A Homebody Injected Joy and Whimsy Into a Builder-Grade Home (on a Budget!)
Adrienne Breaux
·8-min read
"I am super super gay, and it is reflected in basically every inch of the apartment. It is an integral part of who I am, and I think it's implausible that my apartment could be owned by a straight person. And I wouldn't have it any other way," describes Johnny LaZebnik, of the 1,312-square-foot, two-bedroom North Hollywood apartment he's lived in for seven years. Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"Queer people are known for forming found families, for rejoicing and celebrating life in the face of oppression, and for their love of kitsch," Johnny continues. Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"I think it's a bit silly to claim that my apartment communicates all of that, but I do think it works well as a metaphor — a lot of pieces in various states of preservation, from different eras and aesthetics, made of different materials, all thrown into the same space in a way that (hopefully) looks cohesive and intentional." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"I recently had my ex-boyfriend photograph my apartment for a Substack post, in which I talked about my gratitude for my space, and everything in it," Johnny explains. Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
Johnny recommends going to estate sales for home decor. "I hate waste, and it feels so good to rescue old, quality things from landfills. Also, they're usually cheaper and better-made than what you'd buy new," he writes. Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"There's a lot I could say about estate sales, but my primary piece of advice is to do multiple rounds and try to see things you didn't the first time (for example, you may be looking at some gaudy sculptures sitting on a dresser and miss the fact that the dresser is more interesting than all of them)." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
Johnny says he "painted each room myself, refinished my dresser, night stands, kitchen table, and more, built the shelving in my office, cleaned things found off the street, and repaired a variety of vintage furniture." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"Several of the old lamps I've rewired myself, and I taught myself how to gild things with metal leaf (many of the frames on my gallery wall in the hallway)." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"Because we own the unit, I have a decent amount of leeway to change things, but we've only hired professionals for a few tasks ..." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"... revamping the primary bathroom, painting the kitchen cabinets, a bit of electrical, and the floors. I picked out the materials and colors for everything, which was a lot of fun." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
Johnny shares some of his best organizing advice: "Marie Kondo is my patron saint, which you might be confused by when looking at my apartment. Her philosophy is rooted in loving what you own, a fact that often gets overlooked in the jokes about throwing out most of what you own." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"I have a lot of stuff because I love all of my stuff; her tutelage really strengthened my awareness of and gratitude for my space," he writes. Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
Johnny says his favorite room is the bedroom. "I just redid it. I had friends help me with painting (the lime wash process is grueling, but worth it), and a lot of the pieces in it have sentimental value," he describes. Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"I really wanted at least one room in the house to be intentional — my goals were soothing, romantic, and timeless. I think I succeeded!" Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"I identify as both a homebody and a slut, and so I spend a lot of time in my bedroom. I wanted to love being in there, and now I really do. The bed frame was bought wholesale, and otherwise I think everything else is repurposed, secondhand, or DIY'd by me," he continues. Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"I really wanted one of those vintage headboards with nightstands built into it, but they were incredibly expensive, so I ended up piecing one together myself, which hopefully evokes the inspiration." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
Johnny explains that he believes "great interiors come together through a lot of effort and time." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"This apartment is the product of seven years of thrifting, finding, and building, and I think it looks like it!" Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
"If it all burned down, I could never replace it, even with double the money I spent originally, and I love that about it." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
“My priority when it comes to my living space is that people feel at-home here; I grew up in a cozy, welcoming house that people loved to visit, and I really strive to be that place for my friends,” begins Johnny LaZebnik of this 1,312-square-foot North Hollywood apartment he’s lived in for seven years. “That said, I have more of a flair for the dramatic than my parents do, and riding the line of bold versus inviting has been an interesting challenge. I love, love, love old things, but I am fairly uneducated when it comes to name brands, designers, etc. (plus, I’m cheap), so very little here is actually ‘valuable’ in a Chairish sense.”
Johnny describes his home's decor style as "nostalgic, dramatic, ever-changing, loved, kitschy." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
“Instead, I see my apartment as sort of an ode to the everyday — think vintage magazine covers and ads, photos from old scrapbooks, framed journal entries. I love putting things on walls that normally would have rotted away in a drawer — it makes me feel connected to the past. When much of what you own is thrifted, passed down, or found, you learn to accept imperfection as a part of your aesthetic,” Johnny continues.
The 1970s Marimekko fabric hanging behind Johnny's bar was found at an estate sale for $5. Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
“My best friend once asked me if I’d ever be ‘done’ with my place (from a design perspective), and as nice as it sounds, I just don’t see that happening — I’m constantly going to estate sales and thrift stores and finding new things I adore. I then have to figure out how to incorporate that new thing into my apartment, and what I might have to give up to make room. One day I hope to be a minimalist — to have one or two gorgeous set-pieces in each room, and otherwise have clean lines and a pared-down aesthetic. I think that will only be possible if I have a 10-bedroom home one day, and as that seems unlikely, I’ve begrudgingly accepted maximalism.”
The shelves were built by Jonny, the embroidery is by either himself or his sister, the knitted succulents by his mom, and tree sketch by his friend Ryan. "Nearly everything else found at thrift stores or book stores." Credit: Jess HigginsCredit: Jess Higgins
“While I’d love a space that more quirks baked into the architecture (Victorian homes are my absolute favorite), this place is/was relatively builder-grade, so I had no real choice but to try to inject joy and whimsy into it,” Johnny writes. “Probably my boldest choice was with the guest bathroom; I found very little inspiration online for how to glamorize a bathroom with no natural light, and ended up taking a bold choice and painting it a very intense (honestly more intense than I intended) shade of royal purple. I really like it, but even if it’s a little ugly, I would always prefer ‘a little bit ugly but memorable’ to ‘a little bit ugly but forgettable.'”
Searching for ideas to transform your tiny living room? Get inspired with our photo-packed guide to nailing your small-space decor, design, and layout.
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