Name: Lanz Brooks with roommates Michael and Brent
Location: Hayes Valley, San Francisco
Size: 4,000 square feet
Years lived in: Lanz for 4½ years (Michael since 1994)
Last Thursday, we had a glimpse into half of Lanz, Michael and Brent's amazing Hayes Valley home with Part 1 of their House Tour. The first part focused on the first floor of their two story Hayes Valley apartment and many of the common areas. Now, a look at the light filled second floor shows what makes this 1888 home truly stand out — its phenomenal skylights.
(To see the first half of the House Tour, visit Lanz, Michael and Brent's Evolving History House - Part I.)
Lanz's role as "head stylist" continues throughout the dining room, kitchen and sun room / laundry room. From the collection of chairs and wine boxes in the dining room to one of the cheeriest little laundry rooms we've encountered, the roommates continue to be resourceful in their quest to decorate their 4,000 square foot home.
As one enters the second floor, there is a sense that a sort of heaviness is lifted. Inspired by the immense amount of light the space receives during the day, the roommates decided to paint the majority of the floors (less Michael's room) a glossy white. With an almost Scandinavian sensibility, the bedrooms of the second floor feel light, airy and comfortable (a big thanks to the amazing skylights for that!). Due to the two levels and the size of the space, the styles of all roommates can be explored without feeling like a collection of disparate spaces.
While the sheer size of the home make it unique to San Francisco, the home's most endearing quality continues to be its past. As a historic building, Michael always wondered who had lived in this house during the past 130 or so years. A few months ago, a couple approached him as he returning home. The couple was Australian and had been referred to this address due to a public records search at City Hall. The woman's grandfather had crossed the Pacific on a steam ship in search of work. After the Great Earthquake of 1906 and the subsequent fire, he lived in the house as it was converted in a boarding house for workers rebuilding the city.
Today's tour focuses on the dining room, kitchen and laundry room downstairs and then travels upstairs for looks at Brent and Michael's bedrooms.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
For the full Survey, visit the previous tour. Below is a bit more information about Michael and Brent's bedrooms.
Brent on His Bedroom:
I love earth tones with dark wood accents. With the large skylights and bay windows, this room is always flooded with light. I decided to keep the walls an off white color to give it an open, airy feel. I love travel ling and my room is filled with memorabilia from my trips. Like the rest of the house, my room is a mix of new, borrowed and "found on street" furniture. My favorite part of the room is the view. Although I think I take it for granted sometimes, it definitely influences my mood and outlook on things when I wake up every day.
Michael on His Bedroom:
My room is filled with lots of light. From skylights and the adjoining deck. My bedroom is a place where I spend a lot of time, I love its' simple beauty. It also has to serve a very utilitarian function as it has limited closet space. The art which is dotted about my room is my grandfather's and it reminds me of what is simple and beautiful about life—sun and flowers and family.
Resources: Most of my stuff is from discarded items off the street. Most of the art work is mine. There are far to many paints colors to cover. Feel free to leave comments with questions about particular items and Lanz will try to get the necessary info for you.
(Thanks, Lanz, Michael and Brent!)
Images: Jessica Watson
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Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
This house is ridiculously awesome. 4000 sq. ft. in SF? Can't....not....fit....awesomeness...in....head. How? HOW??? Who did you sleep with, or kill, or bribe, or what did you do in your past life? I'm taking notes. :)
I'm taking notes on Kab's notes. Because, seriously, O_O.
Please share the Secret of the Awesome Apartment. I am willing to sleep with, sell soul to, kill, bribe, blackmail, you name it. Just as long as I'm done in time for my 6 pm therapy appointment.
Is there just better *light* in San Francisco???
Oh, Lanz, I could be so happy here.......
Yes, there's better *light* in San Francisco.
This is truly the best house tour I have ever seen. These guys have incredible style and make me completely jealous. I especially love the white painted brick. Can't wait to move into my new place. This place will be my biggest inspiration.
If this isn't heaven then I don't know what is. Seriously amazing.
Wow, Jess, your photography is just gorgeous! Even though San Francisco does indeed have the best light in the world, so that helps. =) I'm usually somewhat irritated by the vignette shots, but in this tour they are art!
I have to be honest, I feel that this apartment lacks a cohesiveness. I appreciate (and encourage) a less-coordinated look in these apartments, but it is the architectural details, not the interior aesthetic, that make this apartment so amazing. I would like to see more discerning design choices in here, which would realize this apartment's true potential!
