text:
Tyler's Bright Bungalow in Silver Lake
House Tour
Name: Tyler William Parker + his dog Toby
Location: Silver Lake – Los Angeles, CA
Size: 750 square feet – 1 bedroom bungalow
Years lived in: 2 months – Rent
A few weeks ago when my friend sent me a snapshot of Tyler Parker's house, it immediately piqued my interest, given my fascination with classic Los Angeles architecture. In person, this delightful cottage did not disappoint. With a refurbished kitchen and bathroom, this one bedroom home in Silver Lake is the perfect retreat.
Tyler, admittedly, is not a huge fan of color or bright tones, but he believes that the warmth in LA has convinced him otherwise. Not only is he a growing fan of versatile colors, he loves collecting and repurposing used and vintage pieces. "I believe being in a city like Los Angeles lends itself to reusing and recycling items people in other cities would not. I remember working with a group of people on a shoot over at my house and some people got it and others just thought I liked 'used' things."
When he moved into his home two months ago, he brought a handful of belongings with him, but lucked out big time when his neighbor gifted him a ton of furniture and goods. His neighbor was unloading 30 years of collections upon his move out, and Tyler reaped the benefits: Eames originals, artwork and awesome fixtures. Tyler feels that designing a home relies heavily on its restoration and care. "I think that finding a place that had been reconditioned by a dedicated property owner is quite significant in LA — that along with the fact that I could find a freestanding one bedroom that's all mine makes a big difference while living alone. When I first moved in I was surprised by what looked good where. I wasn't a huge fan of items around the house that have no purpose, but I can see why people have them now."
When you have access to a backyard, the design elements will change quite a bit. Taking full advantage of the outdoor living space, Tyler enjoys grilling, gardening and gatherings with friends. There is ample space for a lot of furniture in this house, but he chose to simplify and refine his accessories. However, it is his camera collection that mean the most, "My collection of cameras mean a lot to me. I own a few bodies owned by my grandfather and my father made by exakta, and one of the first slr's to be made by leica, so I've been told. Both were great cameras without meters, and the men in my family took amazing photos everywhere they went with them. I now own them and hope to carry on the tradition."
Thank you to Kristy Ahumada for introducing us for this house tour!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Mid-century modern with warmth. Always light and bright, but never austere. Kind of vintage and modern mixed together, but that description is pretty played out. I just throw together the things I like, whether it's stuff I've found at a flea market or hand outs.
Inspiration: My brother Ryan and his fiancé Pam. They always have a way of putting things together and making it work without it feeling cluttered or over stylized, while at the same time keeping in touch with what's relevant; i.e., giant letters, art, and music.
Favorite Element: The amount of light and the vintage windows, which allow me to have the amount of indoor plants I have. The backyard (even though it's small, it's still a yard) is another thing I couldn't do without. I have friends over all the time and we sit back, BBQ, and listen to music.
Biggest Challenge: Dark hardwood floors: beautiful to look at, horrible to clean.
What Friends Say: "I would move back from New York for this."
Biggest Embarrassment: You shouldn't be embarrassed about what you have or don't have. You should just do your best to create a space that you are happy in.
Proudest DIY: Finding a place for everything given to me by a neighbor who was moving out. He had been a hoarder for over 30 years, mostly junk and great midcentury pieces. He just moved out and started handing over random items — from a chrome series Eames Chair to art to rusted out chains. Although I haven't built much around my place, I've had the opportunity to find a home for hundreds of hand outs.
Biggest Indulgence: Having a well-stocked bar along with craft beers on hand. Nothing's better than coming home from a long day and enjoying a drink with friends out back while you unwind from LA traffic.
Best Advice: Haggle. Also, never think that you need to rush into putting your house together. The people I know who do end up spending a lot of money on new, "cheap" furniture thinking that it's a big savings. I'm drawn to the classics — they seem to be manufactured in a way other companies can't afford to do any longer.
Dream Sources: Lawson-Fenning, Modernica, Moon River Chattel, Paxtin's Gate, Mohawk General Store
Resources of Note:
- • The owners have no idea what the painters used and I've been trying to get touch up paint and have more than one sample that never matched — it's just flat, white and bright.
