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Abode: Thoughtful Living with Less
From the founders of General Store, Abode is a collection of Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter’s effortlessly cool, quintessentially California interiors, and a look at how to re-create that style anywhere.
The yearning for a life of pared-down purity has built to a roar, and Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter—the husband-and-wife owners of General Store, one of California’s most talked-about shops—are at the forefront. In Thoughtful Living with Less , these tastemakers make a graceful case for living better no matter your budget or abilities, guiding you to create a space that is simple and true. Their time-tested methods allow you The authors make clear their approach, one they learned as they rebuilt and redesigned their own “Honoring a structure’s history and channeling its purest form lie at the heart of our design aesthetic.”
Filled with more than 150 photographs and practical step-by-step instructions, this visual exploration of Mitnik-Miller and St. Peter’s greatest collaborations will take you through their breathtaking rooms, each a masterpiece of warm minimalism.
Serena and Mason write, “We encourage you to embrace the spirit of the open plan and promote flow as much as possible—whether it’s taking out surplus doors, subtly dissolving thresholds between rooms, or just reorganizing furniture. We believe that living happily in a place depends on utilizing it to its fullest and eliminating anything that doesn’t serve it from a practical point of view.”
Abode is a glimpse into the couple’s process and a guide to manifesting your own beautiful interiors.
The yearning for a life of pared-down purity has built to a roar, and Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter—the husband-and-wife owners of General Store, one of California’s most talked-about shops—are at the forefront. In Thoughtful Living with Less , these tastemakers make a graceful case for living better no matter your budget or abilities, guiding you to create a space that is simple and true. Their time-tested methods allow you The authors make clear their approach, one they learned as they rebuilt and redesigned their own “Honoring a structure’s history and channeling its purest form lie at the heart of our design aesthetic.”
Filled with more than 150 photographs and practical step-by-step instructions, this visual exploration of Mitnik-Miller and St. Peter’s greatest collaborations will take you through their breathtaking rooms, each a masterpiece of warm minimalism.
Serena and Mason write, “We encourage you to embrace the spirit of the open plan and promote flow as much as possible—whether it’s taking out surplus doors, subtly dissolving thresholds between rooms, or just reorganizing furniture. We believe that living happily in a place depends on utilizing it to its fullest and eliminating anything that doesn’t serve it from a practical point of view.”
Abode is a glimpse into the couple’s process and a guide to manifesting your own beautiful interiors.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 16, 2019
190 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 4, 2019
I waffle between a two and a three on this one. The spaces are gorgeous in their own way and I agree with many concepts (natural light as much as possible and buying utilitarian pieces that are beautiful to you to uplift the everyday) but ultimately, I did not enjoy the book. It had a very humble brag, I don’t realize I’m rich feel to it. Rich people playing poor, if you will. I also think the tag line of “living with less” is ironic considering every space seemed jammed back with little knickknacks. If it hadn’t been billed as a live with less book, I’d give it a three but unfortunately a two it is.
April 24, 2021
I’ve been a fan of General Store for years, and this book from the shop’s founders, Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St Peter, has been on my list to read since its release. However, I’m glad that I picked this one up from the library instead of purchasing it on my own.
The authors take you through their process of renovating their 100-year old home in Topanga, CA. As you can expect of the home of a designer/architect + artist couple, it’s stunning. The photos in this book (which feature the couple’s multiple homes as well as the homes of St Peter’s architecture + design clients), embody the laid-back, California style that is loved by many - bright, white, and filled with handmade and vintage textiles and mid-century furniture. Every home + room is impeccable. I loved the message of this book that everything in your home should be beautiful and functional, and the emphasis on developing a well-curated, minimal home embodying the mantra of “living with less.”
Where this book falls flat is on its approachability for the average person. The DIYs and suggestions for home improvement are just not realistic for many, and are very drastic. Suggestions for renters were limited to things like choosing the perfect shade of white paint and adjusting lightbulbs. We don’t all have a community of artist/designer friends around us who can fill our homes with handmade art + ceramics, custom furniture, and architectural accents that would cost the average person thousands of dollars, which made the style and suggestions in this book feel out of reach. Everything was just a little over-curated, making it difficult to imagine actually living in the spaces in this book.
