Name: Alexis Tjian, Robert Madison, Stella, Virgil & Zito
Location: El Cerrito, California
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 5 — owned
As the Associate Photo Editor of Dwell Magazine, Alexis is no stranger to good design. Her husband Rob, a general contractor, is no stranger to making design a reality. This enviable combination is harmoniously displayed in their El Cerrito home, where authentic mid-century charm is enhanced by modern colors and textures.
Tucked up in the hills of the East Bay, El Cerrito sits northwest of Berkeley, California. Conveniently located on the BART line, and easily accessible to both Oakland and San Francisco, it has become an increasingly popular destination for young families.
Alexis and Rob purchased their home in 2005. They were particularly attracted to its affordability, amazing views, and genuine mid-century character that the previous two owners had maintained (the kitchen light fixture is original to the home!). The neighborhood offers protected trails, perfect for family strolls with their darling daughter Stella and pooches Virgil and Zito. The neighborhood is casual and friendly with neighbors who are known to gather for barbecues.
While many homes today are quickly gutted to create a uniform look known as “updated,” Alexis and Rob have elected to make only minor updates such as painting rooms and replacing the wall-to-wall carpeting in the living/dining room area with hardwood floors to match the rest of the upstairs. Leaving many elements untouched has created a rare vintage canvas, which Alexis has warmly adapted to display their personal tastes and style. She finds cohesion in contrasting elements, balancing rich colors with subtle hues and clean-lined furniture with thick, textured rugs. I particularly loved her use of old family photographs and uniquely grouped objects on display, contributing to a style that feels unconstrained, yet thoughtfully considered. The result is a fittingly warm and welcoming home, accurately portraying their desire to be around the things and people they love.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Mid-century modern with a mix of color and bohemian pop. I love mixing old and new things, homemade/flea market finds and classic design pieces. It is important to me to fill our house with things that have meaning to us, so family pieces, art made by friends and weird stuff from our lives that we should have probably gotten rid of along the way, but for some reason we like it and can’t let it go!
Inspiration: I am constantly inspired by my work, since I look at wonderful design and architecture all day while photo editing for Dwell. But even before I came to Dwell, I think I was inspired by light, color and a simple modern aesthetic that may have been an influence from my parents and definitely was solidified after I went to art school. These days there are so many ways to be inspired by art, design and architecture because of blogs and the internet and I do find myself keeping up with trends and ideas that way.
Favorite Element: One of my most favorite things in the house is the mid-century light fixture in the kitchen. It makes me happy every time I see it and I love taking pictures of it, as it has a playful whimsy…Stella likes it too. It is one of those classic pieces that I think will stay relevant through time.
Biggest Challenge: Keeping our house clean with two dogs!
What Friends Say: “Nice View!” — you can see San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge from our living room.
Biggest Embarrassment: White chairs are from JCPenney!
Proudest DIY:The canvas light piece in Stella’s room that I made after I saw one on Apartment Therapy.
Biggest Indulgence: Felt Pixel Rug in living room from Anthropologie — but I love it and it makes for the best background for pictures of Stella.
Best Advice: You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your house beautiful and feel comfortable, like a place you would want to spend time. Be creative and look for inspiration in the simple things. It is never going to be perfect but that’s what makes it great, it’s forever a work in progress, just like life!
Dream Sources:: Monument in San Francisco, Alameda Antique market (I love love love.), Flora Grubb (I am plant crazy.) Currently on my wish list is an Eames rocker, in the new color Agua, for Stella’s room!
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
• Oxford White; Benjamin Moore (living room)
ENTRY
• Plant on wood board: Flowerland in Berkeley
• Mirror: Casa Oaxaca in Albany
LIVING ROOM
• Couch: Zinc Details
• Eames lounge chair with ottoman: passed down from my dad!
