“A surf shack is not built around what you think you need, so much as understanding all the things you don’t”, says writer Nina Freudenberger in the introduction to Surf Shack:Laid-Back Living by the Water, a beautiful new coffee table book that takes us inside the bungalows, trailers, cabins, and beach homes of those lucky enough to call themselves surfers.
Surfing is a way of life reflected in the homes of those who live it. Freudenberger moved from New York City to Venice Beach, California in 2012, and became so enamored of this relaxed and easy going lifestyle she traveled to 18 cites in 4 countries to bring us inside the homes of such lifelong surfers and dedicated newcomers as: Blake and Heather Mycoskie of TOMS; hotelier Sean MacPherson and family; Jawbone founder Yves Behar and Sabrina Burell; and longboard pro Kassia Meador.
“Surfing is a natural filter for life’s nonsense”, says Freudenberger, and what these homes have in common is a style that prioritizes “ease over elegance, good vibes over any grand vision.” They are less about impressive architecture and more about cultivating truly authentic spaces that embrace the life spent in between surf sessions.
With vibrant photographs of design details and bright beaches — from Malibu to the Rockaways, from Japan to Australia — this book captures the soulful milieu of a lifestyle we all aspire to, in and out of the water.