- • Eames replica chrome series
• Eames replica plywood chair
• Blueprint couch, faded, custom legs wood
• Alex Prager Print (Annie)
• Pullies vintage
• Vanessa Prager (painting of family)
• Rolling Stones shot (Gene Prizer)
• Marantz stereophonic receiver
• Dual record player
• Vintage lamps (create and barrel shades)
• Desk west elm
• Retro fan (Restoration Hardware)
• Candle Baxter
• Tall lamp (heater retrofit)
• Coffee table 1950s replica of an Herman Miller slat table
• Driftwood (Point Reyes)
• Infinity speakers and stands
• Bamboo blins -home depot
• Cameras- Exakta, Yashica-mat, Kodak instamatic
• Science, insects, two spot octopus=science class (from my grandmother the science teacher)
• Rug-Restoration Hardware
• Bill Callahan concert poster-San Francisco
• White and gold painting - my own work
- • Table- CB2
• Vintage original chairs
• Paper light- Crate and Barrel
• Tivoli speakers
- • West Elm bed
• Restoration Hardware sheets
• West Elm side table
• Vintage lamp, with shade from Home Goods
• Bulbs Edison 30 watt
• Restoration Hardware clock
• Vintage mirror from closet door
• Ork poster LA
• Alex Prager print
• TV stand custom
• IKEA blinds
- • Shower curtain- Thomas Paul
• Bath mat- IKEA
- • Vintage table and chairs
• IKEA wicker chairs
• Bauer 1950's pots
• Hammock from Lowes
Thanks, Tyler!
(Images: Bethany Nauert)
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE: Check out past house tours here.
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.
73 Comments
Exquisite art. Adorable dog. I'm officially jealous.
This is beautiful! Even though the place is small, it has such an open feel. I love me a nice, small house!
Why don't I have neighbors like this? Rather jealous of Tyler's haul.
Very nice. I do think the living room could benefit from some additional color, either in the rug or even using some cushions that "pop" on the sofa. That said, enjoy your place!
love love love
I'm so impressed that this is what his apartment looks like after only living there 2 months. I've lived in my apartment for 2 months, and I still have boxes. This weekend I was productive in getting a bunch unpacked/moved, but still...jealous for that kind of skill.
Love all the Eames...but really love the dog.
Cutest house (and guy) in Los Angeles. : ) Awesome job Bethany!!
You had me at the fiddle leaf fig...love everything else too!
I noted that he provided his beta (fish) with a nice home, so kudos on that. Too many people put them in inappropriate, tiny containers.
The breakfast nook/alcove is lovely. I wonder whether that was converted from a small service porch?
Totally a dude's house, but I'm surprised it looks so together after only a couple months.
Your home is lovely but your "biggest embarrassment" is something we should all live by.
This is why I originally came to this site - to see small well designed homes and spaces. Good job to the home owner and to AT for continuing to focus on these types of projects.
I long for that Alex Prager print. Any suggestions on how to go about obtaining one, if possible?
Ditto to: needing a neighbor like that, totally a dude's (with taste) place, and really white. Overall, awesome!!
so nice i perused it twice
... make that thrice
I, too, am impressed that Tyler's only lived here for 2 months! Nicely done, beautiful space. How does one find a great apartment like this in Silver Lake and its neighboring communities?
I'm a fan of the white.
I really like - the flow, the calm, the dog, and (yes) the guy.
Amazing place, and great outdoor space! Great job Tyler. You've done well in creating a clean, comfortable environment that is artful, interesting and not overly trendy. I could take a couple pointers from you. ;)
Oh...except for that painting by the door- what in the world is that!?!
Super tour, love the whole thing. Handsome & friendly looking dog (& owner) Like all of the artwork -- and the yard... just perfect.
Nice house, handsome owner.
I thought the house was interesting. I usually find styles like this a bit cold, but I think there's a lot of texture (and probably more color than the article gives the owner credit for!) here, so it all ties it together nicely. I really like this tour!
