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Larchmont Chronicle Neighborhood newspaper representing Hancock Park, Larchmont Village
Miracle Mile, Park La Brea Fremont Place in the Wilshire center area of Los Angeles. Local News and
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Hancock Park area. Founded in 1963 on Larchmont Bouelvard, Los Angeles, CA, California

January 28, 2005

Janet Charlton

Alicia Doyle

In today’s modern world, Janet Charlton is happy living in the past.

The Hancock Park gossip columnist has spent the past seven years filling her mid-century modern home with furniture, fixtures and art from the 60s and 70s, including a mod cocktail bar and working Zenith from the 70s—one of the first televisions made with a remote control.

“There’s something really comforting about history—this is comfortable to me,” Charlton said.

Her love for the era began as a child when she saw Disneyland’s 1957 “House of Tomorrow,” an all-plastic home designed by the Massachu-setts Institute of Technology with plastic walls, roof, floors, rugs and furniture.

“It just appealed to me,” recalled the Chicago native, who has writ-ten for Us, People and other celebrity-driven magazines. “It was so whimsical, colorful and fun.”

As time went by, her love for the modern era grew along with her de-sire to buy an original mid-century home. To prepare for the pur-chase, she studied mid-century architecture at UCLA. Meanwhile, she continued buying period items for her collection from thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets and eBay.

She searched for two years before finding a hidden treasure at 300 S. Rossmore Ave., a 5,000-square-foot home built in 1961. Located on the busy southeast corner of Rossmore and Third, the three-bedroom house with a study, den, five bathrooms and swimming pool appeared deserted and neglected, Charlton said.

“It had bars on the windows, no plants and no grass—it looked like a prison,” she remembered. “I had to have a good imagination to realize how fabulous it could be.”

Though some friends thought she was crazy, Charlton bought the home two days later.

“It was a good price because it was so sadly neglected,” said Charl-ton. “I knew when I saw the house that it had been a special place. I took one look and I was madly in love. It was my dream house.”

The residence has undergone a complete renovation since Charlton made the purchase in 1998. The grassy, tree-filled landscape now includes an atrium, and the pool is complemented with a tiki cabana bar.

Virtually everything inside the home is from the 60s and 70s, including light fixtures, pedestal chairs, a working record player, Charl-ton’s bedroom set and couches that convert to tables. Some original appliances, like the stove, have been restored to working condition.

“I don’t want any new appliances—I’m trying to keep everything as original as I can,” she said. “If they still work, they are perfectly fine.”

The home underwent such a huge transformation that the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee asked Charlton to host their 2004 Christmas party for 200 guests, said past committee president Chris Nichols.

“She’s done a tremendous job with the place—it was a great location to show off to the ModCom members who were all really thrilled to be there,” said Nichols, who compares the residence to a home in Blake Edwards’ 1968 film, “The Party.”

“When I first walked in, I thought, ‘wow, what a far-out, futuristic house,’” Nichols said. “She’s got a great eye for making little scenes…her modern area, pop culture area and conversation pit. She works very hard to find the pieces to make it all come together.”

Because most items are inexpensive, they are ideally functional for houseguests, pets, parties and day-to-day living, Charlton said.

“Everything is cheap, so I don’t have to feel guilty if something happens to it,” said Charlton, who has two dogs. “I’d hate to see it break, but it’s not the end of the world.”

JANET CHARLTON has spent seven years filling her mid-century modern home with furniture, fixtures and art from the 60s and 70s.

Larchmont Chronicle
542½ North Larchmont Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Editor & Publisher: Jane Gilman
Associate Publisher: Irwin Gilman

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