Sarah Alba scours the country to discover editorial-worthy interiors as a subject editor and stylist to get home design and lifestyle magazines. Five years ago Sarah and her husband, Matt, finally found a home of their own to begin a family on a scenic hillside lot in San Rafael, California, just north of San Francisco. The couple opened up the house to sunlight with an extensive deck accession to both levels, added glass doors and decorated every room with Alba’s tidy, transitional design.
at a Glance
Who lives here: Sarah Alba, husband Matt, 2-year-old daughter Ashlyn and shameful Laboratory Jett
Location: San Rafael, California
Size: 1,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
That’s interesting: The kitchen features an asymmetrical walnut slab countertop found at a lumberyard.
Alex Amend Photography
Alex Amend: Would you have a favourite designer?
Sarah Alba: I work with so many designers who are incredibly talented, it wouldn’t be fair to pick only one.However, I’m always drawn to Serena and Lily products as inspiration because of their love of colour and layout and their unique, diverse items which seem to bring any room together.
Chair: Furniture Envy; vase: Leftovers; bamboo bowl: West Elm; menu, pillows: Target; table lamp: HD Buttercup; artwork: Etsy; vintage bar tray/stand: Alameda Flea Market
Alex Amend Photography
Alba likes to combine old with new, and enjoys shopping at flea markets. Her favourite is the Alameda Point Antiques Faire. “I enjoy the thrill of finding something and changing it into a practical piece. While I have time, I test my DIY skills,” she says.
AA: What’s your best bargain find of late?
SA: A 100-year-old tray and stand out of the Alameda Faire for just $15.
Bookshelf: West Elm; Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring: Home Depot
Alex Amend Photography
AA: How does having a young kid leverage purchases for your home?
SA: It likely hasn’t much. If you did not know us, you wouldn’t know we have a toddler. I have decorative storage concealing toys and sneakers, and an extra row of cabinets in the dining room to hide arts and crafts galore. I really think too many men and women give up their homes to their kids, with toys anywhere. I really don’t think having kids equates to providing up on fine decor and layout.
Mirror: West Elm; lamps: Maison Reve; spectacle: Rolling Greens Nursery
Alex Amend Photography
Alba made this original art piece titled “Paint Palette” to decorate the well-lit stairwell beside the entrance. Since she did not have the budget to purchase a large art piece, she made this one from paint swatches. The piece provides people a clue at Alba’s profession.
Alex Amend Photography
AA: Can the outdoor additions change the way you live?
SA: There was a deck which ran the length of the living room, but it was too narrow to relish the space out. We made the deck off of the dining room with sliding window doors to make the room feel bigger and make an indoor-outdoor feel. It radically expanded the use of our home when we had our daughter. We spend our summer nighttime entertaining outside.
Window drapes, hardware, mirror: West Elm;candleholder: Tyler Florence; bowl: Bloomingdale’s
Alex Amend Photography
Alba added this “mommy desk” and little window into the built-in cabinetry in the dining room. She wanted to give herself an area to work in while still being close her daughter while she plays in the adjoining living room. The mirrored backsplash reflects light and the panoramic view from the other side of the house, expanding the feel of the space.
Stool: Wisteria; Paint: Target; upper-cabinet hardware: Anthropologie; lower-cabinet hardware: Bauer Design
Alex Amend Photography
Alba installed this walnut slab countertop to create more dining room and promote interaction between the living and kitchen room.
AA: Why did you opt to use a raw timber slab rather than a more conventional bar?
SA: I’ve got a humorous fixation with driftwood and raw wood. You’ll notice it anywhere around the house. I love the notion of mixing modern and contemporary with completely organic. I suppose I enjoy the element of shock.
Bowls: Anthropologie; napkins: Cost Plus World Market
Alex Amend Photography
Alba made it a point to not make her daughter Ashlyn’s room overly feminine. She paired grey walls with black and silver patterned wallpaper out of Zoffanyto dampen the pink things in the room. Framed artwork found at flea markets adds a playful visual touch.
Bedding, mobile: Pottery Barn; stuffed animal: Kohl’s; stacked side-by-side: Serena & Lily; rug: Target
Alex Amend Photography
AA: Have you got some design tips for parents of young kids?
SA: Buy fabrics and items which are durable and washable — indoor-outdoor rugs and microfiber upholstery for furniture — and use creative and appealing storage bins and bins in which you can. Maintain your favourite decorative items out of reach.
Window hardware: West Elm; drapes: Pottery Barn; art print: Etsy
Alex Amend Photography
Alba spray painted this bamboo ladder peacock blue to incorporate colour and fun in her daughter’s toilet.
Step blossom: Giggle; ladder: Z Gallerie
Alex Amend Photography
AA: What are your ultimate dream home buy if money were no object?
SA: Herringbone wood flooring throughout the house.
Stool: Serena & Lily; drapes, art: West Elm
Alex Amend Photography
AA: Tell me about your design dilemmas.
SA: I dislike the lack of storage. I added open-shelving bookshelves into several rooms in order to make extra storage and room for displays. There is also a scarcity of overhead lighting, but by installing windows and glass doors, we finally get plenty of natural lighting.
Cabinets: West Elm; blossom: Serena & Lily
Alex Amend Photography
In this third bedroom a comfy West Elm loveseat and cushioned ottoman make an inviting sitting area. A shelf with fitting bins from Serena & Lily supplies storage.
Side table: Z Gallerie; table lamp: Target; drapes, mirror: West Elm
Alex Amend Photography
AA: What are your next home project?
SA: I am working on appreciating the home as is, but hopefully another baby room.
Headboard: Haiku (now closed); art: MD Canvas; window hardware and treatments: West Elm; navy coverlet and shams: Calvin Klein; sheets and pillowcases: Target; spectacle: flea market
Alex Amend Photography
Nearly every room in the house has a view of beautifully lush hills. On either of the decks, on the floors of the house, it’s easy to feel like you’re up in the trees.
Decks: built by Walter Cox, Master Builders of Marin