The authors take you through their process of renovating their 100-year old home in Topanga, CA. As you can expect of the home of a designer/architect + artist couple, it’s stunning. The photos in this book (which feature the couple’s multiple homes as well as the homes of St Peter’s architecture + design clients), embody the laid-back, California style that is loved by many - bright, white, and filled with handmade and vintage textiles and mid-century furniture. Every home + room is impeccable. I loved the message of this book that everything in your home should be beautiful and functional, and the emphasis on developing a well-curated, minimal home embodying the mantra of “living with less.”
Where this book falls flat is on its approachability for the average person. The DIYs and suggestions for home improvement are just not realistic for many, and are very drastic. Suggestions for renters were limited to things like choosing the perfect shade of white paint and adjusting lightbulbs. We don’t all have a community of artist/designer friends around us who can fill our homes with handmade art + ceramics, custom furniture, and architectural accents that would cost the average person thousands of dollars, which made the style and suggestions in this book feel out of reach. Everything was just a little over-curated, making it difficult to imagine actually living in the spaces in this book.
November 16, 2021
Pretty to look at, and also annoying (as is the way of all such books I’ve read!). My two favorite things from the book, both from the last chapter or two: a photo of their bedroom with a heap of shoes on the floor, clothes somewhat haphazardly hung on the wall hooks, and a pile of clothes and accessories strewn over the bed, along with the note that this is often what their house actually looks like; and a story about the caning on their vintage Thonet rocking chair giving out after a party, and that’s okay because that’s what life is for. I keep wanting someone to write/photograph *that* book — the view of what it looks like to actually live in one of these super-curated beautiful homes, mess, breakage, and all. That’s the life most of us are living, no matter how many careful vignettes and artisan objets we have around our spaces.
June 16, 2019
Beautiful home photos and I enjoyed several of the concepts for if I one day have a limitless budget home renovation. Unfortunately the copy gave off a strong vibe of ‘rich and unaware’ and sort of a brag book about their extravagant homes and successful store with a lot of Instagram followers? It said in the beginning there would be more tips on how to implement their design style for renters without knocking out walls and ceilings but I didn’t see anything besides changing curtains and light fixtures. That said, these people have a beautiful home with very elegant and expensive fancy artisan goods. Congrats to them for that!
January 29, 2020
I have never seen someone use so many colons in a book. It honestly distracted me. Many unnecessary punctuation choices, grammatical errors... And I agree with reviews that point out the "rich, entitled" tone. I skimmed the last few chapters. Not worth it.
February 15, 2021
I bought this a bit on a whim and wow, I have gotten a lot of inspiration and direction out of it. There is information about wood and floor choices, paints, tiles, windows and mounding, there is a lot about the details in a certain regard. And then. Then you start to wonder, where is their refrigerator? Where is their food kept? Where is their trash and recycling? How about a washing machine? Dryer? Laundry? Winter clothing? Broom? These are nowhere to be found. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please, I am so interested.
I did like it and would have rated it higher if it were a real house. As it is, making a beautiful space for people to visit for the afternoon is not reasonable for designing a home so I debuted two stars.
I did like it and would have rated it higher if it were a real house. As it is, making a beautiful space for people to visit for the afternoon is not reasonable for designing a home so I debuted two stars.
December 10, 2019
Interesting but they say they are minimalist yet they have 2 store which sells "stuff" to people so they are making their living on the fact that their customers want "stuff". They kind of sound like the "hippies" of my generation. ( I am in my 60's). Nice pictures!
