Oyster House
San Fernando Valley
Los Angeles, CA
2021-Present

30 to 60 minutes away from Los Angeles, in the northwest San Fernando Valley, this 1940s working-class bungalow—affectionately known as The Oyster House—serves as both residence and studio for Rachel Shillander. Like its namesake, the house is rough on the outside, with its original humble exterior intact, but reveals a polished, unexpected interior. The home is unrenovated, its character serving as a backdrop for objects from the artist’s past, present, and future: items collected over a lifetime, from friends and fellow artists to family heirlooms, her uncle Bill’s character-themed artwork, and her own pieces. Its charm supports a fully active design practice and home, balancing utility, intimacy, and nostalgia.

Photography by Laure Joliet, on a hot July day in 2024

Front yard of a small house with a white exterior, featuring trees and bushes, a large white stone, and artistic stone sculptures on the lawn, with clear sky in the background.
Close-up of a house door with a metal propeller decoration and a black mail slot, partially open revealing a dark room and a floral-patterned bag inside.
A narrow entryway with a window covered by beige curtains, a wooden table with a stone sculpture, a pair of brown boots on the floor, and hats and bags hanging on the wall.
Living room with a wooden coffee table, a black couch with a furry throw pillow, and a window with beige curtains. A circular mirror with a layered frame is on the wall, with a mountain landscape painting on the adjacent wall. There are two closed do
A wooden sideboard with a decorative vase and a small wooden dish on top, a colorful wall painting of children and a mascot at a carnival, and a wall-mounted lamp with a green shade and orange cord.
A living room with a brick fireplace, a rug, and a dark wood wall. There is a large, shiny, mosaic-like silver sculpture on the floor, a wooden coffee table with assorted stones, pottery, and a small wooden tray.
Living room with wooden paneling, brick fireplace, a large disco ball, wood coffee table with decorative bowls and stones, brown sofa, and various decorative items including a large flower sculpture, framed art, and hanging light.
Living room with brick fireplace, wooden wall, white curtains, and bronze sphere decorative objects.
Wooden table with various white chalk drawings including cartoon characters, animals, geometric shapes, words, and symbols, with a copper container holding several dipping tools.
Vintage dining room with a glass table, mixed chairs, wall art, a mirror, and large windows showing green trees outside.
Mid-century modern living room with two lounge chairs, a flower-shaped wooden side table, and a dark wall with electrical outlets.
A hallway with a horseshoe near the ceiling, two framed paintings, a folding screen leaning against the wall on the left, a rug on the wooden floor, and a tall decorative lamp with a flower-shaped top in the background.
A cozy kitchen scene with a white gas stove, a onion inside a small bowl, a stainless steel kettle on the stove, and various kitchen items on a cutting board and shelf, including olive oil, spices, and utensils.
A cozy kitchen with white cabinets, a red tiled countertop, and a window letting in sunlight. There are kitchen utensils, bottles, and a stove with a towel hanging from it.
A corner of a room with a wooden shelf holding glassware, books, bowls, and a coffee machine, next to a window with trees outside. A framed drawing of a woman and a cartoon mouse hangs on the wall, and a large white fan rests on a marble-colored pede
A home office with a wooden table, black office chair, and a fluffy chair, illuminated by natural light from two windows. Decor includes a table lamp, artwork, books, and a wooden sculpture.
A cozy bedroom with a bed covered in a pink quilt and a cream-colored blanket, a wooden nightstand with a glass bowl, a table lamp, a window with beige curtains, a wall art piece, and a vase with purple flowers.
Backyard with lounge chairs, large palm trees, and sculpted concrete rocks, shaded by green bushes and trees on a sunny day.
Backyard scene with lounge chair, large abstract white sculptures, palm trees, and cats on the patio and grass.