Los Angeles Storybook: Volume I

Hey Peeps, 

So I just signed a lease to a new apartment, or duplex rather, in the East Hollywood area. The neighborhood isn't too pretty, but the house itself is a little oasis with a private yard and TWO parking spots... rare for Los Angeles. Anyway, on my drive back to my current residence in Faircrest Heights, I took a drive through Hancock Park, an architecturally rich neighborhood in LA sandwiched between Beverly Hills and Korea Town, then s'mored between Hollywood and Miracle Mile. After drooling over some picturesque vintage apartment buildings, I decided to pull over and take some pictures. 

North Sycamore Avenue, Hancock Park, Los Angeles

What struck me about this building was the tower that looked like... well, Rapunzel's tower. I don't even know the name of this type of tower that sticks out the side of a building. It's not a gable, battlement or parapet. It's more like a turkish minaret but not quite. If anyone knows, enlighten me!


*UPDATE* It's a turret! It was on the tip of my tongue. Thanks, dad, for reminding me. 

North Sycamore Avenue, Hancock Park, Los Angeles

Beautiful, eh? In my travels around LA, I see this type of architecture all the time especially in areas like Beverly Hills adjacent, Hancock Park, and Silverlake. I'm amazed at the fact that people actually used to build stuff like this (you know, with care and craftsmanship...) but then it seems that throughout the 70's and 80's hardly any craft was put into the building of housing establishments. I feel like this particular building is where Cinderella's stepsisters would have lived, or perhaps this is just the Beast's guesthouse. 

What's interesting is this: We're Los Angeles... we're relatively new. There are "fairy tale" buildings in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere that practically could have inspired actual fairy tales or been around when they were written. In Los Angeles, we just have imitations... but I think that's part of what makes LA unique. We are the plaster and plywood fairy tale, or at lease we're striving to be. As for fairy tale fodder, there are more dreams here than could possibly ever come true. I digress...

Le Borghese Apartments, North Sycamore Avenue, Los Angeles

Here is another gem I found on North Sycamore Drive. It's an enclosed apartment building called "Le Borghese". I wish I had more pictures, but being enclosed, it was hard for me to snap a good one of the courtyard. Instead, I'll lead you to this post at iamnotastalker.com where there are many pictures and information about Charles Gault, the architect. 

Keep an eye out for Los Angeles Storybook: Volume II because I'll have a lot more pictures to post of enchanted storybook dwellings in Los Angeles. 

ciao.

Man Crafts: Customizing Match Books

Hey Folks!

So today's project is inspired by my dad who recently presented me with an interesting gift. It's a sort of mango green, vintage ash-tray from the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France. It holds special interest for him because 1. The Hotel Martinez bears our family name and 2. Apparently, there is a famous photograph of 50's/60's actress Brigitte Bardot taken in front of the Hotel Martinez while she was in Cannes. My dear old dad has begun a small collection of memorabilia from Hotel Martinez and he even gave me an actual room key from the hotel! The stamp on the bottom of the ash tray reads: F.P.P. Villauris, France. 

Anyway... I don't smoke (often) and even if I did, I'm not sure I'd want to be ashing my butts out in this really beautiful piece of history. Since I believe in functionality (you know like ash trays that aren't just meant to be looked at) I'm going to be customizing my very own match books to store inside this beauty! It's easiest project in the world, and fun too!

Supplies Needed: 

• Old magazines with lots of cool pictures
• Match books the from the dollar store
• Scissors
• Glue
• A Pencil

Step by Step:

1. Find a picture that you like in a magazine. I chose several pictures from SWELL which is a surf/skate mag and has a lot of cool pictures of surf prints, beach design and various other interesting images. 

2. Trace your template onto the design which you will end up adhering to your match book.

3. Cut, baby, cut. 

4. Use your glue stick, mod podge or other type of glue to smother the face of your match book. 

5. SECOND TO LAST STEP! I told you it was easy. Simply press your cut-out image onto the glued up match book and let it sit to dry for a few minutes. 

6. Remember I talked about functionality in design? Well since I don't want to use this ash tray for putting out cigarette butts, I'm going to use it to hold my custom made match books. Simply arrange your new set of match books in the ash tray to make 'em look all nice and stuff. If you collect match books from hotels, bars or restaurants, this is also a cool way to display them.

Have fun!