Name: Alyssa Remington and son, Lucien Blu
Location: San Rafael, California
Size: 750 square feet
Years lived in: 1 — rented
Alyssa Remington can go from amazing mother, to creative crafter, to fabulous photographer in three seconds flat. She is one of those unassuming, enviable souls who is amazing at everything she does. When I visited her apartment, I realized one more thing she is good at-creating a beautiful space that celebrates her many talents and interests.
Gathering treasures from local flea markets and yard sales allowed her to create a space that is happy and relaxed on a small budget. Her photography is instant art and her handmade crafts give the space a look that is artistically homespun.
A true bohemian at heart, Alyssa playfully mixes new and old with abandon. Her artistic nature can be seen in the smallest of statements, whether it be a tiny wooden buddha on her windowsill, or a collection of heart-shaped stones found over the years with her son, Lucien. All these small statements add up to one big-spirited, charming abode.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: I grew up at the beach, so I really like my house to feel like you can walk in with sandy feet and a wet bathing suit...casual, comfortable, and colorful.
Inspiration: Flea markets, travel and my mom, who has created the most beautiful, warm and creative living spaces, for as long as I can remember.
Favorite Element: I love every aspect of our kitchen and backyard. But I'd have to say, our art is my all time favorite element; my son's kindergarten paintings, the painting of the Golden Gate Bridge I found at the Alameda flea market, a vintage poster from our trip to Vietnam and the portrait of my son, painted by a close friend's father, Udi.
Biggest Challenge: Every time I look for a new apartment, hardwood floors and a bathtub are really high on my wish list... this apartment doesn't have either (the kitchen sink, built in table and old stove are what ended up winning me over).
What Friends Say: "This place is so you."
Biggest Embarrassment: I'm really not a fan of carpet. I covered it in the living room with sea grass. My son was thrilled to finally have carpet in his room though, and thinks I'm an absolute nut for caring.
Proudest DIY: The raw wood signs I stamped, and have throughout our house make me pretty happy. I also really like to find old pieces of furniture that need a couple of nails, some paint and a new home. Oh, and my boyfriend made the perfect white bookshelf in my living room.
Biggest Indulgence: I really love cozy, soft bed linens... they don't have to be fancy, just a really high thread count.
Best Advice: Never leave another country without bringing a little something back for your home.
Dream Sources: European flea market's or Buenos Aires
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
- • Vintage 60's Sofa: Beach House Style, Fairfax
• Antique Trunk/Coffee Table: Alameda Flea Market
• Vintage White Lamp: Beach House Style, Fairfax
• Lucien's Painting: painted by friend, Udi
• Natural Wooden Bench: Beach House Style, Fairfax
KITCHEN
- • Round Woven Pedestal Baskets: IKEA
• Golden Gate Bridge Painting: Alameda Flea Market
• Blue Sconce: Alameda Flea Market
• Table Decor: Anthropologie
MASTER BEDROOM
- • Door/Headboard: Urban Ore, Oakland
• Lamp Shade: Anthropologie
• White Floral Vases: Splendid Little Shoppe
• Orange Linen Curtains: Pierre Lafond, Santa Barbara
SECOND BEDROOM
- • Orange Chair: IKEA
• Orange Lamp: IKEA
ART ROOM
- • Boatwood Frames: Beach House Style
• Beautiful Life Poster: Gift from friend
• Handmade Artwork & Photography: Alyssa Remington
GARDEN
- • Garden Furniture-Alameda Flea Market, Under the Sun Flea Market, Fairfax
Thanks, Alyssa!
Images: Alyssa Remington
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I love your headboard, and the sign with the Edward Sharpe line. So happy and effortlessly pretty!
Very nice! Love the outside area.
I adore your couch! I swear I have been looking for a couch like that for at least a decade, ever since I saw Fellini's 'Juliet of the Spirits' with her sectional green and white couch and matching floor to ceiling curtains. I couldn't find a good pic, but you can sort of see it here: http://www.joelcrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/05.jpg
Agree that your place is effortless and pretty!
it's really nice -- i just wish there were more wide shots to get a better idea of how all those details fit together.
awww...i hate you..your house is too perfect!!
Love it. More pics??
I don't feel I can get any sense of how this space hangs together because there are no entire room shots. It's very frustrating to click through these house tours with only tight vignette shots.
