Name: Joan Yokom and Johann Fitzgerald
Location: The Mission, San Francisco
Size: 660 square feet
Years lived in: 6 years
Joan Yokom and Johann Fitzgerald have garnered a lot of positive attention for their colorful Mission home. A few of their images have been featured on Apartment Therapy here, but we thought it was about time to get the full story. Chock full of inspirational DIYs and artisan made custom furniture, this Mission Maisonette deserved a full house tour.
Joan and Johann draw inspiration from many sources. Schooled by her father, an architect, and fueled by an alternative love for things "junked," Joan embraces vintage and repurposed objects. Johann harnesses his DIY talents as well as his skills in plaster finishes. The culmination of their talents and interests has resulted in a beautiful space that is at once cozy and very well appointed.
AT Survey:
My/Our style: Definitely eclectic, colorful, and urban with nods to the beach, our travels and found objects.
Inspiration: My dad was an architect and schooled me in 60’s contemporary environments but I rebelled with additions from the Flea Market and SF Recycling Center. Plus, Johann just veneered all the walls with Venetian plaster. We wanted to prove that Venetian plaster has more uses than invoking Tuscan wine country.
Biggest Challenge: 660 square feet says it all. It ain’t easy!
What Friends Say: They are always discovering something new.
Biggest Embarrassment: No guest room. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing. We have friends who run a vacation rental that help us out when it comes to overnight visitors.
Proudest DIY: Lucky us! Johann is a professional specialized-interior plasterer and he recently finished plastering our walls. Definitely unique and beautiful. Check out more of his work here.
Biggest Indulgence: Not shown in the pics because we just had them installed but we sprang for Hunter Douglas Silhouette blinds. Love them.
Best advice: Hire a professional to do what you can’t do yourself.
Dream source: Our travels (Italy’s marble informed our Venetian plaster decision), retail stores, blogs, art galleries, movies.
Resources:
• Our copper pipe bookshelf was made by a plumber-friend after we saw one in a store for $1500. He made it in his backyard. Total cost $400.
• Our humongous printer’s stripping table. It was a wedding gift to us from a printer friend who had it cut to coffee table height, completely rewired the electrical system, powder-coated it red and added castors. Its way too big for our place, that’s probably one reason we like it so much. Plus, it lights up!
• Johann made our art rail with L-shaped angle iron from a local steel supplier. We have a lot of art but not a lot of wall space so we wanted to create a system that would let us move pieces in and out of view without having to constantly pound nails into the walls.
• SF Recycling Artist in Residence shows (you can pick up free stuff in the courtyard during their shows) http://tinyurl.com/63amkb
• Any hardware store
• Paintings by Johann Fitzgerald www.tinyurl.com/nkzr7s
• Paintings by Brian Blanchard, Diane Yokom, Tom Fowler
• Photos by Joan Yokom www.xojy.etsy.com
• Venetian plaster and faux finishing www.johannfitzgerald.com
• www.stucoitalianoinc.com
• www.artstuf.com
• www.sinopia.com
(Thanks, Joan and Johann!)
Images: Joan Yokom
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
There is WAY too much to love in their home (I'm thinking they def. need to make the next AT book!) I really like the mix of texture/style/decade they have going on (oriental rug with store front letters with comfy leather couch with very modern dining room table...)
Erin
SYL: Slipcover Your Life.
http://www.slipcoveryourlife.com
view Erin Stanton's profile
i have been looking ALL over for a letter B like that big Y in the photo....ah, to dream.
BRI'S DESIGN LOVE FEST
view brieannepaige's profile
Where does one pick up those big letters?
view JimD's profile
such a great balance of colors, textures, styles, old/new... and i love how you used the mirrored walls
view sunan's profile
I want to see the printers'-stripping-cum-coffee table and the copper pipe bookshelf! :) They sound as amazing as the pictures.
view nico_forgot's profile
Nico_forgot: both items are in the House Tour. The coffee table is the low, red table and the copper bookshelf is between the bedroom area and the living room. (The bookshelf is nifty, indeed.)
view tara1979's profile
I love that coffee table. What the hell is wrong with my friends that they never give me awesome stuff like that?! I would like to get on the waiting list to be friends with your friends.
Also, I love the picture rail and artwork. I might try something like that. It looks so great.
view BlackFrancine's profile
If you're looking for more of John's work, the first link in the list doesn't work.
Try this one: www.johannfitzgerald.com
view Heather C's profile
Sorry, make that Johann's work!
view Heather C's profile
love, love, love the place... but the dinning area was kind of a let down... : (
I was expecting some awesome space there...
joel
view joel maria pirela's profile
Johann's link is:
http://www.johannfitzgerald.com/
view xojy's profile
@tara1979: Thanks! Somwhow i missed that. As soon as we get the new loft I'll be building a bookshelf exactly like that, I think :) Good room divider. cheers -
view nico_forgot's profile
Please tell who produced that fantastic painting in the dinning room area. A link to their work would be greatly appreciated. You house is wonderful.
view LA 's profile
Is the wall behind the bed fully mirrored, and then covered with a sheer curtain? If that is what it is it's a good trick, it adds a lot of light and depth without the "everybody's watching me" feeling I get from mirrored walls. Also I love the pipe bookcase and those red cross pillows that were featured in another post.
Thanks for sharing!
view Nancy_Claire's profile
The copper pipe bookshelf is awesome.
view jancola's profile
Colorful, homey and very cool. Love your coffee table and all your glass orbs!
view mirandabee's profile
Fully mirrored, floor to ceiling wall to wall. We covered it with wire mesh fabric from Flynn & Enslow in SF. We put anchors in each wall and strung a wire across, had F&E punch grommets into the mesh. Then once we hung it up, we crinkled it all up by hand (that was the fun part).
view xojy's profile
I want to steal your "Y"!
view aj's profile
I love that dresser-thing. I'm glad you AT finally put up a house tour of this place! I remember a while back this was featured as a type of "how to" for making small spaces appear larger. Thank God this place was featured again!
view dunklekatze's profile
There are a lot of beautiful things and great ideas, but the overall effect is a little too Eighties Revivial for my tastes. Perhaps a few more natural surfaces would help alleviate this?
view Blandwagon's profile
Your place is a real tail wagger! I really like your dining area. Great job!
view Laughing Tiger's profile
What a wonderful place. Eclectic really well done. Living room is my fave. Love the old books and the sign that says " Photographer"
view Aster's profile
Your bookshelf is wonderful! What a fun space- I love what you guys have done with it!
PS: I totally thought about this product when I saw the dining room...I think it would look awesome in there:
http://www.burkedecor.com/Pressed_Vinyl_Dot_Tablemat_in_Multiple_Colors_by_C_p/0200.htm
view Erin Lang Norris/Yellow Canoe's profile
I love the ceiling fan! source, please?
view threesquare's profile
The fan is from Modern Fan. http://www.modernfan.com/
view xojy's profile
Brand new to AT, and am IMPRESSED with everyone's brilliance. Joan and Johann, your casa is fantastic! Please tell me about the bed and the inspiration for the cool floors.
view lobo's profile
What an inspiring home!!! The bluish gray walls are stunning and I'm hoping to be able to recreate that texture in a future home one day. Colour-wise it's a bit too bold for me, but in this home it is absolutely perfect!
I wish that I could display glass artefacts the same way as they do, but forget about it with a cat in the family, and possibly a dog on its way too, lol.
view luftskibet's profile
Your home makes me happy!
view blondrea's profile