Name: Mason St. Peter and Serena Mitnik-Miller
Location: Outer Sunset, San Francisco, CA
Size: 400 sq. ft.
Years lived in: Mason: Since July 2007, Serena: Since July 2008
>> Enter Slideshow
San Francisco's Outer Sunset, the part that tickles the toes of Ocean Beach, is unlike any other area in the city. True, it's often colder and foggier in these parts, but there's a laid back beach town feel, a sense of community, and a growing art and cultural scene that reminds me of a place like Santa Cruz. It's not surprising then, that this is where architect Mason St. Peter and artist Serena Mitnik-Miller have made their home.
Mason and Serena, business partners of Two Birds Fly, a green company that curates the art and design of surfboards, had to find creative ways to make more living space when Serena moved in this past July. Nestled in back of the main house inhabited by their landlords, their bungalow is of modest size. But with innovative solutions like a lofted bedroom in a tiny crawl space that can only be accessed via ladder, a built-in long table running along the kitchen wall, a tool shed made from wood pallets, and so many shelves throughout the house, the house doesn't feel cramped or overpacked with furniture. We like their mix of worn wood pieces, color arranged items, found objects, amazing artwork, and beautiful furniture. But we mostly appreciate that their main interests -- an active lifestyle (surfing, skating, biking, gardening), art, and their love for each other -- are so obvious in their decor.
AT Survey:
My/Our Style: Surf-shack modular built-in.
Inspiration: A desire to create a comfortable and uncramped home within a small amount of space.
Favorite Element: The studio.
Biggest Challenge: Limited amount of space.
What Friends Say: Wow!
Biggest Embarrassment: Lack of space.
Proudest DIY: Ladder leading up to lofted bedroom, kitchen shelves, bathtub installation, other shelves.
Biggest Indulgence:Our art collection and our surfboards.
Best Advice: It's only money.
Dream Source: An unlimited online resource for any and all amazing building materials and furniture.
Resources:
Appliances: builders resource, Craigslist
Hardware: The street, builders resource, hardware store
Furniture: Craigslist, Valencia street shops, DIY projects
Accessories: garage sales, the street, Craigslist
Lighting: re-use from other's projects
Flooring: builders resource
Artwork: Works by Geoff McFetridge, Thomas Campbell, Nat Russell, Amy Jo Diaz, Dave Muller, Johanna St. Clair, Hillary Pecis, Robin Bright and Serena Mitnik-Miller.
Window Treatments: Ross
Rug/Carpet: Someday, we hope to get our dream rug.
Paint: re-use from other's projects
Bed: Craigslist
Other: everywhere, always looking
(Thanks, Mason and Serena!)
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Comments (56)
Wow. What a great sense of personal style. Thanks, AT.
I'm impressed that two people can comfortably live in such a small space (and with a full sized dog!). It looks lovely and like it evolved organically as a home should. I especially like the artwork, which I am assuming is Serena's?
I love the way they made this place their own. The garden is great. And that is the most unpretentious Eames chair I've ever seen.
Love the laid back feel of this place. Really liked all the artwork and I'm totally jealous of your lovely garden. Very nice!
so nice. i want to spend a sunny afternoon there - painting, reading, sipping sweet tea...
Cmu, the artwork featured in photos 20, 21 & 27 is Serena's work.
cute couple, cute place, cute , cute , cute
and I just have to ask..
are those glass water bongs as garden art?
sorry!
from my understanding, those glass pieces in the garden used to be part of a sewage treatment facility. they're clear so the sewage could be visually monitored. charming, eh?
Greatly impressed that two people and a large sized dog can all fit into such a small space and still love one another. With that said, I feel a little short of breath just looking at the photos. I think this little space could be made exceptional with a MAJOR decluttering session. It seems incredibly overstuffed IMHO. But I'm very thankful, as always, to have the opportunity to see inside someone's home!
What a nice couple and cute place- thank you for sharing...
Great looking couple in a fun fun fun house. Reminds me of the wonderful house we visited in Stinson Beach last summer. Loved CA!
Very cute! Unfortunately, having lived two blocks from Ocean Beach, I know there aren't many sunny days to be had out there. The cold is numbing all year long, save two or three days.
thank you, how fun and adorable!
They are of course adorable and the place is cute, I guess, but I hyperventilate a little looking at those pictures. (I'm not even kidding.) Clutter is just not a design aesthetic that works for me. At all.
thank you for sharing this place with us; it's packed with individuality and style. places like this are a lot more impressive and meaningful than the homes that look like a cookie-cutter magazine cover.
fabulous place!!!
This is wonderful!! It's such a reflection of personal style, and done so well! It's like nothing I've ever seen before! I love it! =)
I love this place! oh how i want to live in a tiny house by the ocean one day... I love all the plants, I want plants in my bathroom too (if only it had a window...) And Serena, your art is beautiful and I love your mexican tunic!
Clutter smlutter! I love it. Clutter happens when you're living life!
Also, I love the Mark Gonzalez board (yellow face)!
I love it so much! One of the best homes I've ever seen on AT.
love
Ditto. One of the best home tours on AT.
They seem so happy.
I grinned with every click. Fun---I felt like I was back on what used to be the southeast coast of Texas collecting driftwood and other treasures.
Their place is amazing. this is probably my favorite house tour ever.
