SF House Tour: Gehry and Lanya’s Life Meets Art

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published May 6, 2008

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Name: Gehry and Lanya

Location: Oakland

Size: 1150 sq. ft. 1 bedroom in an 1896 Victorian home

Years Lived in: 2

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

“The apartment is special and worth honoring,” says Lanya. Both Gehry and Lanya love to travel and have an incredible knack for creating community. Their home is the nexus of those interests and is seeped in the impact of the people they have met around the world and around the corner. Specifically, the color palette and the impromptu dance space attest to the amount of time they have spent in South and Central America…

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Recently, they threw a party and asked all the guests to contribute a piece of art. Now, the house teems with their own creativity as well as the expressions of their neighbors.

The home has definitely been a work in progress. The constraint of living within the landlord’s guidelines and landlord’s tastes is tough for Gehry but he works around it as best he can. Gehry and Lanya also work around the fact that their house is haunted and there is nothing they can do about it but embrace the ghosts and move on.

Gehry and Lanya enjoy the expansiveness of their home and appreciate the light and the views with every meal, and every time they sit up in bed.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

AT Survey:

Style: arts/crafts vs. modernist

Inspiration: japanese (and local artists)

Favorite Element: sunlight bouncing off the angled walls; leaving window sills free of clutter; views are amazing

Biggest Challenge: working around the permanent elements imposed by the owner, and keeping it clean!

Biggest Embarrassment: liking spiderwebs

Proudest DIY: tile table over card catalog

Biggest Indulgence: custom cut organic futon cushions over wood core doors (for sitting and enjoying tea)

Dream Source: The earth.

Thanks, Gehry and Lanya!

(Edited from a post originally posted by Jill on AT:NY on 06.06.07; posted again with edits by MGR on AT:NY on 08.20.07; and again by Jill on AT:NY on 12.03.07)