A Visit With Greg In Greta Garbo's Former "Dressing House"
For most of us, good friends are the ones who show up, listen, and don't judge. But when Finery's Greg Sato purchased a Los Angeles home that's rumored to be Greta Garbo's former dressing house, his friends took it a step further: They helped customize, well, almost everything.
If, as rumor has it, Garbo indeed had such a pied-a-terre in L.A.'s Silver Lake neighborhood near what was once the original Disney studio, one would think it'd be glamorous. But when Sato first purchased the 1925 cottage in question, there were random built-ins, unseemly tile choices, and a backyard covered in overgrown brush and Astroturf. Fortunately, Sato's a seasoned brand marketer and co-owner of Finery, a company that makes decidedly un-uniform uniforms for staffers at cool spots like The Line hotel in Koreatown and The Parker Palm Springs—which means he has not only a firm grasp on his aesthetic, but a long list of friends who do custom work.
1. Hall with Bookcase
Sato describes his style as "dusty"— an adjective he and his former team at Levi's Heritage used to describe a love of vintage collectibles and estate sales.
2. Stairwell
Paul Anderson for Hunker
The house is approximately 1,000 square feet, but its split-level design makes it feel bigger.
3. Home Office
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A stainless steel cabinet Sato suspects was once used to hold nails and screws now holds custom tie- and lapel pins by Finery.
4. Office Supplies
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A close-up of Sato's office organizer, housing vintage staplers and other office supplies.
5. Bookcase
Paul Anderson for Hunker
Sato says every collectible holds special meaning for him—but to keep things from getting out of hand, he culls twice a month.
6. At Work
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Shirts by Sato's company, Finery, hang in his home office. His friends are always asking if they can buy them. The answer is yes.
7. Close-up on Desk
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A closer look at Sato's desk organizer offers a glimpse into his life: a photo of his niece, his Finery business card, and vintage knick-knacks.
"My friends all have a bit of ownership here." – Sato
A perfect example of what good friends can accomplish together is Sato's backyard. He wanted the garden to be a central gathering place, so David Godshall of landscape company Terremoto—whom Sato first met when he was overseeing Levi's entertainment marketing—designed the steel-and-rope pergola. Another friend, Zak Hawthorne, of Coupler Mfg Co., built it. Dinner parties now take place at the custom table by yet another friend, Aaron Johnson of Aconcepts. Sato got his hands dirty as well: He did all the landscaping himself, and gave a discarded fire pit from Target new life with the addition of I-beams. "Now it looks legit," he says.
1. Backyard Pergola
Sato loves the custom-built pergola so much he's already strategizing on how to move it if he ever relocates.
2. Fire Pit
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What was once a cheap fire pit from Target is surrounded by strategically placed I-beams.
Sato doesn't have a precise name for his décor sensibility—"Polytheistic," he says a few days after he was first asked—but it's always personal. He's filled his home with things he loves, as opposed to following one era or design philosophy— an approach that mirrors his work with Finery. "We always ask ourselves, 'Is this something my friends would wear?'" Sato says. "The worst thing is looking like you tried really hard, or tried to follow a specific trend. I guess, in a loose way, that's how I put my house together."
The photographs throughout the home are of favorite places, including Joshua Tree and the High Sierras. And the books on the shelves are not just for show. Says Sato, "You could point to any book, ask why I have it, and I could say that because it's about dinosaurs, that's about men's style. I have ten volumes from the '30s about how to be a better person in terms of manners and etiquette. That's fascinating to me." He adds, "Some people are like, 'You're a hoarder!' And I'm like, 'No, no. It's called discerning collecting.'"
1. Living Room
When Sato first bought the house, his mom took in the dark, clunky furniture and overgrown yard and was concerned. "She wasn't the only one who was worried," Sato says, "But isn't your mom's opinion the only one that matters?"
2. Fireplace
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Sato repainted the fireplace and added classic tile to replace what was once "a sad choice."
3. Found Treasures
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"I love knick-knacks and baubles," Sato says. "I have that element of vintage, found, antique stuff intermixed with mid-century modern pieces."
4. Kitchen
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Luckily, the kitchen needed the least amount of work. The cabinets and glass are original and just needed painting. A new backsplash adds color and dimension.
5. Tea Time
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Sato wears a shirt his company designed for Roi Choi's restaurants Pot and Commissary. "I love those shirts and tend to always look like I'm a server," Sato says. "I've been mistaken when I walk in, like, 'Oh, are you on shift?'"
6. Bedroom
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The bright, airy bedroom features more custom furniture by Aconcepts, as well as photos of some of Sato's favorite locations
7. Looking In
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Sato's dog is named Daddy Warbucks Tenenbaum but he goes by Buckley for short. "If there was one movie I could have stranded on a desert island The Royal Tenenbaums is the one I would show," says Sato.
8. Front Garden
Paul Anderson for Hunker
For the front garden, Sato intentionally chose plants that would "look a little bit wild and not so structured and deliberate."
More custom pieces can be found in Sato's bedroom. The bench is also by Johnson, whom Sato met back when he was doing marketing at Fiji water. The neon light over the bed is Sato's own design. "It says, 'I loved you,' but the 'D' is purposely not lit up, because I never really know if my love is past or present."
Love is a tricky business, but Sato's bonhomie is without question. When it comes to the circle of friends who collaborated with him on the house, the door is always open. "Everybody has a key and the code and they can come and go as they please," Sato says. "If I'm not here, you know how to get in." We'll be right over.
1. Until Next Time...
When it comes to the circle of friends who collaborated with him on the house, the door is always open. "Everybody has a key and the code and they can come and go as they please," Sato says.
Thank you, Greg!