What a cute place. Everything feels so meaningful. I love this very much. Much props to that fab sofa. And the thunk! Love it all.
Your kitchen looks like a bit of vintage heaven.
great yard!
Love so much about your place...Your kitchen, yard, sofa, trunk/coffee table, reclaimed art above sofa...Great home.
put a bird on it, eh? : )
lovely.
Wow!!! I love your house!!! It's so bright and interesting. You have great taste and fabulous design skills.
very cute! The outside area looks so inviting for conversation!
That trunk is AMAZING!
That is my last name! Ordinarily, that might not seem special, but because I've never actually met another person aside from my grandparents with my last name I had to do a double take. I'm incredibly jealous of your find! If you ever consider selling that piece or redecorating, I'd love to be in contact.
Thank you!
Ikea and Anthropologie... *sigh*
It's not bad looking, I just feel like it's so much of the same. :/
Bright, warm, personal, and inviting.
Lovely home. It makes me think of the beach. This may be the finest interpretation of shabby chic that I've seen. I love it's softness.
Very pretty and happy. :) Love the airiness and how homey it feels.
Why no cover on the duvet?
Love what I see, but agree with Abstractionist... with no room shots, I have no idea which of these pictures are from the same room, or how they are spread around the room. It's more of a series of still lifes than a house tour.
Would love to know where you got the birds on a wire photograph hanging in the bedroom. Or did you take it? Either way I covet it:)
I was excited to see the first picture and I looked forward to see the entire house. But, I was disappointed seeing just vignettes. Just like Abstractionist and others, I would have preferred to see pictures of rooms. I am not saying I don't like your house, I do like many of the items you have collected and the yard is so lovely but I really wanted to get a better sense of the house.
Your home is wonderful, very well put together. It emanates calm... please tell me where you bought the yellow floral pillow with the birds??!!
are those oyster shells outside? LOVE!
I agree with Abstractionist, nerdgirl and CanadianMango. You say you like the sink and the built in table and the old stove in the kitchen but there's only one glimpse of the delightful sink, and I couldn't find a shot of the table or stove.
great attention to details -- vignettes
That couch is pure awesome sauce.
ooh, i want to be an artsy girl next door.
Please do tell, where do I get a tiny "Keep Calm and Carry On sign" ? I need it for my rearview mirror lol...
Love the garden - very inspiring! I've always hated wood paneling but somehow she makes it work in that room.
Yes, please show us the house, not the stuff.
Come on house tour posters, how many of us have to say this so many, many times. We want to see the house, not the stuff. I don't want to know what is on people's bathroom shelves, their bedside tables, their kitchen pantry. I certainly don't care about their toilet paper situation. I want to see wide shots of the rooms. I want to see a floor plan. I want to see what makes this space work. NO MORE VIGNETTES, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!!!
Beautiful. I love the headboard!
I like.
Ditto on all the comments about vignettes. It seems like a very cute space, but since there are only pictures of houseplants, mixing bowls, and books on shelves, it's hard to get a sense of how it all fits together.
My house is the same square footage, and it looks like the same kitchen cabinets (hard to tell from the photos). I'm therefore really frustrated that I can't piece the layout together better.
Beautiful garden!
i'm curious about the shell mosaic-esque thing in the yard - did you make it? what are the shells covering? (seems like some sort of oven or heating thing, but unclear)
i like it - cool idea - just want more information :-)
I saw that sofa at Beach House Style in Fairfax where I live and wanted it!!! Glad to see it went to a good home. Love love love your place!
I love that couch. I would marry it.
Your outdoor space is great, too, and I love the white chair. I agree that it was hard to see how the rooms fit together with all the close shots.
Heart the sofa all day long! Is the fabric linen? But I concur on the vignette issue, because I can't get a clear understanding of the floor plan that bench in the hallway looks cramped. But it may be the camera angle. What really matters is that you obviously love your home and it shows! Sweet space! (But I'm with you on the floors... that is a HUGE deal to me as well!)
Love it!
I love the trunk/coffee table! Awesome! I really like what I saw.
would like to see more of the home and how the rooms go together. I agree with above posters, enough of the vignettes! I want to see wide angle shots of the rooms! I want floorplans! I want to see how everything connects together! PLEASE, AT!
I hate clutter but I realize it is because I am terrible at arranging things. Hats off to those who can arrange clutter into art.