• Coffee table: Target
• Rug: Anthropologie
• Keep Calm Carry On Poster: Reform School in LA
• San Francisco Poster: Ork posters
• Dog bed: Crypton
DINING ROOM
• White frames: IKEA
• Terrarium: Cactus Jungle in Berkeley (but I believe the glass part is Roost)
• Small terrariums: Flora Grubb in San Francisco
• White chairs: JC Penney
KITCHEN
• Calendar: Tail of the Yak in Berkeley
• Tea kettle: Le Creuset
• Little jars on back of oven: IKEA
• High chair: Stokke
• White credenza: IKEA
BEDROOM
• Duvet cover: IKEA
• Curtains: Urban Outfitters
• Painting: Justin Page
BATHROOM
• Hanging pot: Perch Design
BABY ROOM
• Pillows (with dog portraits): Urban Outfitters
• Credenza: Klassik Living in Berkeley
• Chair: Alameda flea market
• Crib: Stokke
• Dresser: IKEA
• Alphabet picture: Paper Source (just one sheet of wrapping paper framed!)
Thanks, Alexis, Rob & Stella!
Images: Alexis Tjian
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.
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Love the photo wall & the tile in the bathroom is stellar. Can't believe that is the original light fixture in the kitchen. Genius. What is the paint in the bedroom?
The paint color on the wall behind that mirrored dresser is fabulous.
My wife and I loved our mid-century El Cerrito home and the city is changing for the better all the time. Unfortunately, the schools in EC (or Richmond if you live on the North end) are not keeping up, and we moved to Alameda. (Bonus: closer to the Alameda Antique market.)
I've been looking for a house and neighborhood just like this in your area! Are you near Canyon Trail Park or further up in the hills? Sounds like a great 'hood with some mid-century gems!
Also, who made the veggie art in the dining room?
Where did you get the AAA (avocado, asparagus, artichoke) art? I love those pieces and have been looking for something similar.
Why is it embarrassing to own furniture from JCPenney? Who cares where it is from if it works in the room?
The house is really cute - though I would have liked to see more whole room pictures and less closeups of little vignettes.
I'm glad they haven't ripped out all the original features of the home. Really nice job working with what they have!
Your home is beautiful of course, but I'm really loving the Talib Kweli concert poster above the crib.
Great space, but I really HATE that there is an electrical cord by the baby crib... not to be a pest, but that is not exactly safe.
SCS68 Why diss on the El Cerrito schools...the reason they don't get better is because of people like you that move away! Way to scare people off from El Cerrito. I think the schools are getting better as parents get more involved. Unfortunately for you, your house will be under water with Global Warming. Too bad you left!
I am coveting your collection of Penguin classics!
hi all, love the comments...well most of them!
i will get you guys the bedroom paint color, looking into it!
as for ec as a hood, we love it but its hard to give up being walking distance to good food, stores, etc. and yes the schools are a bit on the rocks but we will give it a go, i think we are zoned for a good elementary school k-5. ec is really changing all the time, young families are moving in and i think other good things will soon follow.
the veggie prints in the kitchen were made by my sister, she will be thrilled to have the feedback. i will tell her to start selling things on etsy!
sorry about the baby hazard cord, ha! i haven't really gotten around to baby proofing yet and she isn't super mobile, but i guess that is a good point, wow... called out on that one! BAD MOM.
the talib kweli poster was made by my friend who used to work for bill graham/the fillmore. and i love it in stella's room, she will hopefully grow to appreciate hip-hop too!
not trying to hate on jc penney! just was an unexpected find for me.
thanks all.
Your sister should totally start selling those prints on Etsy: I'd consider buying them, too.
Beautiful, warm home. It looks happy.
Your kitchen light is called a Sputnik. I barely missed snagging this one at an estate sale. By minutes. http://bit.ly/gfPT6v
... why is it embarrassing that the chairs are from JCPenney? If you like them. (If you don't like them, why do you have them? >.>)
yes sputnik, that is right! i am pretty sure that the original owners put this in. and this one you are linking is amazing too, love the gold!
