This picture was posted by one of our roaming ATLA reporters (see the Flickr pics to the right) The image is of a house developed by Henry Doelger for the Westlake District in Daly City, California.
This is one of America's earliest and most iconic postwar suburbs. The photographer of the picture is Rob Keil, who also has a wonderful website called Little Boxes, which is devoted to the historical San Francisco suburb. A book is also in the works.
Oh I love these houses! I drive by them all the time when I stop by Trader Joe's on the way home from work. If for some reason I *had* to live outside of San Francisco, I'd want to live in one of these little houses. I'm always hoping to see one with an open house so I can look at the inside.
Agreed! These houses are really charming, especially in person. My brother's family lives in the neighborhood; and I love walking past these houses too. I can't wait to Rob Keil's book. The images on his website are fantastic. (Apologies to Rob for posting the image on the Flickr website without crediting him or getting permission! And to Alec for the administrative headache! If I remember correctly, I posted the image to illustrate a point I was trying to make on the thread about Atomic Ranch Magazine.)
I am soooooo buying that book when it comes out... all the pleasure of knowing about something I want to know about, and someone else had to do all the hard work!
I also love all the Dr. Seuss-esque topiary trees out front...!
My employer (when they were alive) lived in a mid-century ranch house in Los Altos Hills that's now been converted to a conference facility for us. The house is *so* awesome, but I constantly wish to replace their hum-drum furniture with more appropriate mid-century modern. It seems like such a shame for that house to be decorated (in my warped mind) *all wrong*!!
Those houses are so damn cute I just wanna pinch their little cheeks like a little Southern church lady would to a kid. Seriously well-kept up and maintained with excellent paint jobs that complement the architecture. If I ever manage to drag myself to "the coast" somebody is just going to have to drive me by those houses. How cute! I hate that word, usually, but this really is an exception.
I have always wondered why these fantastic houses are so overlooked by San Francisco hipsters. The Chronicle is writing articles on Sunnyside (truly an ironic name) while Westlake goes overlooked. Maybe it's the weather (heart of the fog belt) But isn't the temptation of Westlake Joe's enough to reinvogorate this neighborhood?
In addition to Westlake Joe's... Val's! Another great old-school, time-warp restaurant/bar/lounge with great neon signage on Junipero Serra Blvd. Sometimes a live band in the lounge, sometimes karaoke...
http://www.sfist.com/archives/2005/10/05/the_opinionated_loudmouth_vals_restaurant_lounge.php
Curtis, for you, I'll vacuum the car!
We also do a lot of outdoor murals out here, some of them pretty interesting.
Oh -- at an antique shop in Half Moon Bay yesterday, I saw what I'd swear is the PBN that's half your living room wall, priced at $75 (!). People were probably wondering what my squealing and babbling was about. (I didn't buy it -- just made fan-like noises.)
My Westlake book has been published and pre-orders are being taken now. For more info, visit:
www.littleboxesbook.com