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Latest Home Tours from San Francisco

Mini House Tour: Serena's Cozy Santa Cruz Surf Shack
San Francisco

10-07serenahousetour1.jpgName: Serena Mitnik-Miller
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Size: Approximately 100-120 sq. ft.
Years lived in: 2 years, rented

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2-23-housetourlogo.jpgArtist and Mollusk Surf Shop Gallery Director Serena Mitnik-Miller sent us these photos of the tiny surf shack that she lived in, when she resided in Santa Cruz. We loved the photos so much that we decided to share them with you in this mini house tour. Next week, we'll take a peek at Serena's latest digs, a San Francisco surf shack that she shares with her boyfriend and business partner, Mason St. Peter and dog, Macie. Consider this to be a taste of what's to come.



House Tour Roundup: Colorful House Tours
San Francisco

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This morning we were thinking of all the colorful homes we've shown off in our House Tours. We pulled a few from our archives for you to enjoy during this grey, rainy weekend... Take a look, read our post on How To: Photograph Your Home, and then send us your entry for the Fall Colors Contest!

House Tour: Daniel and Jason's San Francisco Gem
San Francisco

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Name: Daniel and Jason
Location: San Francisco
Size: 1,200 sq. ft. for apartment, 1,400 sq. ft. for studio
Years lived in: 28 years

9-30-housetourlogo.jpgWhen you get the opportunity and have the means to buy the old sheet metal workers union hall (built in 1906, right after the earthquake), you take it. And that's exactly what Daniel did 28 years ago. And most of the original design is still in place, like the pressed tin tiles that adorn the lower half of most of the walls. Nestled right in the middle of the Mission, the space provides Daniel and Jason with a spacious home, and a wonderful studio large enough for Daniel to create the elaborate and large-scale art he's known for.



House Tour: Alina, Vice, Joey, and Sean's Mystical Punk House
San Francisco

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Name: Alina, Joey, Vice Cooler, and Sean
Location: Berkeley
Size: 4 bedroom, 2 bath house
Years lived in: Alina: 4 years, Joey: 1 1/2 years, Sean: 1 year, Vice: 8 months

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2-23-housetourlogo.jpgAlina, Joey, Sean, and Vice's colorful and creative Berkeley home is far from the modern, sleek, and chic houses we often feature on our house tours. But that's exactly what we love about it. It exemplifies a DIY lifestyle and a punk sensibility that's completely fitting for these unique and dynamic artists. Filled with hand-me-downs, off-the-sidewalk cast-offs, and handmade items, theirs is a cozy home for creative minds to find a restful retreat and a fun, communal spot for friends and touring musicians and artists to gather.



House Tour: Lisa Solomon's Eclectically Curated Home
San Francisco

9-16-08-solomon1.jpgName: Lisa Solomon
Location: Oakland
Size: 1800 sq. ft. total
Years lived in: 9 years

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2-23-housetourlogo.jpgAs most all y'all know 'round these parts, we here at AT:SF are enormous fans of local artist Lisa Solomon. And as fellow Oaklanders, we're especially proud that this crafty lady and her husband call the East Bay home. Their abode is a cozy collection of mix-and-match styles, unexpected art installations and good old-fashioned DIY projects.



Best of Three: Bay Area House Tours

For this week's northwest house tour special, I've chosen three very different approaches to living in the the Bay Area, that colorful, crafty, earthy part of the world. First comes Sausalito, the home of the current owners of Heath Ceramics, which shows off Heath's famous tile in all its glory...



House Tour: Leigh's Rockridge Dollhouse
San Francisco

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Name: Leigh Poindexter
Location: Rockridge, Oakland
Size: Approximately 441.97 sq. ft. (according to Leigh's calculations)
Years lived in: 0.884 years, rented

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2-23-housetourlogo.jpgLeigh sent us these beautiful pictures of her Rockridge apartment at an interesting time in her relationship to the place — right after she moved out. A photographer friend of hers took the photos for her to refer back to as she furnishes her new place, and also, we have to imagine, in honor of the love, hard work and creativity she put into this one.