Pfft green little vase from Hobby Lobby...they went on sale recently because they were too expensive to start with.
I don't know. Looks a bit girly for three guys.
beautiful!
Yeah, the space is great. I thought the point of appearing on AT was to demonstrate what people DO with their spaces. The downstairs of this house showed a lot of promise, and the upstairs ... well, I would say this is rather conventional. So they passed through a few thrift shops and stopped by IKEA before they got their Hobby Lobby on ... whatever. Great house, so much potential.
this space...in such a wonderful SF neighborhood...serious envy. you've made such a beautiful home.
Your home is beautiful. And I'm not just speaking about it's historical architectural features. It's the fact you've each put so much work and a piece of yourselves using mixed items/pieces that were purchased, found, and handed down to you. I can't imagine filling a home that large and having to wait to purchase the right pieces. That could take a lifetime and a whole lot of cash.
Which is why I truly appreciate what you've done here. It works, it's lovely, and shows how much you've each put into keeping this 'ol gal looking completely breathtaking! Thanks for sharing it's a beauty!
This explains so much. If I'd had THAT place in San Francisco, instead of the one at 29th and Judah (in the fooooooog, across from the dive bar), I never would have run screaming from the city for the East Bay.
I love it, and I love how everybody has a slightly different style but it all works. Two questions: the computer cart in Michael's bedroom - wha-? Does he sit on the floor to compute? And the metallic-ish pieces in the dining room: it's hard to tell. Metallic paint? If so, they look great, and I'm tempted to do that. Or are they "real?"
Restraint isn't the same thing as lack of design. This is relaxed, easy, and just right without trying too hard.
For me, it's refreshing to see a house tour that doesn't have all the same furniture/art we always see, just rearranged in different configurations. I also find the idea of using found items and "making things work" more appealing than going out and buying everything new. I'm a fan.
Again, hands down the best AT house tour ever! I love the relaxed style and resourcefulness these guys employ with used furniture. The have amazing taste and style. There is a real personality to this place, which is making everyone jealous.
Inspirational...thank you for sharing!
I can't begin to tell you how much I LOVE THIS HOUSE!! Every picture I clicked gave me something else to Ooh and Ahh about. I love your choice of color palette for each room, the mix of style. It seems that you put what you like and what you love into each room - not so much what was the "trend" It does my heart good!!! The entire home is fresh and crisp but so buttery warm! I could curl up in any of the spaces and just feel at home. Great job guys!!!
I love this house tour. It is hard to make a drool-worthy home with three roommates work, but this does. Congrats, guys! (I am majorly jealous). And for those who wonder... 4000sf in SF is super (SUPER) rare - I think in this instance it is made possible by... rent control. Wonder how the landlord feels about this awesome space being rented for (likely) seriously below market rent...oh well. Love the dark bathroom. Awesome.
I love the floorplan, the woodwork and the windows. A mostly white background and no carpet is nice, too.
That said, I don't care for the decor. The light fixtures throughout...seriously?
But, yes, a beautiful space with so much potential.
Okay, what is up with all of the negativity? How about "thanks for sharing" I wish people would be required to post their own houses before being able to comment sometimes. Maybe I'm just cranky today because I am ready for the three-day weekend. But ... seriously?
Is the china cabinet in the dining area metal or spray-painted wood? Either way I dig it and would like to know. :)
Everything was going along so well... until we got to the kitchen. What happened there?!
So there's truth in the old adage, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful".
I love every square inch of your 4,000 sq. ft. home. Your imagination, taste and talent shines through in every photo!!!
Brilliant !!!
Jess, your photography couldn't be more perfect for this perfect home. Thanks to all involved for sharing it!
Unbelievably cool. This has to be the best SF apartment ever shown on AT! (Also, the photography enhances perfectly.)
How lucky you guys are! What work you have done and how amazing the results!!! Thanks for sharing.
Just don't like it. I think it is a problem with too much space filled with the wrong stuff. The first set of pics were good, this just looks like a lot of emptyish space.
how funny - here in part II, I actually like certain aspects more, yet here are more comments being a little more critical. And I love the kitchen, and the black stairs. To me, here are more glimpses of the actual souls in residence, and less feeling like props, albeit really cool props. And still - it's just an awesome house and they are super lucky. And it is very gracious for them to share.
the only negative about this house?
it is undoubtedly the place no one ever wants to leave after a party. love it!