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My Houzz: An Airy Converted Warehouse is the Perfect Live/Work Space
Clever use of furniture make the most of this spacious home, and the sleek photography studio attached makes for the perfect live/work space
Photographer Nicolo Sertorio and research scientist Seonok Lee were looking for a spacious, multifunctional home with an easy commute to San Francisco. They found what they wanted in a 3,300-square-foot unit that’s part of a live-work community in Oakland once owned by artist Bruce Beasley in 1989 and designed in collaboration with architect Thomas Dolan.
Working closely with architect Marc DiGiacomo, they converted their big, blank box into a modern living space with a photography studio for Sertorio’s commercial photography business.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Nicolo Sertorio, Seonok Lee and their cat, Romeo
Location Oakland, California
Architect DiGiacomo Architect
Size 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Year built 1989
Working closely with architect Marc DiGiacomo, they converted their big, blank box into a modern living space with a photography studio for Sertorio’s commercial photography business.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Nicolo Sertorio, Seonok Lee and their cat, Romeo
Location Oakland, California
Architect DiGiacomo Architect
Size 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Year built 1989
Light bounces around the white walls, and in the evening the space can be turned into a media room using an Epson projector. The sofa provides the perfect space to cosy up with a good film.
All of the photographs in the house, including the two pieces seen here, were taken and printed by Sertorio.
See some more ideas on how to select the perfect sofa
Sofa: Focus One Home; floor lamp: Tolomeo, Artemide
All of the photographs in the house, including the two pieces seen here, were taken and printed by Sertorio.
See some more ideas on how to select the perfect sofa
Sofa: Focus One Home; floor lamp: Tolomeo, Artemide
Sertorio refinished an old library table bought at an auction at the Oakland Museum of California; it now serves as their dining area. The chairs are from the Vitra Design Museum.
The wall-to-wall bookshelves hold Sertorio’s collection of vintage cameras. Each part of the unit is a separate component, so the pieces can be mixed and matched.
The sideboard is a flea market find, while the printed photograph is another of Sertorio’s original images.
One wall holds a light panel handmade by Sertorio. Framed German lithographs hang on the opposite wall. The bookshelf is a flea market find.
Wall sconce: Artemide
Wall sconce: Artemide
The couple maintained the mezzanine as an office and tucked the kitchen below. The hanging lights throughout the main floor contain colour-changing LED bulbs that are operated by remote control.
Stools: AllModern; wall sconces: Artemide; coloured bulbs: Amazon
Stools: AllModern; wall sconces: Artemide; coloured bulbs: Amazon
‘We fell in love with the high ceilings,’ says Sertorio (seen here with Lee). ‘And since we didn’t like the remodelling we saw in any of the homes we were shown, we were happy to start with this blank canvas.’
The worktops are manufactured compressed quartz; strong and chip resistant. Sertorio chose the White Zeus Extreme colour to match the cupboards.
Countertops: Silestone; cabinets: The Home Depot; carpet: ArchiExpo
Countertops: Silestone; cabinets: The Home Depot; carpet: ArchiExpo
The entrance is lined with Sertorio’s photographs, part of his ‘Passages’ series, taken on road trips around the country. The vertical garden contains various succulents.
Hanging garden: Urbio
Hanging garden: Urbio
Creative and modern lighting solutions are used throughout the loft, including this illuminated bench.
Logico Triple Wall Sconce: Artemide; Light Table Bench 52: Pablo Pardo; coatrack: Umbra
Logico Triple Wall Sconce: Artemide; Light Table Bench 52: Pablo Pardo; coatrack: Umbra
Lee uses the mezzanine for her home office. The desk, a modern version of a 16th-century French writing desk, was bought at an antiques store as a birthday gift from Sertorio.
Check out some more mezzanines
Check out some more mezzanines
Of the few walls constructed in the loft, there are three that form the bedroom, master bath and wardrobe. The walls are made of a sound-absorbent, fire-resistant, energy-saving material from Roxul.
Wall lights: Tolomeo Classic/Micro Wall Spot, Artemide; bed, headboard, side tables: Modloft; walls: Roxul
Wall lights: Tolomeo Classic/Micro Wall Spot, Artemide; bed, headboard, side tables: Modloft; walls: Roxul
The sink and worktop in the master bathroom are one piece. The walls are lined with frosted glass tiles.
Tiles: Ann Sacks; sink, countertop: Ronbow; faucets: Hansgrohe; toilet: Blu Bathworks; light fixtures: Tiella
Tiles: Ann Sacks; sink, countertop: Ronbow; faucets: Hansgrohe; toilet: Blu Bathworks; light fixtures: Tiella
The dressing room and wardrobes act as a buffer between the main room and the bedroom.
Dress: Gelareh; lighting: Artemide
Dress: Gelareh; lighting: Artemide
A guest bathroom was added to the mezzanine floor.
Sink, countertop: Ronbow; faucets: Hansgrohe; toilet: Blu Bathworks; illuminated mirror: Reflection Mirror, Tiella
Sink, countertop: Ronbow; faucets: Hansgrohe; toilet: Blu Bathworks; illuminated mirror: Reflection Mirror, Tiella
The communal courtyard is part of architect Thomas Dolan’s live-work concept.
Sertorio’s photography studio is located on the ground floor for easy loading and unloading. The rubber floors are made from recycled tires, so they are not only durable but also shock absorbent.
Floors: Rubber Flooring
Floors: Rubber Flooring
There is plenty of room for a roll of seamless background paper.
Floors: Rubber Flooring
Floors: Rubber Flooring
The photography studio is used by Sertorio as an office, as a shooting space and for his fine art printing.
An example of another live/work space in Essex
An example of another live/work space in Essex
The bathroom in the studio is made from the same materials as the upstairs bathrooms.
Sink, countertop: Ronbow; faucets: Hansgrohe; toilet: Blu Bathworks; illuminated mirror: Reflection Mirror, Tiella
Sink, countertop: Ronbow; faucets: Hansgrohe; toilet: Blu Bathworks; illuminated mirror: Reflection Mirror, Tiella
Before Photo
BEFORE: Pictured here is the original main space, with its 25-foot ceilings.
Before Photo
BEFORE: Taken from what is now their bedroom, this view looks toward the future kitchen.
Before Photo
BEFORE: The floors were replaced and a guest bathroom and closet (for the washer and dryer) were added to an existing mezzanine.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. If you would like your home to be featured, send some photos to ukeditor@houzz.com.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. If you would like your home to be featured, send some photos to ukeditor@houzz.com.
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Flooring: Tigerwood, Armstrong Flooring