I have to say, I hate it when people here comment on the physical appearance of homeowners. It seems invasive and crass.
I especially like the bathroom. I think a bathroom is the only room where I could deal with all white and no color. that shower curtain is great too.
I actually like the cold the spaces give off. But I'd like to echo another poster's comment that AT seems to tour only beautiful people's houses of late.. Not that it's a bad thing altogether.. Just sayin'!
Very nice. I like that it feels complete and well cared for. He's lucky to have gotten some great furniture, whether purchased himself or given to him by his neighbor, and I like the art as well. I wish I had had such a nice place when I was his age!
The place has great bones and you have done a beautiful job with them!
Your plants are outstanding and the pup is adorable.
What was your secret for being so together after just two months?
Love it! Great job!
I love it! With all of that amazing art and brightly coloured accents, I can't imagine anything better than white walls. Great work, Tyler. I'd definitely be happy living there!
Nicely styled. A friend is going to go bonkers over the octopus shower curtain!
How lucky was Tyler to have a neighbor give away such great things.
I found it simple and refined, which makes the house very airy and livable, entertainable, casual and chic. The chairs (donated, I presume) are so elegant in their own worn out way. Really nice!
Your style and panache are disgustingly impeccable, man. It's almost annoying, Your reverance for words leads me to think you're a writer, too, which is also annoyingly endearing. Bravo all around.
Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs are such overdone hipster accessories. :)
Just kidding. They are incredibly aesthetically pleasing - every time I see one, I want to draw it or photograph it or sculpt it to capture its form.
Great place, well-spaced. Not too much and not too little. Love the sunshiny atmosphere.
I also agree, though - some "pops" of color via couch cushions would be nice in the living area. There are some great natural science pillows out there now that would echo the awesome octopus shower curtain.
Especially like the kitchen . . . .
What I liked the most was the light. And the window treatments.
Restraint. That's one word I'd use for this stylish apartment.
This dude has a seriously great taste!
I love how so many of these owners have Boston terriers. Makes me feel super awesome since I have three.
I love the Thomas Paul shower curtain. We have the elephant. I wanted to octopus but our bathroom really needed the orange color of the elephant.
Nice Marantz!
I love it. Surprised at the negativity on the white. I think it looks like a calm & soothing escape from hot & busy LA. And - he's lived here two months. WOW. Nicely organized, yet relaxed.
He looks like chris crocker, well chris crocker now-a-days.
2 months here?! Really?! You've done a great job! Have never cared for Eames, but if it was free and/or cheap I'd take it and sell it.
I don't see any mention of the couch! I want it it looks comfy, anybody know anything about it?
Silverlake residents always have great taste! I thought I was the only person with a record player in my nest--now I know someone else with one. I am reminded of cleaning out my record collection. I have way too many albums for one nest.
What's in the "fish bowl" cylindrical vase? It looks like an aquatic plant; and is that a fish at the top?
really nice space.. great art clean lines comfortable and livable
The minimalism is soothing. Love the pop of color the kitchen chairs give.
Ok, who's cuter - Tyler or the puppy? And a very nice tour, too! Like the fresh white interior as well as the outdoor space.
Tyler is handsome... I I like how sparingly he used bright colors. Crazy colors look nice in pictures but they can be hard for me to live with as a visual artist. Sometimes my eyes just need to rest.
Why everyone has the same dog? He only needs the Keep calm sign to make it "perfect".
Loved it, especially the tiny garen areas and the succulents. But everything was just perfect. Have not seen a Chemex coffemaker in a long time!
I love how he found a place for the big, rusty chains inherited from his neighbor. When I first read that they were among the hand-me-downs, I'd assumed he didn't actually use them. Impressive.
Beautiful home. Especially love the classic chairs, octopus shower curtain and the dog.
Bill Callahan poster! I love Smog. Move to Oregon and date me. :)
he'd have to call the police because i'd never leave that apartment
@betty14 - the print above the sofa is a photo by Alex Prager from her Big Valley series. That size of print is usually limited to a run of 3 and I would love to own one but I'm afraid I don't have the connections or the money to buy it.
