The Wake Up

Wendy Schelah

Wendy Schelah gave up city life in Brooklyn for a cabin on the North Fork of Long Island. Her spot is serving as a bucolic pause button while she
figures out what’s next. The little house is maybe 350 sq ft (about 1/3 of that is the bathroom) and layered like an 80’s casserole (or maybe like a baked
zitti). Wendy’s loft bed is spread out above her bathroom, her closet is sandwiched behind the wall of her living room; there’s a saucy little secretarial
nook carved out for her computer. As a prop stylist, Wendy is used to building entire worlds by 8am and breaking them down by 5pm so the fact that
it’s temporary did not stop her from layering on tons amazing details. Let’s check it out!

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The Wake Up

Indigo & Sunny Fine

The Pandemic turned everyone’s world inside-in. Our homes became offices, schools, restaurants, and in our case a photo studio. And the people inside, namely our children Indie & Sunny, our muses. They knew it was just a matter of time before we came knocking on their bathroom door. Open up, The Wake Up is here.
After five months of intense observation, I realized that a 7-year-old girl and an almost 10-year-old boy live very different bathroom lives. Sunny spends a lot of time on hair styles, manicures & makeup (lip gloss). She’s also a complete slob. Indie takes his time on the toilet daydreaming he’s a spy or has magic powers. All his clutter is in his head. The one thing they both have in common: competitively short showers.

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The Wake Up

Maya Singer

Maya Singer is in fashion but looking for the next thing. She takes really pretty pictures (35mm film @mayasinger) has a talent for decorating, and is really--I mean, Really-- Nice. Consider this an unofficial reference if anyone has some ideas. Born in Boulder, CO and now living in Altadena, CA which Maya calls “The Boulder of Los Angeles,” with her dog Benny and boyfriend, musician Michael Di Francesco. Read on as Maya gives up the goods on her curl specialist and reveals her all-time favorite bathroom is actually in a bar.

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The Wake Up

Julie Schott

Julie Schott moved to L.A. from New York to launch Starface, her clever brand of little yellow stars that absorb pimple puss (so cool) and chills out inflammation. Her customers love them so much they tell her they can't wait for their next breakout. Amazing idea, right?

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The Wake Up

Kayla Dalle Molle

At first glance, the most exciting details in Kayla Dalle Molle’s 19’th century Brooklyn bathroom were the iconic, mid-century accessories in place of “bathroom furniture” (Kartell & Vitra make so much sense in this space, why didn’t we think of that sooner?) Kayla is an art historical researcher at MoMA and modern influences are everywhere in her home. But like I said, this was only my first impression. The more we talked, the more I realized Kayla applied her research skills to every detail of her life. Take her medicine cabinet: Italian floss, Syrian soap, a British hairbrush, Australian deodorant... It seems like wherever Kayla goes, there is a bit of discovery. The international pharmacy score was just a lucky break. My original reason for visiting was to scope out a bathroom for a D.I.Y. design contest we hosted with Remodelista & Clare paint. We hoped to transform Kayla's bathroom with fresh paint and some new Quiet Town accessories.

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The Wake Up

Alice Bucaille (w/ India & Sol Randon)

Alice and her family live right across the street from us in Mattituck, NY. Every weekend Michael and I see the Bucaille-Randon house burst into early action. The girls are playing in the barn, Thomas is going for a bike ride, and Alice is gardening—in a cute jumpsuit with a Victorian collar peeking out. Two weeks ago I walked across the street to say “Hi”. Alice was painting the exterior of her house black while roasting a chicken in the oven…for lunch. This woman can do anything from meticulously steering an American fashion brand to success to making you fall in love with a toilet brush. We love her and think you will too.

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The Wake Up

Alessandra Olanow

If you follow Alessandra’s instagram feed you get the feeling that she lives in a state of introspection fueled by Joy Division, scented candles and good coffee. As an illustrator she uses the medium to share her work. Her posts are clever and quiet featuring line drawings of a "jeans & tee" woman and often her small, fringe-faced daughter. The woman is drinking coffee or laying on the floor or reading a book (one of them is titled “Everything is Going to be OK. And other Lies I Tell Myself”). The little girl is wrapped around her mother’s ankle while her mom applies lipstick or she’s peeling her mother’s eyelids open at 5:26am on a Saturday. You get the feeling that these doodles are direct pull-quotes from Alessandra's morning. Maybe mornings inspired her up-coming kids' pajama line called Dodo Banana (adorable organic, cotton p.j.'s covered in Alessandra's work). Mornings definitely seem to be a theme so...with that in mind, let's check out the room where it all begins for Alessandra & Coco: The bathroom....

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The Wake Up

Maya Schindler

Maya Schindler is an accomplished fine artist, professor and vintage huntress. But her true super power may actually be harnesser of light. She moved from New York to L.A. and back again, bringing with her a desire to beam as much sun and warmth into a house as humanly possible. 42 windows (I just counted, and my house has 10) and an insane collection of vintage hardware and lighting later, Maya has redeemed her move back east with a home that glows. Here, a quick glimpse at her bedroom and living room before jumping into her geniusly simple and dramatic bathroom…

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The Wake Up

Jodi Balfour

I love L.A. rental bathrooms. Unlike NYC ones, which are either cookie cutter new development-style or 1940’s, last-leg “charm”, you never know what you’re going to find. But in all the L.A. rental bathrooms we’ve visited, none have reflected their renter more than Jodi Balfour’s Santa Monica bathroom. Jodi is delicate and lovely like her marble-topped vanity, friendly like the beadboard walls, and as warm as all that light pouring in from the pacific. Since we shot Jodi for The Wake Up she has since moved…I wonder if the new tenant is as simpatico with the space. Or better yet, I wonder what Jodi’s new L.A. bathroom looks like…

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The Wake Up

Ally Walsh & Casey Wojtalewicz

Oh man. I have to admit, meeting Ally & Casey of Canyon Coffee was pretty hard for Michael and I from a self-confidence point of view. They are hands-down the lovliest, more gorgeous, smiliest, hardest-working and (here’s the most difficult to swallow) most real-state charmed couple we’ve ever met. And their bathroom was, you guessed it, AMAZING

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