My Houzz: Endless Summer in a 1954 Northern California Home
White walls serve as the backdrop for an artist’s laid-back style and original artwork
“I wanted to purchase a house that was close to the beach,” says Bersamina, pictured here with his surfboard. He loves that his favorite surfing spots, including Bolinas, Stinson Beach, Salmon Creek, Ocean Beach and Sea Ranch, are a convenient drive away.
“A smoker had lived here prior to us moving in. The walls and ceiling needed painting badly,” the homeowner says. For a clean, crisp look, Bersamina painted the walls and ceiling with White Dove from Benjamin Moore.
Painting at left: Sydney Cohen; rocking chair: Eames molded plastic armchair rocker in Blush
Painting at left: Sydney Cohen; rocking chair: Eames molded plastic armchair rocker in Blush
The wood-burning fireplace showcases a number of art pieces, including an original colorful wood wall sculpture and river rocks in the fire box.
On mantel, left to right: framed abstract: John Bucklin; ocean scene and diptych: Marie Van Elder; tiny collage: Donnalynn Chase; “Man in Black Hat” drawing: daughter Olive Bersamina; “It’s Not a Dumb Idea” print: Susan O’Malley
On mantel, left to right: framed abstract: John Bucklin; ocean scene and diptych: Marie Van Elder; tiny collage: Donnalynn Chase; “Man in Black Hat” drawing: daughter Olive Bersamina; “It’s Not a Dumb Idea” print: Susan O’Malley
Area rugs warm up the refinished concrete floors. The large painting is an original piece.
Table and chairs: West Elm; browse more contemporary dining chairs
The kitchen was a DIY project using cabinets and wooden butcher block countertops from Ikea. Bersamina replaced the existing appliances, hood and sink and tiled the backsplash himself.
Painting on left: Marie Van Elder; yellow painting (near doorway): Judy Starbuck Sorro; round sculpture (on top of refrigerator): Leo Bersamina; wood wall sculpture: Jeff King
Painting on left: Marie Van Elder; yellow painting (near doorway): Judy Starbuck Sorro; round sculpture (on top of refrigerator): Leo Bersamina; wood wall sculpture: Jeff King
The homeowner spends a lot of time in the kitchen and especially at the counter bar. “It has an open feel with a lot of light,” he says.
Painting: Marie Van Elder
Painting: Marie Van Elder
The homeowner painted the existing cabinetry over the sink white and swapped out the wooden backing for frosted glass. “We wanted open cupboards in the kitchen, and a friend suggested that we use frosted glass behind them to allow the light in,” Bersamina says.
The homeowner painted one wall a dark blue to add depth and contrast to the dining room, and to accentuate an original mixed-media piece made of found wool and acrylic, titled Grow.
Both the ceramic tiles displayed on top of the bookshelf and the large architectural drawing are original pieces. The cork-topped table was designed by one of Bersamina’s favorite designers, Ilse Crawford, for Ikea’s Sinnerlig line.
Both the ceramic tiles displayed on top of the bookshelf and the large architectural drawing are original pieces. The cork-topped table was designed by one of Bersamina’s favorite designers, Ilse Crawford, for Ikea’s Sinnerlig line.
The homeowner painted the existing original closet doors in White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
Dog painting and ink figure drawing: Marie Van Elder; painting over bed: Leo Bersamina
Dog painting and ink figure drawing: Marie Van Elder; painting over bed: Leo Bersamina
Hanging above a desk in the homeowner’s bedroom is more original art.
Reworked photo collage: April Deacon; graphite bird drawing: Leo Bersamina; seascape and portrait in oil: Marie Van Elder
Reworked photo collage: April Deacon; graphite bird drawing: Leo Bersamina; seascape and portrait in oil: Marie Van Elder
The bathroom was renovated with a new walk-in shower, vanity and toilet plus new tile and paint.
The framed driftwood art is another original piece.
Vanity: Home Depot; yellow mirror: Langesund, Ikea
The framed driftwood art is another original piece.
Vanity: Home Depot; yellow mirror: Langesund, Ikea
A third bedroom was turned into a TV room and is a favorite spot for Bersamina and his daughter to watch movies. The portrait, painting, drawing and abstract encaustic painting are all original pieces.
Seascape art: Marie Van Elder
Seascape art: Marie Van Elder
Hanging above a sleeper sectional in the bedroom-turned-TV room is another original piece.
Sectional: Friheten, Ikea
Sectional: Friheten, Ikea
This bathroom was also renovated with a new walk-in shower, vanity and toilet and new tile.
Wall paint: Yellow Groove, Behr; seascape painting: Marie Van Elder; landscape painting: John Bucklin
Wall paint: Yellow Groove, Behr; seascape painting: Marie Van Elder; landscape painting: John Bucklin
A utility shelf adds storage to daughter Olive’s bedroom.
The front yard is a work in progress. “I plan to put in planting boxes for a vegetable garden,” the homeowner says.
All the homes on Bersamina’s street were designed by the same architectural firm, Anshen & Allen, which Joseph Eichler commissioned to build homes in his modernist style. “The houses are all great designs and are still fairly affordable,” he says.
Garage paint: Yellow Groove, Behr
All the homes on Bersamina’s street were designed by the same architectural firm, Anshen & Allen, which Joseph Eichler commissioned to build homes in his modernist style. “The houses are all great designs and are still fairly affordable,” he says.
Garage paint: Yellow Groove, Behr
This oak tree in the side yard is over 500 years old. “It seems that they built the house around the tree,” Bersamina says. “Summers are spent outside under the tree or by the pool.”
The exterior was originally beige, and the homeowner repainted it a cool gray — Kindling by Behr. The door is painted a cheery yellow, Yellow Groove by Behr.
Bersamina built a new fence using redwood strip planks, or bender board, from Home Depot.
“I love coming home,” Bersamina says. “In summer it feels like I am on vacation. In winter it feels cozy and inviting. We are very happy here.”
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Leo Bersamina and his 13-year-old daughter, Olive
Location: Novato, California
Size: 1,260 square feet (117 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Leo Bersamina says his home looks like it was decorated by a “hippie-surf-mid-modern-Euro-Californian who has traveled a lot and likes a lot of different things.” The native San Francisco Bay Area artist, professor and surfer lives in a 1954 home in Novato, California, designed by architects Bob Anshen and Steve Allen. Its airy indoor-outdoor design, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the main living room, works well with his mementos from surfing trips to Latin America, Fiji, Hawaii, Australia and Europe, as well as with his original art and collected pieces from friends.
Since he moved in a few years ago, Bersamina has put his practical and visual skills as an artist to use in updating the home. The house, he says, “was in less-than-average state: bad paint, carpet, old bathrooms and kitchen that really needed renovating.” Bersamina painted the interior walls and ceiling, removed the existing carpet, refinished the original concrete floors and updated the kitchen, two bathrooms and outdoor spaces.
Rug: Valby Ruta, Ikea