Growing up in Santa Barbara surfing, skateboarding and riding bikes it is often hard to find a place to keep all the toys. you have put together a nice home and have not let all of these things consume your space but be a part. I live near by and love the earthly soulfulness.. the avenues can be souless. you guys are too cute.
Sorry a little too cute for me.
Would you consider adopting a 24yo? I don't eat much and I spend most of the day sitting on the floor reading/translating, I won't take up more than a cushion in a corner, I promise.
I WANT TO LIIIVEEEE THEEEEREEE!
End of the coffee attack of 10.00AM. Back to work.
that is a wonderful home, thank you for giving us a tour. i must agree - one of the best houses ever.
(where is it "too cute"?? there is nothing cute about it.)
What a happy home, where the surf boards and skate boards that bring you joy blend with such natural ease in your home decor.
Also agree that the multi-color Eames chairs (is one of them homemade copy?) and the lounger are displayed in the most unpretentious way ever. Not sitting stiffly in a living room as a show piece, but totally a part of your artistic and comfy home.
love it...but how long does it take to water those flowers?! and what is the one hanging in the shower seemingly without a pot...?
I like that they've kept the main living area uncluttered (by comparison) to the kitchen and studio. and, i think work spaces, esp if you're an artist, are going to be cluttered.
What a happy place! The photos brilliantly capture the vibe of this love shack. And I don't see clutter at all, I see carefully chosen items that each have a home and a personality. Very well done.
I have to agree with others, this is one of the best houses on we have seen on AT.
Dusting must be a full time job.
What a great house tour....I love the photos, esp the ones with the couple in them! That's what's missing in most house tours...personality.
Makes me want a surf shack myself...I can smell the ocean air now....
Ton of fun. I want all of your bazillion plants. and I, too, want a window in my bathroom so I can grow vandas.
Have to agree that this is one of the top 5 AT homes of all time (and it's not even an apartment). "clutter" is crap that gets in the way - these objects look like well-integrated parts of these people's (gorgeous) life. As a former surfer, I'm impressed by the hanging wetsuits and ordered boards - it's the least messy surf shack I've ever seen!
I love the ladder, the loft, the coherence - Eames and weathered wood - I guess this is the pinnacle of bobo, meant in the kindest way.
Even though it isn't my style, I like clean lines, clean surfaces, etc....This is a very cute and well-designed home! And it is just so homey, and the designer furniture is like someone said, arranged unpretentiously.
BTW you have the same DWR couch as I do, so maybe we have the same tastes after all?
I cant wait to submit my studio!
Blogger: Please put a 'back to original post' link with the slideshow, will ya? Cheers.
gryt: thanks for the suggestion! done.
can anyone please tell me what the orange-ish plant in photo number 10 is? i'd like to have some of those.
really cool. sums up life near the ocean.
geoffm: i believe it is a type of succulent called aeonium arboreum
nice, real, lived in...i appreciate seeing people in their homes...
You can almost, hear and smell the ocean. Nice feel, I agree with a previous comment a tad cluttered but really, when you are loving life, who cares.
LOVE that big brown triangle!
i love the studio too!
http://simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/
Inspiring and amazing. Love your use of color and plants and imagination!
Hello! Is your mom Linda? She married Glenn Raymond of Washington years ago? I am Kristals' best friend who went to Orange County when we were kids and visited you guys. Wondered what ever happened to your mom, she was so great to us girls and I'd love to get back in touch with her. Fastnetti@hotmail.com I have a Facebook and Myspace as well. Hope you and yours are well! Get back to me when you get a chance!
Reminds me of a summer cottage or camp. Nice for a weekend getaway.
Holy cow!! I am in such love for this place and how much you to love each other and have created a wonderful little bungalow by the sea! In shot 35 I think it is I have those same 3 glass storage dishes with the clear glass tops! Also LOVE the small stretched canvas art of the green plant. Is this something you created or did you buy? I would be very interested in finding out! Thanks!
p.s. I also agree with others comments of top 5 favorite house tours, this place truly is a GEM!
It is a well-loved home, but I don't think I could breathe in there! Way too much stuff in such a small space, plenty of which looks like it would be knocked over all the time. The living room looks like the most comfortable room in the house.
Really loveable and workable and earthy. If you don't mind me asking....How do you HEAT yourselves up?....(other than that...) I live in SF and it's incredibly cold old where you are. I would imagine that you bundle up? Space heaters? I don't see any sort of heating system. Congrats on a wonderful space...and thank you for sharing.
pretty cool, very california, now where does the pooch sleep?
Thank you!
A little late showing up here. This makes me want to design, build and live in a house surrounded by only what I find on the beach. 'cept for the kitchen, but you know what I'm talking about.
The found wood made into furniture is soulful, too. In addition to the rest of the soul built into this sweet, sweet place.
I'd kinda like to live in that beach shack from Local Hero, totally built from beach finds...the guy who wouldn't sell his beach to the big oil company. "Who would tend the beach?" he'd said.
Oh my gosh, they are so absolutely adorable and happy! I will be smiling all day just seeing their sweet faces!!
They could plunk this place right down in Pleasure Point. Love.
I think the only clutter is in the office/art spot. Offices are like that; not as much optional stuff. This place is pretty spare in the living areas.
Like the all-blue dishware and mismatched pots. No idea what a surfboard art curator is, but this place is the way it ought to be!
Reminds me so much of Hana, Maui. Honest, simple, happy and real.
I love glossy, staged shoots as much as anyone, but its great to see a home that is truly lived in.
Can I sleep over?!
:)