apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

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How could we not mention the skate ramp front and center? It was the first thing we saw when we walked in and it set the tone for the whole experience. Although neither Laurie nor Josh are actually from California, they seem to have embraced the attitude and the style.

The house is laid out like any other house, if you were able to own all of the most awesome danish modern pieces and put them in one place. And at 3000 square feet, you could probably call this 'sprawling' but because the house is a series of rooms all organized around a zen-like courtyard and hot tub, it feels intimate and comfortable. The tub, by the way, was built by the couple that lived in the house for 32 years before Josh and Laurie bought it a couple years ago.

Josh tells it like this:
The husband was a surfer and music teacher from Hawaii, the wife was a social worker from Norway. They seemed to be very active and have lots of gathering at the house. They used the garage where the ramp is now as a voting poll place during election times and had all the neighborhood people over to vote. Several customers have come through that had previously voted there etc. The wife was homesick so she had her husband use a Scandinavian influence (wood floors/ceilings and fireplaces in every room) to help her feel more at home. He had a very natural hawaiian style indoor/outdoor idea - lots of colorful tiles all over etc as well as all the glass doors, access to the outside from every room, the atrium etc. They were definitely a very unique couple that did whatever they desired during their remodels as opposed to cookie cutter/traditional plans.

Seems to make sense and explains that while the house is perfectly in order it doesn't feel stuffy or uptight, you could even say that the house has great flow. We did wonder how they could live in it and still keep things so ordered and clean. Turns out it's because they do their day to day living upstairs in a smaller area that's all theirs (no clients get to peek inside). So we were pretty excited that they were willing to photograph it for a house tour. Thanks to both of them for being willing to share their only private space (along with the rest of their gorgeous home) with us!

AT Survey:

My/Our style: mid century+ danish modern with a hippie / zen feel

Favorite Room: josh: like any husband - the garage (skateboard ramp) laurie: upstairs living room on the togo sofa

Inspiration: our home's unique layout, our customers great decorating schemes, design magazines, swap meet excursions etc.

Most Talked About Element: the unconventional layout in general. the atrium/ indoor jacuzzi

Biggest Challenge:

What Friends Say:

Biggest Embarrassment: outdated fireplace facades left by the previous owners (a future project)

Proudest DIY: laurie: painting the entire house josh: my skateboard ramp

Biggest Indulgence:

Best advice: a good mix of furniture styles with lots of natural green plants

Dream piece of furniture: laurie: super comfortable togo sofa for lounging in front of the tv. josh: my saarinen womb chair

Place you most often buy things for the house: sorry - top secret

Any Cleaning or Organizing Tips: since all of our furniture is for sale our interior landscape is always changing - usually every 3 days or so. also using your home as a showroom is our best tip for being forced to keeping it clean at all times!

Oldest thing you own: french art deco pieces c. 1940's

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In the House:

Appliances: wolf stove and industrial fridge kindly left by previous owners

Hardware: a custom and unique style by the equally unique previous owners

Furniture: a constantly rotating selection of mid century and danish modern designs

Accessories: quality vintage abstract and modernist sculptures decorations and paintings

Lighting: mid century lighting and fixtures by previous owners

Rugs and Carpets: mostly hardwood floors, cowhide as a modern accent

Tiles and Stone: vintage bricks in the front + backyard and atrium, outdated 80's tiles on most of the fireplaces

Window Treatments: french doors require constant attention!

Beds: we prefer danish platform beds but we don't have the space in our bedroom!

Paint: white walls, outside is a unique blue/gray with orangish accents

Flooring: hardwood floors

(Thanks, Josh and Laurie!)

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