This Small LA Apartment’s Lighting Is So Good, You’ll Want to Keep the Big Light On
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Oct 16, 2025

This Small LA Apartment’s Lighting Is So Good, You’ll Want to Keep the Big Light On

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Oct 16, 2025
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Bedrooms
Square feet

675

Sq ft

675

This 675-square-foot apartment, located in a building from 1959, was recently renovated into a pretty plain and simple white box. “Nothing notable about it other than it had been updated with appliances and some additional tiled surfaces,” begins Spencer Fried, who has rented this apartment for six months with his partner, Katelyn Merrill.

Credit: Spencer Fried & Katelyn Merrill
"Coziness and comfort is key for both of us, and we never wanted to make our apartment feel like a showroom. It's not a loud palette, but it's a very warm palette," Spencer writes.

Spencer and Katelyn both have design backgrounds, hers in corporate workplace design, and his in hospitality, specifically boutique hotels. So when the couple moved in, they decided to tackle this apartment like any other project and treat themselves like the clients.

Credit: Spencer Fried & Katelyn Merrill
"We added items throughout the space with special meaning to us — reclaimed tiles from our trip to Portugal, framed photographs of Katelyn’s hometown in the Appalachian mountains, a framed NYC metro card that was gifted to us by a friend when we left New York City to move to LA," he says.

“We were keen to only pursue renter-friendly solutions, so we refrained from doing any architectural changes, painting, or applying new surface finishes,” Spencer explains. “However, being renters didn’t stop us from drawing up a plan and being hyper specific about each furnishing choice.”

Credit: Spencer Fried & Katelyn Merrill
"We used natural materials as the primary color palette (leather, chrome, walnut, bamboo, rattan, linen) and accessories/art/plants with blues/greens/yellows as the secondary color palette," Spencer writes.

Affordable quality is what we looked for when sourcing furniture and decor. Having knowledge of a wide array of vendors came in handy. Also, Katelyn previously worked for the Swedish furniture company Hem, and she was able to get some great signature pieces of furniture at a discount from the various showroom moves she helped facilitate.”

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Resources

Credit: Spencer Fried & Katelyn Merrill
"This is our entryway looking from the office over toward the dining room. We use the bookcase as a wall between the office and the living room. We use the sideboard as shoe storage, but also a partition between the entry and the office."

ENTRYWAY

  • Bookcase — Zig Zag Shelf by Hem
  • Sideboard — Zara Home
  • Mirror — Noir Mirror by Perigold
  • Hooks — Zara Home
Credit: Spencer Fried & Katelyn Merrill

LIVING ROOM

  • TV Console — Viggo Floating TV Console by Hernest
  • Wall Sconces — Vintage from Retro Vintage Denmark on Etsy
  • Art — High resolution images downloaded from Google; Frames/framing by FRAMEBRIDGE
  • Coffee Table — Stump Coffee Table by Hem (discontinued)
  • Stool — All Wood Rocket stool by Hem
  • Table Lamp — Farrah Table Lamp by Magnolia
  • Blanket Basket — Modern Weave Rattan Basket by West Elm
Credit: Spencer Fried & Katelyn Merrill

DINING ROOM

  • Pendant — Siya Pendant from lightsandlamps.com
  • Table — Vincent DIning Table from Castlery
  • Dining Chairs — Vintage from The Shop Job on Etsy
  • Art — Artist Marin Vaan Zaal from PSTR Studio
  • Bench @ Window (not pictured) — Bookmatch Bench from Hem
  • Drapes — Anthropologie
  • Cafe Curtains — Emerald Acre Shop on Etsy
  • Rug — Soloba Rug by Revival Rugs
Credit: Spencer Fried & Katelyn Merrill

OFFICE

  • Desk — Adjustable Alle desk by Hem (Discontinued)
  • Chair — Kendo Swivel Chair by Hem
  • Desk Storage — Lewan Drawer Mobile Steel File Cabinet by Inbox Zero on Wayfair
  • Floor Lamp — Eleanor Floor Lamp by Lightology.com
  • Air Purifier — Blueair
Credit: Spencer Fried & Katelyn Merrill

BEDROOM

  • Bed frame — The Low Fuji Attic bed by Getlaidbeds.com
  • Vanity desk — Statement Knob Desk by West Elm Kids
  • Lounge Chair — Puffy Chair designed by Faye Toogood for Hem
  • Bedding — Quince
  • Throw Pillows — Hem
  • Drapes — Anthropologie
  • Art — “Golden” by Nicole Mason for The Poster Club
  • Rug — Picnic by Revival Rugs
  • Pendant — Ellipse Shade by HAY plus hardware from Colorcord.com
  • Table Lamps — Ceramic Table Lamps by DAP77Art on Etsy
  • Side Tables — TileCubeStudioUA on Etsy

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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