Name: Author Mary Roach & Graphic Designer/Illustrator Ed Rachles
Location: Glenview — Oakland, California
Size: 1,800 square feet
Years lived in: 7 — owned
Mary Roach's best-selling books, like Stiff and Packing for Mars, invite readers to unusual places such as morgues, labs, and outer space. In her books, Mary reveals the science (and humor) behind dead bodies, sex, and errr…other funky stuff. With this, one might expect that Mary, and her husband Ed, live in a home crawling with creepy curiosities like "skulls, plastinated specimens, or other book-related relics". Rather, their nest is infested with artful charm and relaxed style that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Mary and Ed live in a 1912 California Craftsman bungalow located in the eclectically comfortable Glenview neighborhood in Oakland. They love living in Oakland and appreciate the convenience and affordability, fantastic restaurants on Park Boulevard, and people-watching around Lake Merritt as the sun sets in the pink sky. Mary writes in a downtown Oakland office, which she shares with several other writers and radio types. So for Mary, being at home means relaxing while listening to beautiful tunes wafting from their musical neighbors, bird (and squirrel) watching, and seeing flora out of every window. Ed is an illustrator and graphic designer who is good with tools; a skill he learned from his dad.
Ed's craftiness shows itself throughout their house, especially in the recently remodeled kitchen that he installed. It has a green twist, both figuratively and literally. They selected a Cricket Field green floor, which exudes a simple freshness; especially, since Mary notes that the floor color was their most difficult decision. The material is Marmoleum, featured on Apartment Therapy before, and made from renewable resources: linseed oil, wood flour, pine resin, natural pigments and a jute backing. Also environmentally sustainable, their black Richlite paper countertops (similar to those shown here on re-nest) have a laboratory-chic vibe, which Mary said she wanted, befittingly. Other unique touches include: vintage-inspired orange pendant lights, a built-in breakfast nook accented with throw pillows made by Ed (of course), and Sears' scratch-n-dent appliances that look full-priced.
Mary and Ed like to collect things: art pieces and ephemera that move them (in more ways than one). Their collection comes from family, friends or people they know in the community, like the artists with developmental disabilities from Creative Growth and Creativity Explored, two local nonprofit visual art centers. Look further to discover some particularly curious and comedic morsels lurking between the cracks...
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Random.
Favorite Element: A turny staircase with a funny little long window.
What Friends Say: "Hey, get your doorbell fixed!"
Biggest Embarrassment: Redoing the kitchen.
Proudest DIY: Redoing the kitchen. (Ed did it!)
Biggest Indulgence: Redoing the kitchen.
Best Advice: Marry an Ed.
Dream Sources: Alameda Flea Market.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Benjamin Moore: Yellow (in kitchen) is "Regal Wall Satin Base 1 Color 09-2904-B-2" from Mark's Paint Mart in Oakland
ENTRY
- • Blue console table: Ed made it from scratch!
• Art: Creativity Explored
• Metal collage art : by Grant Ditzler
LIVING ROOM
- • Bent plywood coffee table: David Brunicardi he makes them to order in his warehouse in the Sunshine biscuit factory in Oakland
• Blue leather chair: Alameda Flea Market (aka Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire)
• Cedar of Lebanon long bench: Paul Smith (now in Los Angeles)
• Fish top table: French 50s 60s (store in Los Angeles)
• Rocking chair: L&G Stickley antique (I bought it for 40 bucks from a friend's old landlord in the Haight. Bud Morey, his name was.)
• Lamp with spiral metal base: also from Bud Morey (actually he gave it to me, because he thought it was so ugly.)