July 29, 2020
Self promotion with little useful advice but nice photographs
November 27, 2019
This book sits on our coffee table, not as a decorative piece (although it certainly falls into that category) but as a reference book. Since purchasing it a few months ago, I have come back to it again and again for inspiration and ideas.⠀
⠀
Serena and Mason are the owners of General Store in San Francisco. In Abode, they encourage their readers to live intentionally and in a gracefully simple way. Their home is filled with wood and stone and always with an eye to the outdoors. Their storefront celebrates artisan goods with warm tones and beautiful focal- point items.⠀
⠀
I also appreciate that they write about pieces they desire but cannot yet afford; this resonates with all of us to some degree. But keeping our eye on the ‘ideal’ is not a bad thing as it motivates us to hold the end result in mind even while using a ‘place maker’ until the final product can be acquired.⠀
⠀
Dual purpose items and editing your possessions are some of the common themes throughout this book. I am grateful for their approach to creating a welcoming home filled with beautiful items that doesn’t overwhelm the senses or the environment.⠀
⠀
I have been guilty of buying ‘pretty books’ because I liked the way they looked around my home. I was definitely drawn to the warm tones of this book cover, but its content is what sealed the deal. This will be an oft-used book of reference links and idea inspiration. (I also can’t wait to visit their California storefront!)
⠀
Serena and Mason are the owners of General Store in San Francisco. In Abode, they encourage their readers to live intentionally and in a gracefully simple way. Their home is filled with wood and stone and always with an eye to the outdoors. Their storefront celebrates artisan goods with warm tones and beautiful focal- point items.⠀
⠀
I also appreciate that they write about pieces they desire but cannot yet afford; this resonates with all of us to some degree. But keeping our eye on the ‘ideal’ is not a bad thing as it motivates us to hold the end result in mind even while using a ‘place maker’ until the final product can be acquired.⠀
⠀
Dual purpose items and editing your possessions are some of the common themes throughout this book. I am grateful for their approach to creating a welcoming home filled with beautiful items that doesn’t overwhelm the senses or the environment.⠀
⠀
I have been guilty of buying ‘pretty books’ because I liked the way they looked around my home. I was definitely drawn to the warm tones of this book cover, but its content is what sealed the deal. This will be an oft-used book of reference links and idea inspiration. (I also can’t wait to visit their California storefront!)
September 18, 2020
3 stars; Design
Five stars for the brilliant imagery in this book. If this were a vacation spot, I would be 100% on board with this design but as an everyday home, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, the natural light in this space is delicious and the ceiling is stunning. I love the combination of white and wood tones and adore the clever divider wall between the dining area and the wood stove/nook. However, as much as was gained with all those elements, the house itself lacks all the soft (visual and textural) edges that make an environment feel cozy.
I guess for me, I’m okay with the living with less part but not in a way that sacrifices the comfort of being at home. It’s a beautiful home, no doubt, but too rigid for my style.
Five stars for the brilliant imagery in this book. If this were a vacation spot, I would be 100% on board with this design but as an everyday home, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, the natural light in this space is delicious and the ceiling is stunning. I love the combination of white and wood tones and adore the clever divider wall between the dining area and the wood stove/nook. However, as much as was gained with all those elements, the house itself lacks all the soft (visual and textural) edges that make an environment feel cozy.
I guess for me, I’m okay with the living with less part but not in a way that sacrifices the comfort of being at home. It’s a beautiful home, no doubt, but too rigid for my style.
September 6, 2022
I love the colors and huge two page pictures in this book. A couple of them are fantastically done. I love all the use of plants and wood, white, and greenery. It makes for a great display book. I’ll be looking thru this for a long time on my coffee table.
My one small complaint is that, for me, it’s a touch too minimalistic. I know that’s the theme of the book but at least for the full family, no house would look that empty. I think if the rooms had a few more furniture or cozy items added, it would be even more perfect. I did love the end how it showed some lives in mess, so bonus points for that.
My one small complaint is that, for me, it’s a touch too minimalistic. I know that’s the theme of the book but at least for the full family, no house would look that empty. I think if the rooms had a few more furniture or cozy items added, it would be even more perfect. I did love the end how it showed some lives in mess, so bonus points for that.
June 21, 2019
Beautiful interiors, lots of creative inspiration if warm minimalism is your style. It's a peek further than SMM's Instagram inside their Topanga home, apartments, and MSP with his architectural endeavors. However, this is no "how-to" book, the couple even states that fact at one point in the book. Don't think for a second you'll achieve this overall look after reading this coffee table tome. But I think that's the point. Theirs is a look to be admired, not reproduced like an Ikea display. Personally, I love their sand, white, wood and greenery esthetic but pass on it if you don't.
