Jul 1, 2009

Store owners create a custom lifestyleBy Anh-Minh LeSFGate.com

Walking through Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom’s Mission District apartment, it’s hard not to get inspired to make something.

With ingenuity to spare, the couple have filled their 500-square-foot rental with one-of-a-kind furnishings and accessories. Their do-it-yourself projects, many of which have been published online or in print, can be found in every room.

This is not a home modeled after a slick showroom or stylized catalog. And these craft and design enthusiasts wouldn’t have it any other way. The recurring theme in their apartment: handmade.

“It’s nice to surround yourself with things that have stories and meaning,” said Fagerstrom. “Then it’s not just stuff. It’s more personal.”

Their appreciation for the quirky and crafty extends to their store, which occupies the same Valencia Street building as their apartment. They characterize the Curiosity Shoppe as “a carefully curated collection of fun, unique, odd, interesting and beautiful things – from handmade home decor and gift items to art books and jewelry.” The gallery has showcased a range of art forms, from the conventional (prints and paintings) to the unusual (sugar sculptures and colorful felt guns).

Raised in creative households – “My dad would build bookcases and wine racks,” Fagerstrom said – they have parlayed their passion for the handmade into careers. Until January, he served as the projects editor at ReadyMade magazine, which has a strong DIY focus.

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