• Sculpture (on the mantel): from Creative Growth
• Side table with refrigerator pan top: Academy of Art University auction
• Windmill silkscreen print: by Lily Rachles (Ed's daughter)
• Kangaroo rat iphoto: by David Liittschwager
• Rug: Crate & Barrel
DINING ROOM
- • Dining table: some antiques place in Marin
• Rug: bought from Ed's ex-wife
• Curtains: IKEA
• Dining chairs: from garage sales
• Nail box art: by Tim Barrett
KITCHEN
- • Architect for kitchen remodel: Bill Engelhardt. He does lots of renovations in the Oakland area. Reasonable and super professional.
• Refrigerator: Fisher and Paykel (from Sears' Outlet scratch-n-dent warehouse in San Leandro)
• Stainless stove hood: General Appliance of Berkeley
• Flooring: Marmoleum (natural linoleum made from renewable, natural ingredients), color Cricket Field
• Flooring installation: by John Frick of Frick Flooring and Installation (he's really good)
• Countertops: Richlite (paper-based solid sheets made from FSC-Certified and/or recycled sources).
• Cabinets: Cabinets by John (seriously, that's the business name)
• Cabinet hardware: House of Antique Hardware (good deals)
• Orange pendant light fixtures: Rejuvenation
• Penny tiles on backsplash: Art Tile (store located on Broadway in Oakland)
• Blue bench cushions: made by Teal Major at Slips in Berkeley
• Metal small table: from a neighborhood store called Fernseed, that reconditions old stuff (closed recently). Her stuff was kinda great. She took cheap old plastic outdoor chairs and painted them cool colors. Made huge hanging lamps from hula hoops and fabric, and tables from old suitcases. Really creative.
• Tulip photograph: by Jeff Lindeman, General Manager of Mountain View Cemetery
• Black & white photographs: Phoebe Rachles
• Figures of little men in the black suits (on the kitchen shelves): from Venezuela, depict patron saint Jose Gregorio Hernandez
BEDROOM
- • Birds art print: by Lily Rachles
• Landscape photographs: by Ed Rachles
• Sepia tone photograph: by Susan West
BATHROOM
- • Little hand soaps: Plastic Foliage
OUTDOOR DECK
- • Blue bench: Ed and Lily made it together
• Old chaise lounge chair: Alameda Flea Market
DEN
- • Footstools/hassocks: Ebay
• Bookshelf: Fenton MacLaren (painted green by Ed)
• Rug: Anthropologie
• TV console: IKEA (Ed added the casters)
• San Francisco Giants print: by Lily Rachles
Thanks, Mary & Ed!
Images: Beth Lundell Garver
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LOVE LOVE LOVE this house. Totally my style and love that their office is so messy. Very real!
Charming indeed. Very comfortable and pleasant.
wow I love those little men in suits so much...and the hands on the bathroom mirror.
only thing I find creepy/gross is the food in the bathroom
Might be my personal favorite house tour ever. Love this style. So charming.
That whole place is like a breath of fresh air!
Really beautiful home. The write up leaves me cold, though. Because Mary Roach wrote a book exploring the strange world of morgues, we should expect for her to live with skulls and formaldehyde jars?
what is the paints name for the green in the dining room?
Love it and want to live there. Packing my bag now. A real place for real people!
I love this. It looks like a wonderful, cozy place to be inspired! Especially the padded wraparound bench seating!
I couldn't be more in love with this home. I love the art, the small whimsical touches throughout, but most of all the way they tied the same shade of green thematically throughout the house without it being obnoxious. Even if I had no idea who Mary Roach or Ed Rachles were, I could tell by their home what warm, thoughtful, and witty people they are.
I haven't even taken the full tour and I love this house already. I can tell it's a happy and quixotic place.
Very welcoming home. Love the office. Finally some realism on AT! Woot!
i love it. so many lovely windows!
the kitchen made me sigh with longing. while i love all the little "things" everywhere, the thought of having to pick them up and dust them makes me a little itchy.
overall, i'd move in tomorrow. please?
The names of the items on the bathroom shelf killed me dead. I laughed for a good two minutes.