Love the style! I'm not plant savvy, but was wondering where that floral arrangement pictured above with the yellow sphere-like flowers is from? I've been looking for something like that for my yellow and gray bathroom.
i think they are called Craspedia Billy Balls. they are a great flower because you can dry them and they always look good. i've had that arrangement for over 2 years!
@banjo13 they are called Billy Buttons and can be found/ordered by most florists. they dry straight/curved without any major effort...i have them in my house and love the playful pop of color!
What a lovely, comfy, home. Beautiful!
I like the Talib Kweli poster in the nursery.
What a cozy, visually-appealing space. Clean, modern and colorful. And "yay" for El Cerrito. Yes, please do stay and help us make the schools better. Oh, and when you get around to child-proofing, may I suggest also addressing the cacti?
East Bay represent!!!
I love the fact that I get to see your wonderful home in El Cerrito! I really wish folks in Albany would show their lovely homes as well. I love the simple and colorful themes. I'm especially in love with your dresser. I hope to have a home someday as lovely as yours!
that looks exactly like my canvas light :) I was inspired too! Awesome.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/lighting/look-christinas-diy-lamp-069758
Get your sis on Etsy. I would love those!
Oh, come on. Chairs from J.C. Penney are your biggest embarrassment? Why?
I have that coffee table... the best cheap coffee table I've owned!
I would buy your sister's Avocado, Asparagus & Artichoke prints in a heartbeat. Please do post if she chooses to sell them! :-)
At least El Cerrito has a fancy new high school! I grew up in El Cerrito and I still enjoy visiting the area. It's nice to see the things I grew up with being popular again.
Great home. Wish I could have seen more of the rooms, but the cutest part is of course that adorable baby 8-)
this is a great example of how to incorporate mc modern in a house that you actually "live" in, rather than a glorified showroom. i like your style!(and little stella is adorable)!
I love the picture arrangements on the wall,s and your sister's prints are fabulous!
However, I agree with Josiejo - please do address the cactus on the floor next to the fireplace. I have very bad memories from having grown up with a cactus just like that. Suffice to say that I haven't inherited my Mom's love of all things cacti :)
La primera foto es buenísima, el niño es total :D
I love your sister's prints, too. I hope you frame them soon to protect them.
I LOVE this place. It's a great mix of MCM/vintage and more modern finds.
Great job making your home look comfortable AND fun. Where did you get that wooden piece on the "office" (last photo)?
Great home! Where did you get the bookshelves in the dining room - looking for something like that!
thanks ap peeps. yes the cacti is not on the floor when stella is around, thanks for lookin' out! also, absolutely no dis towards jcp, i guess it was more of a joke. i couldn't really think of a "biggest embarrassment" and my husband picked out those chairs, so you know it was more of a private jab at him, ha! i obviously love the chairs and would def shop at jcp again! i am a big fan of mixing things from all kinds of sources, family, vintage finds, big box stores, smaller hand made pieces by artists/designers and things from friends.
thanks for all the comments!
and we LOVE the EAST BAY... born and raised!
btw, spiralcma, you were my inspiration for the canvas light. so awesome!
I like the green paint on the walls of the entryway.
I do want to comment that the last two homes featured on AT seem to have been done by professionals. The one yesterday, in the Financial District of NY, was not even owned or rented by the designer. At least the one today is so occupied, but I really enjoy seeing the efforts of non-professionals.
Just a thought.
I'm diggin' the chrome bordered laminate kitchen countertop and backsplash. Too bad there wasn't a detail shot of it. I can't fathom how so many homeowners buy homes like that, tear out the chrome/laminate and stick in totally out-of-context granite.
Anyhow, rad place.
Inspiring!
My son just inherited the identical bedroom suite from his grandmother. With as nice as yours looks, he made not just use it as a starter. Super tour - adorable baby!
LOVE your photographs and artwork.
Yes, yes, yes to the vanity with the round mirror in the jade green bedroom.
