Location: Oakland
Size: 1150 sq. ft. 1 bedroom in an 1896 Victorian home
Years Lived in: 2
"The apartment is special and worth honoring," says Lanya. Both Gehry and Lanya love to travel and have an incredible knack for creating community. Their home is the nexus of those interests and is seeped in the impact of the people they have met around the world and around the corner. Specifically, the color palette and the impromptu dance space attest to the amount of time they have spent in South and Central America...
Recently, they threw a party and asked all the guests to contribute a piece of art. Now, the house teems with their own creativity as well as the expressions of their neighbors.
The home has definitely been a work in progress. The constraint of living within the landlord's guidelines and landlord's tastes is tough for Gehry but he works around it as best he can. Gehry and Lanya also work around the fact that their house is haunted and there is nothing they can do about it but embrace the ghosts and move on.
Gehry and Lanya enjoy the expansiveness of their home and appreciate the light and the views with every meal, and every time they sit up in bed.
Style: arts/crafts vs. modernist
Inspiration: japanese (and local artists)
Favorite Element: sunlight bouncing off the angled walls; leaving window sills free of clutter; views are amazing
Biggest Challenge: working around the permanent elements imposed by the owner, and keeping it clean!
Biggest Embarrassment: liking spiderwebs
Proudest DIY: tile table over card catalog
Biggest Indulgence: custom cut organic futon cushions over wood core doors (for sitting and enjoying tea)
Dream Source: The earth.
Thanks, Gehry and Lanya!
(Edited from a post originally posted by Jill on AT:NY on 06.06.07; posted again with edits by MGR on AT:NY on 08.20.07; and again by Jill on AT:NY on 12.03.07)
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amazing and magical! love the floor stencils.
The floor stencils and the guest room are my favorite parts.
I am so jealous! The view! The light! The art! The workspace! The hardwood floors! And so much more...
absolutely a.maz.ing. i would love to live there. every inch of it is incredible!!
Wabi sabi at it's best....
Love the vintage spiderweb.
So beautiful...I will be seeing this house in my dreams.
Wow. San Francisco at it's greatest. Thank you!
(LOVE the pic with the spiderweb in the window. Spider = friend.)
Nice space but not the greatest stuff.
That over the bed treatment is rather vaginal.
So did anyone else gasp when they saw the kitchen and the bathroom? Awesome!
wannacomment, if that's your idea of vaginal you may want to get referred to a good gynecologist.
What a fantastic tour. I'm so envious of their yard. The bones of the house are very interesting. I love seeing older homes.
This place has been around awhile. Interesting the first few times but loosing something.
Pet peeve: not only have I seen this before [not that it isn't a pleasure to see], but it also jumped to the top of the page among the new posts yesterday.
beautiful space! i love it. they've done a beautiful job.
but that catwalk looks treacherous!
Beautiful space, bathroom is the nicest room for my taste. The rest looks junked.
I think the house itself is beautiful - it would be hard no matter what the decorating to hide such beautiful bones.
The decorating is okay - seems college-y but happy.
I just think the fabric over the bed must be a dust factory. I agree w/pp who says the decor looks a little college-esque. I think they're probably very fun people to be able to call friends.
I've never seen this before, so I'm glad it was recycled.
This is too cluttered and artsy-craftsy for me. And I don't get the billowing fabric above the bed. I don't think it adds anything good to the space and it hides the ceiling. I like the orange walls though.
It seems very straight out of college but also warm and inviting. I'm familiar with the neighborhood and it is a beautiful home.
visualingual,
We're gradually moving House Tours over to the city sites where they actually belong.
I think this is my dream apartment... My decorating style would be a bit different, but it is amazing.
Ghetto art school...bedroom looks like a college student lives there. Cool it aint !
oh wow. amazing apartment, but the decor really pains me.
The sheer impracticality of the guest room is whimsically appealing. The architecture of the place is just great. The style of decor isn't really what I'd choose but it was cheerful and full of personality.
the colors are amazing, i love your place :)
Some of you's must have a difficult time walking or sitting down, what with that broomstick planted way up your poopers.
Lightspeed, I think he is referring erroenously to the outer parts. Many seem to be doing that these days.
This an interesting design solution for a unique room. You have completely transformed the inside of a Victorian house which is not the easiest task. The added architectural features really add to the theme of the room.
While I prefer streamlined and cohesive spaces with dabs of art and unexpected colors, I actually like that fact that this couple has injected what they love into their space. It's personal not clinical. Sometimes interior design needs to take a break from its seriousness and exactness. Kudos to the couple for not bowing down to interior design conventions!