This tour has that homey, organic feel that a lot of tours on AT have been sadly lacking lately. It has nothing to do with schools of decorating or how much money was spent, just a feeling that the home genuinely reflects the interests of the people who live there.
Amen - finally a messy office in which people actually work.
What a warm and personable home. Love the careful arrangements but lack of fussiness.
Mr. Modtomic - I thought similarly but it actually just made me chuckle. Must have been deliberate.
Wow, I am bookmarkin' this one!
very charming. love the unmatched chairs in the dining room
Cute place...but was wondering about the can of beans in the bathroom...then I got it! Good sense of humor.
apartmenttherapy - you've TOTALLY redeemed yourself.
Mary Roach is my favorite author and I just got finished reading Bonk, then loaned out her last 2 books to a friend.
I'm so ecstatic that you've given me a glimpse into her home.
I LOVE Mary's books, so I was excited to check it out just based on that, but this has got to be one of my favorite tours in a long time on top of that.
In love with this. I totally wish I could get my house to look/feel like this. And it's settled - VCT flooring or similar in my next kitchen.
I like how green, yellow, and red are used fearlessly and well in this home.
Yay! Love her books and now I like her nest too :D
For a writer your interview was very succinct - you and your home is breath of fresh air :)
*are a breath.
My grammar is off today!
Having loved the book Stiff, it was fun to get a peak inside her house. I love how the colors tie together. Very nice!
Packing for Mars and Bonk were very interesting books and definitely piqued my interest in Mary and Ed, who are so much a part of the writing (Ed's appearances in the work are hilarious). Thanks for letting us look into your home--such gorgeous art and objects! great colors! no pets though?
I love Mary Roach's books. I've read all of them twice and I just giggle in bed the whole time. I'm not surprised that she has an awesome house w/ beautiful colors. It's refreshing to see she lives like a normal person.
Different strokes for different folks.
OMG I love her books and saw Mary speak at UCSB (my alma mater and current employer) recently!! How neat!
ADORE THIS HOUSE! All the elements are there:
great art, nice wall colors, and fantastic wood details. I'm also coveting the bench area in the kitchen. Hope my future home looks very much like this!
Love her books, and absolutely love this home. It's so "lived-in" and that is refreshing. Bravo to AT and Ms. Roach!
Pi - The remarks about "skulls, plastinated specimens, or other book-related relics” actually came from Mary when I first contacted her about the tour. She didn't want me to be disappointed not to see those things.
Mr. Modtomic - Roach's Nest. DEFINITELY intentional. Check out Mary's website, for reinforcement. Admittedly, I couldn't resist the pun.
Strawberry79, klt108, & everyone else you enjoyed the messy office - I LOVED photographing this space. As I told Mary, a well loved mess can be extraordinarily beautiful and real. It's OK to let things go in some places; for some creative types (like me) it's downright necessary.
Yvette - As an AT house tour blogger, you have stated my mission perfectly.
Chanmeleon - The kitchen floor is Marmoleum. It has zero VOCs, unlike VCT (vinyl composition tile). And it looks great too!
There's so much cool artwork it belongs in a museum. I dying to know what those three framed mini pictures are in the dining room! The only thing I didn't really like were the doll hands -- a bit creepy -- but everything else was awesome.
I agree with the above posters that this space feels very "real" to me, even without the messy office! Even the food in the bathroom is obviously a shared joke that has taken on a life of its own.
And I really love that reddish/purply paint color in the office...
How perfectly apt that Mary Roach, who writes hilariously and in a very approachable way about topics that are just so universally interesting, would live in a home that reflects all those characteristics! The humor, honesty, comfort, friendliness, and also clearly smart & creative elements in her home fit the personality that comes through in her books. Love her, love her home.
Bonk, a MUST READ. Lovely welcoming abode.
This house is absolutely wonderful! It is warm, personal, approachable, and smart. The poor cat is still scared by my loud hoot of laughter at the collection of "interestingly" named items in the bathroom....