Show us your place! :)
well said Diabolique
Really beautiful. Soothing to the eyes/mind, nothing jarring. Love the antlers and air plant mounted on the side wall, thank you for inspiration. The floors are so nice but I can definitely see the downside. I thought the white walls and the dark floors balance each other and expand the room and bring out the lines (as another commenter mentioned ;)
Thank you!
Great taste...I love the design choices.
One thing that I might modify to enhance the energy flow of the rooms is a slight mod in furniture placement. If the desk and TV were placed at ANGLES (in the corners), the rooms might feel more circular and connected in flow.
A very well put together place, but between the coldness and the lack of any significant character, I agree with Kosta&Bistra that he's one 'Stay Calm' poster short of being a hipster trend catalog. I hope the next few months see a lot of personal touches.
Amazing and inspirational. Thank you for sharing, Tyler..
There are very few homes I've ever seen on here, in the last few years (or more?) that I've been reading: I love it. I would feel very much at home, there.
That came out all wrong. I meant to say, very few homes I'd say this about: I love it. Love the art, love the serene feel, love the pops of colour in the kitchen.
Creative, masculine, and stylish.
Feels very personal and lived in. The artwork is great and I particularly like the cute black and white roommate :-) And I'm coming over to have drink in the back yard!. Thanks for sharing.
Perfection. Dream home.
Why so serious, Tyler? Smile a bit mate.
WOW,,,Done so well with amazing attention to detail...From the driftwood to the balance to the art and furniture choices...Bravo! I am in the process of renovating my home which is about the same size...Have some funky colors from 8 years ago and had pretty much decided to go white throughout.. Tyler you have done a marvelous job...and thank you for the confirmation that white is the right choice..


text:
For Laurene and Chris Rodney, the decision to start a family was an easy one, but, unfortunately, the path to accomplishing it was initially filled with heartache.
After being married for a little more than two years and having had time to focus on their relationship and establish their successful careers, Laurene and Chris knew they wanted to enrich their lives with a child. However, after trying to become pregnant for close to 12 months, Laurene began to feel concerned that age might be working against them, she being in her late 30's and Chris in his early 40's.
So the couple underwent the traditional diagnostic tests to determine their ability to become pregnant, with all tests, thankfully, coming back negative.
Unsure what to do next, they sought advice from Laurene's brother, who happens to be an obstetrician on staff at another hospital. He recommended that they consult with the Valley Hospital Fertility Center, telling them that it was an exceptional, state-of-the-art facility.
In August 2008, the couple met with Margaret Robinson, Administrative Director of the Center, and Dehan Chen, M. D., Associate Clinical Director, and found so much more than just the state-of-the-art technological advantages extolled by Laurene's brother.
"Dr. Chen is such a wonderful, warm, gentle man," says Laurene, "and Margaret is the epitome of compassion and support. We could not have asked for two more caring individuals to help us during this time." After talking with Margaret and Dr. Chen, Laurene was asked to set up an appointment at the beginning of her next menstrual cycle.
Ironically, Laurene did not get her period the following month and after taking a pregnancy test, found that she was, in fact, pregnant. The couple couldn't have been happier. "I contacted Margaret to give her the good news and, to my surprise, she offered to have me come to the Center to have some early testing done to make certain that my pregnancy hormone levels were okay," says Laurene. "I couldn't believe that they still wanted to be involved when we ended up not needing them for fertility services."
As it turned out, however, after having her blood levels tested and weekly ultrasounds performed by Dr. Chen, results indicated that the pregnancy was not viable and Laurene ended up miscarrying. Because she felt so comfortable with Dr. Chen, Laurene requested that he perform the D&C (dilation and curettage) surgery instead of her regular obstetrician.
After recovering from the loss, Laurene and Chris returned to the Center to discuss their options with Margaret and Dr. Chen. After undergoing some testing, it was determined that they were excellent candidates for IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatment. Things were finally turning around because the procedure was immediately successful. "We were so fortunate that the procedure resulted in a pregnancy the very first time!" says Laurene.
