L.A. Digs: Silver Lake Grace
L.A.-based writer and Style Section L.A. contributor Sierra Feldner-Shaw looks for three things before signing a lease: French doors, worn-in wooden floors and circa 1920s details such as elaborate moldings and odd little built-ins.
Her current rental pad — a converted studio apartment in screen legend Clara Bow’s former manse, tucked away in the Silver Lake Hills — is full of such elegant accents. And when outfitting the gorgeous space, Feldner-Shaw eschewed SoCal minimalism for a look that's “some mix of boho ethnic with classic preppy chic," she said, adding, "I grew up in the sticks, and the J. Crew catalog was my bible.”
The thirty-something achieved her personal version of Well-Worn WASP by mixing pieces of ladylike furniture with artifacts from her childhood. “My parents were hippies," she noted, "so I tried to marry the very 1920’s feel with that vibe."
Case in point: A delicately carved wooden chair with an embroidered seat flanks the right side of the fireplace, while on the other side of the hearth, a Japanese glass buoy — a gift from Felder Shaw’s father, a former commercial fisherman — floats beside wrought-iron fire pokers. Hearth or not, the apartment resonates warmth. After all, “the objects that mean the most to me are things I got from my parents.”
THE HIGH LIFE: Feldner-Shaw advises not to fight the “bones” of your space. She allowed the “crystal chandelier and old Hollywood glamour” of her apartment to guide her design choices, steering clear of the decor trend du jour, Mid-century Modernism, noting, "There would be no way to do that with this place.” Still, she's not afraid to mix it up — juxtaposing Native American art with shabby-chic decor like a pro.
RADIANT SPOT: Sierra Feldner-Shaw enjoys the California sunshine at her desk. The writer treats art like furniture — placing it (instead of hanging it) on mantles, tables and even the floor to achieve a charmingly casual vibe.
ODD COUPLE: A red flat-weave rug found in Venice, Italy, is the perfect unexpected complement to an ornate pale gold velvet loveseat purchased at Pepe’s — a Silverlake vintage furniture mainstay.
LAVENDER DIAMOND: Exposed beams and wood-trimmed French doors give Feldner-Shaw’s digs a french cottage feel. The purple kitchen tile? A recent tenant's whacky touch.
PERSONAL TOUCH: A framed drawing and loose floral arrangement typify Feldner-Shaw's winsome, easy style.
Lizzy Epstein is a veteran freelance writer — and a Senior Writer for Style Section L.A. — based in L.A. who masterfully (and unabashedly) mixes Chanel diamond necklaces with hippie dresses.