[symple_heading style=”” title=” By Erin Lang Norris | Houzz” type=”h3″ font_size=”” text_align=”left” margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”30″ color=”undefined” icon_left=”” icon_right=””]
When blogger and photographer Dabito of Old Brand New saw this sun-flooded loft in downtown Los Angeles last fall, he knew he had found the next place he’d call home. A natural at all things thrifted, he has toted (and lugged) plenty of gems across town and into his home over the years. With a knack for style and a love for design, he’s created a home that’s both fun and sophisticated.
The enormous windows that grace the wall of this Los Angeles loft spent no time messing around when it came to stealing Dabito’s heart. The ample amount of sunlight has allowed him to incorporate any color he wishes — always a good thing to have on your side when shopping from the shelves of a thrift store.
Being a huge thrift junkie myself (or “vintage vulture” as he’d say), I was drawn to his blog shortly after he started writing it. “I started thrifting in college,” he says. “It’s fun to find interesting artifacts from past eras and then incorporate them into my modern lifestyle. It’s also a great way to decorate a home without breaking the bank.”
Dabito has a growing collection of houseplants grouped into vignettes throughout his home. Many have been gathered from various sources over the years. He recently inherited quite a few from his uncle and his work. The beautiful botanical print was thrifted, of course. Display Your Plant Collection for Natural Decor.
Dabito found this huge jade sitting in a dimly lit corner of a thrift store. Being the first plant he’d ever come across during his thrifting adventures, he knew he had to take it home. After a backbreaking haul to his loft, he eventually planted it in a DIY drip planter and says, “It brings lotsa luck.” 18 Clever DIY Projects from Home Decor Bloggers.
For one of the most clever repurposing ideas I’ve seen recently, Dabito flipped a piece of needlepoint artwork onto its side and called it a headboard. The striped alpaca blanket is from Ecuador and was a gift from his best friend.
Much of the art in his house is his own. “I was a printmaker in college so I have lithographs and etchings mixed in with friends’ work,” he says, “and I also have a few thrifted pieces.”
His sweet Chihuahua mutt, Beatrice Arthur, is a natural beauty who loves posing for the camera. Dabito sometimes jokes that she was a model in her past life, and I don’t doubt him one bit.
During another successful thrift-shop adventure, Dabito spied this vibrant woodcut print hanging on the wall. After some investigation, he learned it was printed in 1978 by artist Carol Summers. It fits in perfectly with his colorfully styled home.
The photo mobile hanging in the background goes hand in hand with one of Dabito’s biggest passions, photography. As an avid collector of film cameras, he needed somewhere to display his favorite shots. He chose a great spot to hang it, too — over the dining room table. Incorporate a Variety of Accent Chairs for an Eclectic Look.