June 11, 2019
Another interior designer wanna be trying to find work, and hopefully some recognition. Miller has seen the YouTube vlogs of other hungry artists and wants to do the same with this book. But all I get is some trendy pictures with crowded interiors. The pictures are that bad that even Miller notices it. So every caption is willing to give the reader a helping tip like "notice the unpainted fireplace". No, thank you.
October 17, 2024
Peaceful, Tranquil, Functional, & Purposeful
This particular book helps to give you design ideas as well as opens up your mind and heart to what is possible for you according to your mission/purpose in life, and how your home needs to function for you.
Calming colors and natural elements will you into capturing the understanding of how your home can open up possibilities to everything.
This particular book helps to give you design ideas as well as opens up your mind and heart to what is possible for you according to your mission/purpose in life, and how your home needs to function for you.
Calming colors and natural elements will you into capturing the understanding of how your home can open up possibilities to everything.
January 24, 2020
I love the photos in this book and the decor style of the authors. Though it is a bit monochromatic for my taste, it gives great tips for creating a base in your home that color can be dropped into. It does seem a bit inaccessable for the average Joe/Jane, and focuses on both structure/renovation and decor.
January 25, 2020
Beautiful book, interesting writing and tips. I think the title is not quite right though- the part of thoughtful living with less. I actually don’t think that’s what the book is about, but maybe that’s just me. It’s definitely a west coast minimalist but organic style book, which I like, so 4 stars.
August 13, 2020
Like with “Cozy Minimalist Home”, a pretty thorough skim taught me that I don’t really resonate with the aesthetic of these particular authors. They’re big into the open-space, exposed-beam, bare-plywood, super-edited-down design, and that doesn’t feel as personal or lived-in to me, at least for this current time in my life
August 8, 2022
Lots to think about here
It’s not exactly my preferred style, but there is lots to appreciate in this book for lovers of just about any style. I really appreciate their aesthetic that homes are to be lived in and letting things break and get dirty is a privilege, as opposed to a disaster.
It’s not exactly my preferred style, but there is lots to appreciate in this book for lovers of just about any style. I really appreciate their aesthetic that homes are to be lived in and letting things break and get dirty is a privilege, as opposed to a disaster.
October 12, 2022
At my advanced age, I've discovered my aesthetic for calm, neutral and laid back. Always opt for white and aim for texture when looking for contrast and bringing natural materials into your home. A pared-down life means surrounding yourself only with those things that are useful and beautiful--that's what this coffee table book conveys.
March 5, 2024
Abode is a beautiful book visually and if I am ever in the vicinity I would be interested in visiting the authors’ shops.
But as far as a resource book, it is light on practical information to help you actually create an aesthetic or learn how to trend towards decorating in a minimalist fashion.
But as far as a resource book, it is light on practical information to help you actually create an aesthetic or learn how to trend towards decorating in a minimalist fashion.
June 15, 2023
I didn't read this book, just browsed through the photos. Occasionally skimmed paragraphs. I have no commentary on what the authors had to say about minimalism, but I liked the aesthetic of their home. 3 stars.
May 11, 2019
If you like the minimalist look then this a a great book.
May 18, 2019
Gives readers lots of visual ideas for living spaces based on your interests, job and family. Makes you think simple and have a choice of ways to design and build your spaces.
July 21, 2019
So many eye rolls.
November 21, 2019
I enjoyed this book. Pictures were calming and relaxing to view.
August 9, 2020
I'm inspired to get more light into my living room and put more clutter away or in the give-away box.
November 30, 2021
Not my style (who paints hardwood floors?!) and I found the text self-indulgent.
June 4, 2022
Tons of eye candy. Not my aesthetic, but beautiful to look at! Hopefully viewing it helps towards cultivating an artistic eye - I now follow Serena & Mason on Istagram.
January 2, 2023
A drop of color please I'm begging
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews