A 1920s-Era San Diego Home Shows That Downsizing Can Be Delightful

Sometimes life comes at you fast, and when it comes in the form of your landlord deciding that selling the building quickly is what’s best, one has to move just as swiftly. Alyasha Owerka-Moore found himself in this exact predicament when his beloved 2,000-square-foot loft in downtown San Diego, CA was no longer an option. Finding a new home was the next step. “I had to find a place fast,” Alyasha recalls, “A good friend of mine knew that I was looking and told me that some mutual friends had outgrown their house and wanted a trustworthy tenant. I contacted them, saw the house and fell in love.”

Some of the things Alyasha really appreciates about his new home are its private outdoor space, a garage for him to tinker in, tons of cross-ventilation, and beautiful light. There is also a granny flat in the back that he plans on using as an office once he’s more settled. “Having lived in loft spaces for the last 20 years, it’s nice to be able to separate work from my living space. I haven’t had a legit bedroom in 20 years, so I suppose I’m just exploring and enjoying that concept.”

Stepping into the 900-square-foot, Craftsman-style 1920s era home almost teleports you to a different time. Alyasha’s use of vintage and novelty pieces goes perfectly with the Normal Heights San Diego home’s overall aesthetic in a natural and genuine way that’s fitting to his personal style. The clothing designer and creative director — who is also a brand historian and archivist for canvas sneaker company PF Flyers (not familiar? The 1993 cult classic The Sandlot should ring a bell) — manages to weave his love of the past into the present in all areas of his life. As a child growing up in Brooklyn in the 1980s, Alyasha was heavily influenced by the burgeoning hip hop, punk rock and skateboard scene. Spending his time working as an assistant to his mother Carolyn J. Owerka in her ancient textile and conservation business, he learned about restoring textiles for the likes of The Metropolitan Museum, Smithsonian Institute and The Museum of Natural History, as well as for noted collectors like I. M. Pei, Matthew Polk of Polk Audio and David Bowie. With this experience and exposure at such an early age, it’s no wonder that his love of history and vintage bubbles over into the interior of his home. —Gigi 

Photography by Alyasha Owerka-Moore and Julie Cruz

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2016/08/a-1920s-era-san-diego-home-shows-that-downsizing-can-be-delightful.html

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/149329180754