Houzz Tour: Color and Personality in 500 Square Feet
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-colored aluminum 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 footage, 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 neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: 500 square feet; 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
When the Merrills bought the house, the aluminum siding and plastic trim were almost a deal breaker. Frances had to remind herself that a simple coat of paint would freshen up the exterior — and conceal its shortcomings. "We painted our house black to hide all of its flaws," she says.
But this presented its own challenge. "It's hard to get a door color 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 favorite front door she had seen in New Orleans. "I loved it immediately," Frances says.
Frances ended up favoring the aluminum 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
Frances and Chris spotted this pink velvet couch outside a junk shop on Sunset Boulevard. With layers of mismatched pillows, sheepskin throws and colorful 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 colors," Frances says. "It's a great way to freshen up an old couch."
Books line above-the-window shelving and a space-saving vertical shelf. The Barcelona chair, once used as a theater prop, had red wine spilled on it so many times, it needed to be reupholstered. Frances chose a large floral print for something unexpected.
The living area is the epicenter 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
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
An old copper bread box, storage containers, utensils and other kitchen items line a table by the window. S-hooks hold spices and cooking tools.
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
A wool blanket, which dates back to Chris' Boy Scouts days, hangs over a vintage leather chair, creating a favorite reading spot.
A custom-made leather beanbag sits in the main bedroom, which was formerly the garage. Frances made the rainbow curtains from tapestries she picked up at Urban Outfitters. A textured jute rug covers the painted floor.
A large shelving unit displays various book collections, including "Great Books" and "The Family Creative Workshop," as well as paintings, prints and photographs.
Chris' grandmother gave him the larger George Washington painting here. Thomas Voorhies, a painter friend, gave the Merrills the smaller portrait.
Frances covered the headboard with cowhide she picked up from a leather dealer in downtown L.A. Simple clip lights from Home Depot are attached.
The side tables in the bedroom are made from slabs of marble that Frances had cut to size and fitted on top of wood crates. The framed poster is Chris' grandmother, who was once the mayor of Rockland, Maine.
A simple Ikea crib, a wall filled with art and a mobile Frances made during what she refers to as "an unusual DIY nesting moment" create a cheerful vibe in Honor's room.
A tepee filled with comfortable blankets and pillows makes a backyard getaway for Honor and Rex.
"I like to be surrounded by things that have meaning, whether they feel like they should be there in a design sense or not," says Frances, shown here. "All those things together usually create a very personal sensibility."
