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Every June, 1,500 runners line up in Mill Valley, California, to scramble over roots and rocks, dash between redwoods, and descend precarious staircases to arrive at the iconic finish line on Stinson Beach. This is the annual Dipsea Race, a 100-year-old trail run in Marin County that spans seven treacherous, yet breathtaking miles. Leah Bershad says it’s no joke.
“One year on my birthday we did what’s called the double Dipsea, which is from downtown to Stinson and back, and I lost a toenail,” remembers the founder of seminal San Francisco boutique Reliquary.
Luckily, she wasn’t far from home. At one point, race participants pass by the roofline of a funky 1970s cedar-shake house built on a ridge overlooking Muir Beach—that’s Bershad’s place. Ferns, rhododendrons, fig trees, and cypress cascade down the steep property where she lives with her partner, Avery Clough; their chihuahua mixes, Sprout and Nova; and their newborn daughter, Eyla.
Bershad and Clough bought the house from the original owners, Bay Area architect Alan Williams and his family.
Bershad didn’t always picture herself so removed from city life. “I grew up in Manhattan, so I want restaurants and culture, but I also want trees and I don’t want to share any walls ever again in my life,” she says, laughing. “And that’s what I had in Oakland.”
But come the pandemic, when scrolling real estate became a pastime and Bershad and Clough were talking about moving in together, they happened to landed on this characterful house off Panoramic Highway. Japanese-inspired in style, the split-level had been built by a Bay Area architect named Alan Williams with all the trappings of the decade: shag carpeting, textured wallpaper, and a now-dated kitchen. It was essentially a time capsule, and Williams’s family had decided to sell.
Clough and Bershad in their renovated kitchen.
The location appealed to Clough, a surfer who wants to be in the water every day; Bershad loved the walkability and access to trails. Another big bonus was two separate rooms that could serve as respective offices for the duo. More than anything, though, they were drawn in by the community, feeling akin to the neighbors, who Bershad labels as a “mix of financial and political realities, and a lot of old California hippies.” The couple put in an offer, albeit one they worried was too low. “That was the day that the sun didn’t rise in San Francisco,” Bershad remembers, recalling the city’s orange cast from the wildfires. Eight out of the ten prospective buyers promptly rescinded, and lo and behold, theirs was accepted.
Bedding, Coyuchi.
“We bought a bottle of wine and, at one point, looked at each other and were like, ‘Are we celebrating or are we stress drinking?’” Bershad says. “It was a little terrifying. We definitely were not prepared, but we were super excited.” They knew they were about to tackle a top-to-bottom renovation.
Views of Muir Beach and Angel Island are visible from the wraparound windows. Bedding, Coyuchi.
The couple decided to work their way down, beginning with an overhaul of the petite primary bedroom suite on the top floor. Wraparound windows allowed for abundant natural light and expansive views of Mt. Tam State Park and the East Bay, so it was a no-brainer to continue to use it as their evening retreat. The couple pulled up the aforementioned shag carpet, removed an awkward shower/tub combination in the corner of the room, and expanded the tiny bathroom (originally, the washstand was the “size of an airplane sink”).
“I’ve always loved folk art. It’s in my family, so all the little things on the shelves are collected over years of flea marketing.”
Pendant, Noguchi; Sofa, Tacchini; Wood ottoman, Christopher Norman; Dresser, Alvar Aalto; Artwork over dresser, Tahiti Pehrson; Artwork over fireplace, Vija Celmins.
The great room on the main floor is a sight to see. You wouldn’t know it, but the walls were originally covered in a textured linen wallpaper that was almost impossible to remove. “That ended up being one of the least fun projects,” says Bershad. “You would try to pull it and the strands would become hair.” At a loss, they applied drywall over the material, losing a quarter inch on every surface—but after layering in their eclectic mix of vintage furniture, artwork, and decor, the space they gave up is hardly noticeable.
Of all their belongings, a select few stand out to Bershad as enduringly important. “The Vija Celmins piece over the fireplace was a 40th birthday present from my dad,” she says. “He bought it in the ’70s for his bachelor pad and I’ve always loved it.” An exquiste Tiffany lamp atop the Aalto dresser is Clough’s, inherited from his late father.
To make way for the layout they wanted, the couple had to forgo original cold storage and a pass-through window.
Take a stroll down one flight and you arrive in the cozy eat-in kitchen, which got a layout makeover, vertical-grain fir cabinetry, and new appliances. What they lost in a pass-through window and cold storage, they gained in an island and open shelving. At the adjacent dining table, the family hosts friends with long, leisurely, often vegan meals.
The shade of the dining table pendant was sourced from a Caprani floor lamp. Dining chairs, Hay.
In many ways, the home is as much about its place in the natural world as it is about the interiors. But when they moved in, it became clear that there was little thought given to the landscaping. After adding a deck off their offices over the gradually sloped yard, Bershad and Clough constructed terraces, plank walkways, and wood stairs to connect different sections of the outdoor space to one another. A greenhouse and hammock occupy a portion, while a barrel sauna, outdoor shower, and cold plunge combine to create a little spa area.
A barrel sauna, outdoor shower, and cold plunge are tucked among the property’s now-lush garden.
“We’ve slowly been adding to the garden,” Bershad says. “Every three weeks, we go to the store and buy another plant.” The ritual is just a small act of stewardship, but nonetheless, they’re putting down roots.
Samantha Weiss-Hills is the managing editor for Domino. She edits and writes home tours, shopping guides, and features, and she’s the friend who everyone texts for glassware, sofa, and sheet recommendations. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Alex, and their beagle-corgi, Elsa.