House Tour: Emily and Damon's Color-Infused Northwest Nest
Portland

9-2-emily1.jpgName: Emily and Damon
Location: SE Portland, Oregon
Size: 800 sq. ft.
Years lived in: .25 years

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House-Tour-Button06.jpgEmily and Damon's colorful home first came to our attention during the '06 Fall Colors Contest. They sent us some additional photos of their colorful home -- with the note that photos are "a bit challenging with the Northwest rain season upon us, hence the somewhat moody pictures."



House Tour Roundup: 08.30.08

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We had a whopping Ten House Tours this week! So you don't miss any of them, we put together this Labor Day Weekend House Tour Special. Check out these four, and then jump below for six more.



House Tour: Phillip's Lower Haight Shared Arrangement
San Francisco

8-26-phillip1.jpgName: Phillip Maisel
Location: Lower Haight, San Francisco
Size/Type: 5 bedroom, 2 bath
Years lived in: Rented for 2.5 years

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2-23-housetourlogo.jpgPhillip moved to San Francisco from Chicago 2 1/2 years ago. His living situation is a typical San Francisco arrangement: multiple roommates sharing a house who've learned to compromise and co-exist with each other's differing styles and decor. Luckily, the apartment hasn't suffered from too many competing tastes. While it helps that the house itself has interesting and charming built-in elements, its fun vintage flare is what has definitely won us over.



House Tour: Mary and Hans' Calming Quarters
San Francisco

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Name: Mary and Hans
Location: San Francisco
Size: 1200 sq. ft.
Years lived in: 8 months
8-19-08 housetourlogo.jpgFinding a balance between simplicity and comfort in home decor can be a struggle - too simple and it can feel stark, too comfortable and it can be treacly. We have to applaud AT reader Mary for walking that fine line between the two styles and coming up a winner. And more impressive yet, the couple have maintained a calm, serene vibe throughout the home while welcoming a new baby in process. Well done.



Three Amazing House Tours
Email from 8.6.08

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Here's this week's pick of the litter that will inspire you with hundreds of cool design ideas and resources. These three house tours are faves of mine for totally different reasons. The top one, AB Chao, is actually in Louisiana, but wanted to be posted to ATSF and fits in well the the vibe. It's a stunner that has a particularly nice indoor/outdoor feel. Todd and Nicole are industrial chic and you have to check out how thoroughly they've worked Army & Navy castoffs into their home. Finally, Monique and Richard's place has the best artwork, and I love the rough walls. Enjoy!



House Tour: Moses' All Vintage All the Time
San Francisco

8-12-moses1.jpgName: Moses
Location: Twin Peaks, San Francisco
Favorite: The original 1940's kitchen faucet that comes straight out of the wall

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"I cannot live in a white or off-white room," says Moses when we talk about the blue wall in his bedroom. In fact, he painted the wall blue the day he moved in so as to not have to spend one night in a white walled room. Dark blue, he says, helps him sleep. Moses is an historic preservationist and it shows. In addition to preserving architecture as a profession, Moses preserves history via his wardrobe, his collections, and his car. From his hand embossed business cards, to his antique filing boxes, Moses embodies a more elegant and civilized era.



House Tour: Paul's Eclectic and Elegant Home
San Francisco

8-5-08paulhomelivingroom.jpgName: Paul Ybarbo
Location: The Clay-Jones, Nob Hill
Size: 1250 sq. ft.
Years lived in: Bought in November, 2007

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2-23-housetourlogo.jpgThe first thing we noticed (besides everything...) when we walked into Paul Ybarbo's apartment was the amazing architectural details. His home has some of the most intricate and beautiful moulding we've seen in awhile. Match that with Paul's eclectic, tasteful and opulent furniture and art choices and you've got one of the most beautiful apartments in all of San Francisco. Oh, and did we mention he has a grand piano? In an apartment?! Love, we love...



Update: Annie and Eric's Art-Filled Ocean Beach House

8-4-annieeric.jpgIt was only a few months ago that we shot Annie and Eric's house tour, but the couple has since decided to make a big change: move across the bay to Alameda, into a bigger place where they plan to start a family. The good news? They've already agreed to give us a tour of their new home once they're settled, and the home we featured is now for sale, if anyone out there is looking . . .