Jodi Balfour

Actor, Hunter/Gatherer, L.A.-dweller/ South African-born

I love L.A. rental bathrooms. Unlike NYC ones, which are either cookie cutter, new developments, 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 the 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…

I love the romance and simplicity of your bathroom. Does that describe your sensibility or was it just a happy coincidence?
You know what…? I think you just described my entire approach to aesthetics. Romance and simplicity. Or some sort of constant dance between the two.

what’s your favorite thing about your bathroom?
The clawfoot tub.

Where do you look for your home goods? specifically the things in your bathroom?
Markets, General Store in Venice, Broom Street General Store in Silverlake has great bathroom things, Coyuchi for great towels, and Quiet Town for bathmats and shower curtains, of course ;)

We know shopping for functional bath accessories is a chore--there's a real lack of design and function in this category. What would you redesign if you could? For instance, we have a tooth brush holder in our kid’s bathroom and every night our son's toothbrush slides out and winds up behind the toilet.
Bathrooms seem to be the last part of the house we give our full attention to when intentionally creating space. But I love my morning and evening routines in my bathroom. It’s quiet, self-care time and requires a certain level of presence and engaging with ourselves. So to me, the space you create in your bathroom is really important. There’s no one thing I would redesign, but overall I think to consider your bathroom an important space in your home. Maybe that’s open shelving with inspiring products, or beautiful coloured walls, tiles, or textiles. I always make sure there are plants in our bathroom. And maybe even art, if it can be protected.