In Los Angeles, Moving From Renting to Owning

The transition of renting to owning a home is at once exciting and daunting. As someone who is embarking on that journey right now, I love to dream about the possibilities my very own home can bring, in terms of decorating and renovating. That being said, since it’s your home, the sooner you can actually start enjoying the space, the better.

This happens to be the situation Erica Chidi Cohen and her husband, Jordy Cohen, are in right now. After becoming homeowners of a 1912 bungalow in the West Adams/Arlington Heights area of Los Angeles just four months ago, they are still pinching themselves. Erica says, “It still feels super surreal to no longer be renters.” For them, the settling-in phase was fairly swift, as Erica says she has a very tactical approach to decorating and it felt important to bring the house to life quickly, “so that we could get right down to enjoying and living in the space, versus planning and organizing.” Aiding that process was the fact that much of the furniture they brought with them fit well, considering they were moving from 850 square feet of space to 1,500 square feet. It also helped that their decorating goal was one of “minimalism, with a dash of eclecticism,” Erica says. The couple loves white spaces and clean lines, but they also relish in a great vintage or estate sale find that adds texture to their blank canvas.

Of course, there are aspects of their space that they don’t love, and will probably change over time, such as adding a skylight to one of their bathrooms and a deeper tub to another one. But right now it feels finished enough, and they certainly nailed the white-washed, minimal yet eclectic aesthetic. With busy jobs — Erica is a doula and founder of The Mama Circle and Jordy works as an attorney — it’s nice to come home and enjoy one of their favorite spots, the porch and garden. As they think ahead to the next phase, starting a family in their new home, they are content knowing their space is cozy, un-precious and ready for whatever comes next. ––Shannon

Photography by Lauren Moore

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2015/11/in-los-angeles-moving-from-renting-to-owning.html
via http://www.designsponge.com