Introduction to a Home
When Natalie Babcock and Samuel Gibson found a listing for a sunny apartment in Beachwood Canyon five years ago, they immediately fell for the two bedroom’s charming built-in bookshelves, faux fireplace, hardwood floors and formal dining room. Practical amenities such as an in-unit laundry and a garage, which are often elusive in Los Angeles rentals, didn’t hurt.
The Community
Today, however, the couple says they are most impressed by the sense of belonging they have found in the community just outside their 1928 Spanish fourplex. Here, where tourists and brides in wedding gowns often pose for photographs in the middle of the street in an effort to capture the Hollywood sign in the background, Babcock and Gibson have become part of a larger family. “Everyone knows our dogs’ names,” says Babcock, a 35-year-old educator working in the adolescent mental health field. “There is a true community vibe in this neighborhood.”
A Neighborhood Feel
Adds Gibson, a 38-year-old screenwriter and Spanish professor and tutor from London: “I’ve never lived in a place that felt like a neighborhood. We’re in a message group with our neighbors. Sometimes our dog walks take forever because we stop every few minutes to say hello to someone.”
Overcoming Challenges
The couple was living in a charming apartment in Los Feliz when Gibson had to return to England to care for his mother, who had pancreatic cancer. Compounding their distress, Babcock’s father suffered a stroke, and Babcock moved in with her parents to help her sister, Eve, care for their father.
Finding a New Home
Their Los Feliz apartment was filled with bad memories, and they were excited by the prospect of creating happier memories in a new apartment. After scouring countless rentals online, the couple found a listing for the Hollywood apartment on Zillow, only to encounter what they now describe as “a feeding frenzy” when they arrived at the open house. The apartment, they say, was priced too low at $2,995 compared with similar units, and they were faced with fierce competition.
Decorating the Space
The couple enjoys having dinner parties in their dining room, which has a mix of chairs and benches. When they moved into the apartment in February 2020, they were thrilled, not realizing they would end up isolating there together during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The apartment was a welcome reset,” Babcock says, “It gave us plenty of time to nest and decorate.”
Art and Color
Gibson’s office is decorated with artworks by local artists including his sister and one found on the street. The couple’s taste is vibrant, and the colorful interiors reflect their sense of fun and love of design. They painted one wall in Samuel’s office a dramatic Kelly green, which makes the white-trimmed windows and his extensive art collection pop. Behind their bed in their bedroom, they painted an accent wall a charcoal hue, which gives the bedroom a peaceful feel.
Personal Touches
Pictures of family and friends decorate the refrigerator. Decorative tiles and sunshine illuminate the kitchen. “Paint is your friend,” Babcock says. “Be bold in your color choices, and when it comes to DIY and landlords, ask for forgiveness, not permission.”
Creating a Home
A glance around the apartment confirms not just their love of art but also the personal stories behind each piece: framed prints in the kitchen, black-and-white photographs in the dining room, large-scale oil paintings in the living room and hallway, and mixed-media pieces in the office, including works from local artists, EBay, Gibson’s sister and even one found on the street.
Thrifted Furnishings
Throughout the 1,200-square-foot apartment, the couple has decorated with vintage Midcentury furniture and thrifted furnishings and accessories sourced from Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. “There’s something nice about scraping together designs,” says Gibson. “It’s like a puzzle where you have to patch different styles together.”
Comfortable Living
In the living room, the couple has furnished the space with an L-shaped Bensen sofa, which they purchased at a warehouse sale mentioned on Craigslist, comfortable yellow swivel chairs they picked up from the back of someone’s car in downtown L.A. and a pair of leather loungers they found on Facebook Marketplace.
Conclusion
Do they ever dream of owning a home like other couples their age? “Yes, of course,” Gibson says. “But I think we would truly never leave this apartment unless we could buy a house with a yard. It’s like London, in that, having a yard is a luxury.” Babcock agrees, admitting that small things such as an outdoor space for the dogs or a second bathroom would be nice. But it would be a shame “to buy a house that’s not as nice as this,” Gibson says. In the meantime, they are happy in their Hollywood Hills home, which reflects their love of art and their deep affection for their sweet-natured four-legged friends and their neighborhood.
FAQs
Q: What inspired the couple to choose their current apartment?
A: The couple fell in love with the apartment’s charming built-in bookshelves, faux fireplace, hardwood floors, and formal dining room.
Q: How do the couple and their neighbors interact?
A: The couple is part of a larger family in their neighborhood, where everyone knows their dogs’ names, and they have a message group with their neighbors.
Q: What is the couple’s approach to decorating their space?
A: The couple believes in being bold with color choices and mixing different styles together, often using thrifted furnishings and accessories.
Q: Do the couple and their sister have plans to own a home in the future?
A: Yes, but they would only consider leaving their current apartment for a house with a yard, as having outdoor space is a luxury.
