Surf Shack: Laid-Back Living by the Water

by Nina Freudenberger, Heather Summerville, Brittany Ambridge (Photographer)

"Cabin porn goes coastal in Nina Freudenberger’s Surf Shack" [Vanity Fair], and here are bungalows, trailers, cabins, and beach homes where surfers retreat after a day on the waves. Peek inside the homes of longtime enthusiasts and dedicated newcomers that reflect not just a sport or passion, but also a way of life. Blake and Heather Mycoskie of TOMS, hotelier Sean MacPherson, Gypset author Julia Chaplin, and others have set up their spaces to embrace a casual ease and be the break between the waves. 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."A colorful tour of some of the most unique surfer abodes around the world, from Melbourne to New York City." —Architectural Digest

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Photography, Coffee Table Books, Interior Design

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2017

About the author

Interior designer and founder of Haus Interior, Nina Freudenberger is the author of the bestselling design book Surf Shack: Laid-Back Living by the Water, which was featured in Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, O: The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and Martha Stewart Living. She lives with her husband and two young boys in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I live close to the ocean and I liked Nina Freudenberger’s Bibliostyle, so I borrowed Surf Shack: Laid Back Living By the Water from the library.

Surf Shack offers a bunch of profiles of people who've built homes (or second homes) near the water. Maybe the best line I encountered was one lady who described her home this way: “No makeup, two or three beers a night. That’s the vibe.” But I mostly found a lot of yuppie lifestyle writing and staged pictures of “happy families.” I distrust that writing, and those pictures, sorry. And how "laid back" is this cohort in the aggregate? Even the third section of homes screamed money too loudly for my taste.

But maybe my taste is atypical. On a consumerism scale from Tyler Durden to the Kardashins, I think I'm closer to the former and would rather say I own a blanket than a duvet. But if you wanted to make the argument that much of life really does consist of owning nice things, start here. These homes do look very nice.

Ultimately, importing rattan furniture from Australia to Venice doesn't really float my boat--more power to you if it sounds wonderful--and I was hoping for something a bit more granola. Maybe that sub-culture has been priced out of these places.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

intro talks about how authentic these houses are. sand-covered, lived-in, real houses of people who actually surf. pics of the houses are so staged it negates any authentic lived-in feel. all are of rich people who imported this and that to make their homes feel bohemian and are still learning to surf but own a "quiver" of 15 surf boards.

[Vikram Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great review of surfer homes across the world. Excellent photography. If I had to nitpick, I'd say I wonder why there were no homes in San Diego, Europe (France, Spain, Portugal), or South Africa featured. But perhaps that leaves room for a sequel.

[Daniel Helft · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uninteresting

The book was a letdown. Just pictures of homes that didn’t quite reflect the lives of the surfing community nor its spirit.

[Raleigh Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little coffee table book that was actually a fascinating read. Loved seeing people’s lives and careers that shaped their decision to live by the sea. Is sprite to have a surf shack of my own.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The packaging of this book was really lovely, with the recycled paper feel and cover illustration, but the actual composition was a disappointment. The homes were stark and bleak and not relaxing at all. Nearly all of them had white walls, which screams of cheap rental and it was obvious that those rooms that showed books in many of the homes were obviously staged. Also, the beginning talked about how you don't even need much money to have a surf shack, but then we were shown people who have the type of income to "travel to Indonesia on a whim" or "be taught to surf by personal friend Anthony Kiedis when not modeling for the Ford agency". I think reading Coastal Living would show you better beach house decorating ideas. These homes were boring and not attractive at all.

[Niniane · Rating 1 out of 5]

The introduction promised sand-covered shacks designed by surfers who love the ocean and sport.

Most of the profiled people barely surf. But they spent months building a coastal second-home.

Almost everyone profiled is Caucasian, but many shipped African masks or Mexican art from their vacation to display how cultured they are. Three different Caucasian families display a huge teepee prominently in their yard.

Bait and switch book.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ONLY thing preventing this incredible book from being 5 starts is the jarring cuts in text. While this is first-and-foremost a photo book, some sentences cut off midway and aren't picked up again for two or three pages. Similarly, some anecdotal texts aren't even on the same page as the photo (though this is still reasonable). Be prepared to flip back and forth a bit if you're following along with the reading. Otherwise, this is an incredibly cozy read with many interesting interiors. It's lovely seeing homes that look beautiful without being the stark images you often find online. Kudos to Nina for putting together such a fun collection! 😊

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top 5 coffee table books, that I catch myself going back to weekly.
Beautifully laid out, if you are looking for coastal/beach inspiration - with a hint of maximalism and the personal touch from actual surfers' homes- this piece is a must. It really embodies the lifestyle of people living by the water, the calmness and coolness of it all.Our home is a reflection of us after all, isn't it?
I've personally been really inspired by this book, from random decorative pieces, art on the walls,books that I spot on shelves to actually creating an outdoor shower.
I genuinely hope that there will be a sequel soon, showing homes from even more countries and cities around the world.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have started to collect home design photography books more and more. I think this one might be one of my very favorites-- beachy, coastal design has always been what I am most drawn too. The lay out and pictures in this book are phenomenal. Such excellent photography, I could literally flip thru it all day. It makes for such a beautiful coffee table book too. The home design style is one that will never get old. Beautiful colors and beach vibey homes. The stories included with each bungalow are great too!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful design book, perfect for any beachside coffee table. I also loved the stories that were intermingled with it, of the people who owned these beautiful homes. It read like a magazine while remaining interesting enough to become something you could return to and reread time and time again.

[katia · Rating 3 out of 5]

beautiful photos but didn't get so much of the surf vibe. as with a lot of other readers, i picked up this book excited to see other broke, hippie, young surfers like myself that lived in cheap vans and apartments covered in sand, but found mostly wealthy white couples that have made a second home for themselves on the coast.

[Moisés Rosales · Rating 5 out of 5]

buscando inspiración?

El libro Perfecto para ese push adicional que la vida cerca Del Mar va a ser siempre mejor, historias inspiradoras, docenas de quotes para abrazar el surf dogma, y espectáculo tras espectáculo de shacks soñados…

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book and stories to go along with the photos. And I'm not even a surfer.

[Jamie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the beautiful photos in this book and the inspiring design choices of the homes.

[Rebecca Worley]

not as much about the interiors as the philosophy but still good.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m ready for an escape. And a new hobby. And a house in a tiny corner of this world, tucked on a beach. 🌊♥️

[Libraryassistant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quirky. Some nice design, some surprisingly boring. But the real point of it turned out to be their surf stories— and some of the surf lingo I had to guess at, lol.

[Ew Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

In appreciation of Jerome and the perfect environment he created at The Back Alley. Lovin it.

[Joana Diniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the interior design sugestions.

[Nola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want their lives!!! How envious I am of reading the lives of those covered in this book, they have managed to make it work though the majority of them did have the money to do so......would have liked to have seen more interior photos though.....it appeared so simple, up sticks and move to the beach however all these beach places have a million dollar price tag, something us middle class workers would not be able to do. However one can always dream....

[Andrew M. Ayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book to read on a cold New England morning to think about warm weather again.