Vintage Stylist Transforms Historic Glendale Apartment with Bold Paint and Antiques

Prop stylist Erik Kenneth Staalberg and his partner Robert Harter renovated a 1,400-square-foot 1930s rental in Glendale's Rossmoyne neighborhood, preserving original built-ins while adding dramatic colors and vintage pieces. The apartment had been previously rented for 15 years by a set designer for 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' leaving it with dark, gothic walls. Staalberg's redesign balances the historic architecture with a personal, collected aesthetic, featuring a living room painted in Valspar's 'Naked Clay' and furnishings from West Elm and Anthropologie.

The apartment's previous occupant, a set designer for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," had painted every room in dark, gothic tones and left minimal lighting, which Staalberg and Harter completely reversed with warm, earthy palettes. Key pieces include a West Elm sofa, an Anthropologie burl wood coffee table, vintage Italian dining chairs, and an IKEA rug, while the kitchen features Sherwin-Williams' "Lemon Meringue" paint and checkered peel-and-stick floor tiles from The Home Depot.

This is Staalberg's first time cohabitating with a partner, and he notes that blending two creative visions required compromise, ultimately producing a layered, maximalist aesthetic filled with family mementos. Apartment Therapy previously featured Staalberg's glamorous Los Angeles rental in 2017, and his style has evolved considerably in the years since.