But with a small, simple footprint and unique opportunities to expand the square metres, the Merrills were more than willing to play doctor. Besides, the attached garage had already been converted into a bedroom, and Chris and a friend could build a guest room in a small freestanding shed. “It gave us enough breathing room until we could do a proper renovation,” says Frances, who owns Reath Design.
As for still living in a compact space, the Merrills get creative when it comes to entertaining. “One Christmas we moved our bed into the backyard to make room for a table that could seat 12. We love to entertain, and we never let the lack of space stop us,” she says. Needless to say, this house is finally alive.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Frances Merrill; husband Chris, the director of production at the American Film Institute; and their children, Honor and Rex
Location: Silver Lake neighbourhood of Los Angeles
Size: Just over 46 square-metres; 2 bedrooms plus a freestanding guest room, 1 bathroom
Year built: 1928
That’s interesting: The house was once used as crew quarters for the Tom Mix Western films.
Photos by Teri Lyn Fisher
But with a small, simple footprint and unique opportunities to expand the square metres, the Merrills were more than willing to play doctor. Besides, the attached garage had already been converted into a bedroom, and Chris and a friend could build a guest room in a small freestanding shed. “It gave us enough breathing room until we could do a proper renovation,” says Frances, who owns Reath Design.
As for still living in a compact space, the Merrills get creative when it comes to entertaining. “One Christmas we moved our bed into the backyard to make room for a table that could seat 12. We love to entertain, and we never let the lack of space stop us,” she says. Needless to say, this house is finally alive.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Frances Merrill; husband Chris, the director of production at the American Film Institute; and their children, Honor and Rex
Location: Silver Lake neighbourhood of Los Angeles
Size: Just over 46 square-metres; 2 bedrooms plus a freestanding guest room, 1 bathroom
Year built: 1928
That’s interesting: The house was once used as crew quarters for the Tom Mix Western films.
Photos by Teri Lyn Fisher
Frances and Chris spotted this pink velvet couch outside a junk shop on Sunset Boulevard. With layers of mismatched pillows, sheepskin throws and colourful blankets, it has a punch of personality. “Someday I’d like to design a line of couch cushion covers made like fitted sheets in all different styles and colours,” Frances says. “It’s a great way to freshen up an old couch.”
The living area is the epicentre of the house. This red vintage chair is a yard sale find. Frances’ grandmother made the needlepoint pillow when Frances was born.
A painting of Owls Head Light, a lighthouse in Maine where the Merrills spend a lot of time, hangs above the chair. It was a birthday gift from Frances to Chris.
Wall paint: Chelsea Grey, Benjamin Moore
A painting of Owls Head Light, a lighthouse in Maine where the Merrills spend a lot of time, hangs above the chair. It was a birthday gift from Frances to Chris.
Wall paint: Chelsea Grey, Benjamin Moore
Frances' philosophy on open shelving in her kitchen is simple. "I guess if I fed my family really crappy food, I might want to hide it behind cabinets," she says. "I like to see cookbooks, pretty dishes and things I have collected over the years. It adds warmth and meaning."
Wall paint: Chelsea Grey, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Chelsea Grey, Benjamin Moore
Chris and his friend turned a shed into this guest room. It opens to the yard.
An oversize Christmas card from Commune, where Frances used to work, and a large poster adorn the plywood walls. Frances upholstered the built-in daybed with awning-stripe fabric. Above, shelves hold the Merrills' collection of L.A. noir paperbacks.
Poster: Etsy
An oversize Christmas card from Commune, where Frances used to work, and a large poster adorn the plywood walls. Frances upholstered the built-in daybed with awning-stripe fabric. Above, shelves hold the Merrills' collection of L.A. noir paperbacks.
Poster: Etsy
Chris' grandmother gave him the larger George Washington painting here. Thomas Voorhies, a painter friend, gave the Merrills the smaller portrait.
But this presented its own challenge. “It’s hard to get a door colour to go with a black house that doesn’t look weird or like Halloween,” she says. It was her assistant who suggested pink, inspired by a favourite front door she had seen in New Orleans. “I loved it immediately,” Frances says.
Frances ended up favouring the aluminium siding because of how easy it is to clean; a good hosing down is all that’s needed.
Door paint: Wildflower; exterior paint: Midnight, both by Benjamin Moore