A new chapter of The Apartment is here. Nestled on tree-lined Melrose Place in the heart of West Hollywood, the second offline home of The Line welcomes a new city of visitors into the uniquely immersive experience born two years ago in New York’s SoHo, as freshly combined elements of residence, showroom, and boutique create a natural habitat for refined goods. In Los Angeles, these notions of context deepen, extending beyond the walls of the space to encompass the surrounding neighborhood and city. As a result, The Apartment by The Line – Los Angeles is a serene space distinguished by multi-layered modern design and relaxed West Coast charm.

In contrast to New York’s towering, modular cityscape, Los Angeles splays out laterally. It is a vast, low metropolis suffused with light and air. The site of The Apartment reflects the city’s expansive inclinations, occupying the second and topmost floor of a corner building in the center of Melrose Place, with its row of shops and cafes offering a measure of seclusion from the neighborhood’s more heavily trafficked areas.

I wasn’t captivated by the romance of Paris or London. I love visiting, but I’d rather be in L.A. Ed Ruscha

The Apartment is spread out over two adjoining spaces, separated by an open-air walkway of Moroccan tile in a hushed palette of sun-baked greys, tan, white, and pale pink. Soothing hues continue throughout The Apartment, with a natural spectrum of white, cream, beige, gold, and black enlivened by the blue and red detailing of beautifully worn Oriental rugs, the dusty shades of desert plants, and the colorful bindings of new and vintage books. The front room is free of walled partitions, with each area gently giving way to the next in full view of one another. At the entrance, a modern banquet table and extended kitchen countertop anchor the room, while the near corner, casually demarcated by two sets of shelves, is home to an informal library. Toward the far end, with windows looking out over the storefronts below and the rooftops beyond, two airy lounge areas are furnished with a selection of homegoods, artworks, and lighting.

I think L.A. represents an opportunity to understand what democracy creates and to work with it. That’s what Jasper [Johns] and [Robert] Rauschenberg did—pick up the detritus of the city and use it in their art. Frank Gehry

From the L.A. Library: Five Essential Volumes

1

City of Quartz by Mike Davis (Verso)
Penetrate “Fortress L.A.” in this unparalleled reconstruction of the city’s shadow history and dissection of its ethereal economy.

2

Wallpaper* City Guide Los Angeles (Phaidon)
Tightly edited and discreetly packaged, this photo-laden paperback is a passport to the best of L.A.

3

I’m Losing You by Bruce Wagner (Plume)
Dial into Wagner’s intoxicating “cell phone trilogy” with this luminous, savage novel of the dystopia known as Hollywood.

4

They Called Her Styrene by Ed Ruscha (Phaidon)
The artist has the final word(s) on L.A. and much more in this thick block of a book that is an art object in itself.

5

Eames by Gloria Koenig (Taschen)
An illustrated primer on the the husband-and-wife team that transformed the visual character of America. A must read before making a pilgrimage to their iconic house in Pacific Palisades.

Among the quintessential goods on offer are new additions that embody the native ethos and aesthetic, including the timeless bags of local designer Agnes Baddoo and delicate jewelry from Kathleen Whitaker. NewbarK’s versatile loafers and chic sandals are a natural fit for the temperate climes of southern California, and the local brand has crafted a new shearling slide that is exclusive to The Line. In addition, hand-thrown ceramics from the Echo Park studio of California native Victoria Morris are placed throughout The Apartment.