Inside Tahj Mowry's Los Angeles Home

Built in: 1921 Size: 2,000 sq. ft. Homeowner: Tahj Mowry

“The great thing about my home is all the character and details. Sometimes I’ll see something and think, I don’t look at this enough!”

When actor Tahj Mowry was ready to move up from renting a loft in Los Angeles to buying a three-bedroom house, his design taste grew up too. “The furniture in my old place was mostly colorful pieces that didn’t match,” says Tahj. “Once I became a homeowner, I wanted a more sophisticated look.” His charming 1920s hillside Craftsman had been renovated by the previous owner, and its white shiplap walls and ceilings, exposed beams and oak floors gave it classic Fixer Upper appeal. Tahj also appreciated the open floor plan, which reminded him of his loft — the front door leads to the living room, which opens to the dining area and the kitchen. With an old-world vibe in mind, Tahj worked with designer Karan Brady to enhance the home’s character with antique finds and industrial pieces. “My house style has matured, but it’s still fun,” says Tahj. “You better believe that coffee table gets rolled around on game nights!”

The greenery outside the window is one of Tahj’s favorite features. “It’s like living in a tree house,” he says. So he framed it with an antique ladder found at a flea market in Atlanta, GA. (Jo would be proud!) A vintage wood and steel railroad cargo cart, a new linen sofa from HD Buttercup and a leather club chair by Timothy Oulton make a chic trio. Tahj snagged the pendants, which remind him of ones in ancient European churches, from local store Liz’s Antique Hardware.

“I may live alone, but this big table doesn’t go unused — I sit in a different chair every night,” says Tahj, laughing. The reclaimed-oak table and the distressed walnut bench are from Obsolete; mechanical wheels on the wall from Bourgeois Bohème bring in an industrial look. Karan found the 18th-century chinoiserie hutch and the redwood host chair at JF Chen, a posh antiques shop in L.A. Tahj, new to the world of antiques, remains in awe: “It’s cool to bring pieces with a past into your space.”