I love that you kept the original kitchen cabinets too - I just moved out of a house with the plywood cabinets - and I loved them, but was somehow a little ashamed to admit it. Thanks for not having them as your biggest embarassment ;) (my biggest embarassment? people who comment on other people's childproofing). also - do you remember the name of the couch? i LOVE it.
karabeems love the comment ;)
i will look into getting you guys the couch company name and also the bedroom paint color!
we have considered doing some updating to the kitchen, but i really love it and am hesitant. if anything i could do without the white linoleum floor, as its just tough with pets and babies.
Now, look. How am I supposed to be objective about a post that opens with a cute baby with a "C'mon in!" face on?! Then to see that her nursery includes a poster with Talib Kweli?! What am I supposed to do except love this? Ok, I am going to try and go through the actual house tour now.
Love your home!
As for the school situation, a lot can happen in a few years. My husband and I have lived in our neighbourhood (a formerly rough part of East Vancouver) for 14 years. We had our first child five years ago, and people kept asking us if we were going to risk sending him to the local school, which had a bad reputation, which it may or may not have deserved. We tried to keep our minds open, and this fall he started kindergarten there. It's been great so far! If there ever were problems, the school has definitely taken steps to fix them. Yet the ghost of this school's bad reputation continues to haunt it, and I know several parents who trek their kids to schools in other catchments. Their loss, I say.
So kudos to you for keeping an open mind. Schools are only as good as the teachers, kids and parents who work together to make them that way.
I love your use of color and love the warm feeling in the nursery. The color of the couch is unexpected and really great and then when I read that the Eames chair was from your Dad, I feel like I read stuff like that all the time and think "Why couldn't I have parents with great taste in furniture" LOL! BTW, we have the same Stokke chair for our son and be careful--when they get bigger and stronger, they can push off the table. My son almost fell backward a few times except there's a wall right behind him to stop him!
What is the obsession with the keep calm and carry on poster?? I'm not a fan.
Lovely place! I really love that you worked with the original elements, esp. the kitchen. Doesn't seem fussy or cluttered, I do get a very relaxing vibe from looking at the pics.
Your kiddo is super-cute (but you knew that)! Forgive me, but I can't help it - she looks like she's riding a bus lift - that chair is too funny! ;P
@atjian - super flattered!!!! :)
gosh, people are so weird with some of these comments. your home is lovely.
do you mind sharing where you got that amazing garland from that's in your kitchen? i just love it.
I'm a PROUD Gaucho (El Cerrito High School). Aren't many of the schools in Alameda in danger of closing... El Cerritov HS has a gorgeous brand new building to welcome students to. The education is lovely too.
On a more design note, the city has some great bungalows and the hill areas boost some great views of the Bay. Literally views of both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges that are simply stunning.
Did you guys buy that gorgeous baby to accent your decor? Cute!
I too love your sister's prints! Would love to see them in a color series as well.. Red? Purple? Blue? Mmm - let us know when her store is up.
answers to some of your questions...
paint in the bedroom is gliddon flat paint in garden path
the orange couch is richter from la but i bought it as the floor model about 5 years ago at zinc details in sf, got a great deal!
the paper garland is from tail of the yak in berkeley, one of my most favorite shops!
so happy to see all of your comments and feedback.
keep 'em coming!
These faux craspedia would be perfect for banjos bathroom.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63366418/rainy-day-droopy-one-dozen-handfelted
That is the hippest high chair I've ever seen! Great place :)
How can I not love a house with a baby and a pug? I'm od'ing on cuteness right now. I like the metal coyote looking piece, is it from Mexico? I would also like to jump on the bandwagon in favor of your sister's prints.
Considering that this house was decorated by a photo editor of an architecture and design magazine, I thought it was very disappointing. Boring white walls, uninspired art work hung awkwardly and some truly ugly pieces of furniture - not impressed at all but the baby and the pug are cute.
can't win 'em all i guess!
i love how you keep small plants everywhere. this is so fresh... also, deer´s photo!