In the first few months of pregnancy, however, the couple's joy was often tempered due to a series of false positives on tests for chromosomal disorders. Laurene and Chris got through the frightening time with support and encouragement from Margaret and Dr. Chen. "I honestly thought that as soon as I got pregnant and was turned over to my obstetrician, that I would no longer need the Fertility Center," says Laurene, "but both Margaret and Dr. Chen encouraged me to contact them with any questions or concerns throughout my pregnancy.
"Their genuine desire to stay involved was so counter to the experiences of others I know whom went to different fertility centers. When they got pregnant, that was it—no additional contact was ever offered."
"I am so grateful that Dr. Chen and Margaret were there for us throughout the pregnancy," adds Chris. "After everything that Laurene and I had already been through, we now had to deal with all these unfavorable screening test results—adding anxiety and uncertainty to our pregnancy. Both Dr. Chen and Margaret took the time to explain to us how often these tests do come back as just false positives. Their guidance reassured us and gave us hope that all would turn out well."
Enter Brandon Matthew Rodney on October 12, 2009! When asked about Brandon, Laurene lets out a highly audible "Ohhhhhhh" of happiness. "He's my life," says Laurene. "and the most genuine love I could have ever imagined."
"When I look at him, I still can't believe that he's here!" adds Chris. "It was a tough road that Laurene and I had to go through, but it was well worth it. We are so ecstatic to have Brandon in our lives."
And having Brandon in their lives was something the couple couldn't wait to share with Dr. Chen and Margaret. "Literally, the first road trip we took was to take Brandon to meet Dr. Chen and Margaret before he was even two-weeks old," says Laurene.
Because they are so happy with the extremely positive experiences they have had with the Fertility Center, Laurene and Chris hope that other couples in their situation will seek out the Center's services. "Chris and I have referred and will continue to refer people in our situation to the Valley Hospital Fertility Center," says Laurene.
Citing the fact that the Center has technology capable of growing embryos to five day, as opposed to other centers' ability to grow to only three days, Laurene says, "But, as I've mentioned, it's much more than the advanced technology they have at their disposal—which is extremely important—that makes Valley so exceptional. It's also the fact that they exhibit a personal touch that many other fertility centers seem to lack.
"And that's exemplified through the kindness, compassion, and genuine caring of everyone at the Center, beginning with reception and carrying through to the nurses, medical technicians, embryologists, Margaret, and Dr. Chen. I can't imagine feeling more comfortable with any medical professionals than I do with them.
"Chris and I would like to thank each and every one of them for their efforts in helping to give us the gift of Brandon!"
A healthcare task force says no; a national urologic association says yes. What's a man ...
Sign Up Today
Copyright © Valley Health System. All rights

subset: commoncrawl


text: This lesson is the culmination of all preceding CityStuff activities. The students learn first-hand about the public process and about how residents can and should participate in the process. Each class comes to City Council chambers to conduct a mock council meeting. Using a script, students role-play as they ponder whether or not to cut down an old, beautiful tree whose roots are starting to cause cracks in the sidewalk. (No one has gotten hurt … yet.) When the five mock council members vote, they and the entire class understands that complex decisions are difficult to make and that Council members vote on what they sincerely believe is the right thing to do for Carlsbad.


text:
Call 800.543.WELL
Submit a Question
Come to Oakwood to develop relationships with patients, colleagues and families, to facilitate the human act of healing, to deliver high-quality care to patients in very real need.
United as a care-giving team, we're immersed and involved in our communities. For example, in 2010, the Oakwood Red October community run celebrated its 20th year—providing free health screenings, encouraging healthy living and attracting its largest crowd ever (1,100).
What's more, we've fostered a culture where community focus unites with clinical excellence. Oakwood provides over 61,000 community health education, screening and immunization services per year.
What does this say about Oakwood?
We're proud to provide opportunities for advancement and development that are among the most progressive in healthcare. For decades, Oakwood nursing has led the way in giving evidence-based practice a more human face.