I love that Mary and Ed have so many things in their collection that reflect the community in which they live. Those non-profit centers for artists with developmental disabilities are really something special -- and I'm glad these guys are in tune to that.
Going to check out my first Mary Roach book now! Thanks, AT and Roachles!
LOVE her. love love love. her home seems to reflect her personality, which i also love.
It's far, far too tidy for a writer's home. And where are the collected piles of piles and piles? That's research! I expected something more eclectic and jumbled, like a writer's mind. But it's a great place for you and Ed anyway. Do you have a messy office elsewhere?
Brilliant. Very charming
STUNning colours =)
Great place!
I love the built-in seating near the kitchen pass-through, and the Marmoleum floor. I just put Marmoleum in my office and it's fabulous.
This house looks like someone actually LIVES there. And its cute and mildly sarcastic to boot.
A great writer AND a Giants fan? Mary, you rock!! (We're originally East Bay-ers, now stuck in Texas.) I also want to thank you for, in part, inspiring my daughter to make science her career. She's now an aquatic biologist. Wonderful home, Mary and Ed. Thanks, AT!
Another request for the green paint in the dining room. Wonderful, eclectic place that appears to have come together very organically. We all know how difficult that can be!
Wow! What a breath of fresh air. I especially like the nook--so inviting. Great use of color. Clean, lively, attainable, effortlessly homey. Thanks for sharing!
Love the Green and Gold, especially in Oakland - but that Giants poster has to go.
I love the breakfast nook. The lighting is beautiful, it has great storage, and the painting is interesting. Thank you for sharing!
I love this house and the colors. I don't see pictures of the refrigerator or the "media center" in the tour, and am very curious, especially about the home for the television. Also: Owners do not reveal source of the two red couches, which are awesome. Any chance for some additional information? Thank you.
Lovely home, but 60 photos, really? enough already
This is just what I would have expected Mary's house to be, colorful, witty and full of style and fun. Anyone who can laugh in the face of death like Mary does can live in a home full of joy! I love the entire home but especially the kitchen layout and the deck!
The little glow-in-the-dark gentleman on the bookshelf is Señor Misterioso. I'm not sure if he's still available anywhere, but he guides me through life from the dashboard of my car.
http://www.mcphee.com/senor/stories.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blaidd/sets/72157594505703290/
Love the hands on the bathroom mirror, and the...cough, cough...motivational food in the bathroom! I don't very often refer back to the original post (link at the top), but you're house made me go back and read again. Love the warmth and humor! and Mr. Modtomic: Roaches live in nests, Mary's last name is Roach...what doesn't compute?
The linoleum in the upstairs office!! My house in LA: little bungalow craftsman, had the same in the kitchen but too far gone to keep, except in the bottom of the kitchen cupboards.
You house is wonderful and the stuff: Nifty!
I love the green bookshelves against the neutral walls! Especially with the red couch right next to them.
Beatiful and interesting home. Does Lily Rachles sell her windmill silkscreen print? I love it!
You chose warm and beautiful wall colors, and I love the way the living room wall color complements the green curtains. I wonder about all of the white trim throughout the house and white painted wood paneling in the dining room though. Is that covering the beautiful orange wood trim throughout most Craftsmans? It would look much better as warm wood, without the white, even if that does not photograph as well or look like Martha Stewart. If you are the ones who painted over that, then god help you. The kitchen was well done and I like that you are green. I have to disagree with you about the restaurants in Glenview. They are all terrible.
Very fond of this space - warm and welcoming and charming without looking too "done".
I love this space. Thank you for all the close ups of the art. I really like the write up as well.
It's exactly as I would have pictured her home to be - so cozy and full of humor. Love it!
Love the green--especially in the kitchen.
La la la love the greens.
I grew up in a house full of writers but they weren't that tidy... Still aren't, but regardless, our house was always warm and homey. This place is like what our house could be if the writers were ever actually home.