Name: Amy
Location: Sacramento, California
Amy tells us about her home: I consider my home a respite from the otherwise very urban 'grid life' that I live. I strategically chose this neighborhood as I'm within blocks of the best restaurants and nightlife Sacramento has to offer yet also within 2 blocks of historic Sutter's Fort.
I feel most comfortable being surrounded equally by items that have historical significance and meaning as well as modernity. In every room of my home, you'll find family heirlooms mixed with contemporary pieces. For example, I have a papercut silhouette of my mom, my grandfather's wooden mantle clock, my grandmother's milk glass candy dish and my great uncle's collection of wooden decorative plates all on display to remind me of family. Yet along side these pieces, I own a Konstantin Grcic Chair One and Bruno Rainaldi's Sapien Bookcase from DWR. I love being surrounded by things that have special meaning to me or remind me of a notable time in my life or an important person.
My overall style definitely does not fit easily into a tidy box, but is rather a healthy mix of vintage and modern. I'm most inspired by my creative friends and mostly furniture and product designers. My 1920's apartment has good bones complete with a picture rail but I'd have to say my biggest design challenge has been adjusting to living along an alley where both large trucks and people on foot are the norm. It's one of the tradeoffs of living in the grid. I've had to embrace the drapes but overall I wouldn't trade the noisy alley for the walkable location. I get beautiful light in the morning in my living room and can even see a great urban mural. Some of my favorite restaurants are literally within blocks of my house. I couldn't ask for more in the California Capitol; 'City of Trees'!
Thanks, Amy!
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White Enamel Flatwa...
Ohhh, I used to live in this neighborhood! (Had to move out 'cause I couldn't afford it anymore. *sigh*) And she's right, it is absolutely beautiful. Even better now that they've finished most of the construction on the medical center. You have a lovely home, Amy! I'm so jealous!
I've been through Sacramento on a road trip from St. Louie to the Grand Canyon (north rim) and on through to the Giant Redwoods in Northern Cali, but have never had the pleasure of staying a while. Your joint looks fantastic. Loving me some hairpin leg coffee table. Does that bike have a cup holder?!
I've always hated Sacramento (I know it extremely well; loads of relatives there), but I like your place. Nice that you are so happy in your home and city.
luv the geologic map in the kitchen!
I lived in this neighborhood for years and loved every minute of it. If we hadn't inherited our little bungalow, I never would have left the grid (though the apartment of my early 20s didn't have nearly this much style!). Good times.
Love your place, especially the geologic map. Where did you get it? My guy is a geologist and I'd love to find something similarly graphic and cool about the Puget Sound area ...
Beautiful home! I love the dinning table with sofa and benches. It's a great way to soften the gorgeous, rugged wood.
The coffee table and dinning room table/bench are exactly what I'm looking for, where were they sourced? Such a beautiful space!
I love every single thing about your home, the blending of old and modern, the colors...it's comforting and it has a spark.
I think that the noise that you have coming in from the alley, might be dampered if you got new windows and maybe foam blow in insulation, even if it's just that one side. I'm not sure what they do to homes surrounding an airport, to make them more sound proof (if the are being retro-fitted for new airport runway), but it's something to look into if you are going to stay there for awhile. It's hard to ignore a trash truck at 5 a.m.
This is HT required.
@Anna Maria Check out the watershed map offered by Good Nature here:
http://www.goodnaturepublishing.com/watersheds.htm
I also used to live not far from where you are living. I love Midtown Sacramento. You have a great place and you've done a nice job with it.
Beautiful house! I love the use of the sofa as seating for the dining table. Did you have to shorten the table to make it work with the sofa? I have been thinking about doing something similar in our dining room but am worried that standard tables will be too high.
Where'd you get the blue curtains? Did you make them yourself?
And...she likes the Doobie Brothers. Love the framed albums.
Love the VW bus on the pillow. My husband is a huge car guy so I decorate with vintage car prints in order to bring more of him into our space. I also appreciate your thoughts about using family heirlooms to remember loved ones. That's a great reminder that we don't have to put up every photo, heirlooms are just as meaningful.
This is nice looking, I'd love to see it as a full house tour in the future. Please??!
Wow! Thanks so much for all the nice comments!
@ Mr. Modtomic...it IS a cup holder! I highly suggest cup holders for bikes. I love mine to bits!
@ AnnaMaria...I found this map at the Bear Valley Visitor's Center in Point Reyes before a coastal backpacking trip...I've always been a little obsessed with geological activity.
@ Sabrinaqk...I made the coffee table (ordered the hairpin legs online) and found the dining bench at Cost Plus...it was part of a dining set which included the sofa bench
@ designstein...I'm pretty sure I found the curtains at Cost Plus too
@ Mamachick...My mom actually lived in a house with the Doobie Brothers in college at San Jose State. I've always thought that was really cool. She has many great stories from that experience! :)
I've visited Midtown Sacramento before, what an amazing place to live. Love your house.
Midtown buildings have such amazing architecture, you really did such a beautiful job with your place. It makes me nostalgic for my fourplex ... and my 20s. Thanks for doing Sacramento proud.
OOH, is that a Linus, as in the bike of my dreams (well, right after a Pasha)?
I used to live in Midtown. I adored my 1940's apartment with a courtyard fountain. The toilet had to wait about 8 minutes between flushings but when you are 20 you don't realize what an inconvenience that is.
Your place is great! I love the way everything goes together even though nothing matches.
I didn't have a fraction as much style in my midtown apartment as you do! Good job!
OMG I used to work around here, right next to Sutter's Fort! I absolutely adored the area and remember many happy lunch breaks taking walks and exploring the neighborhoods. You have such a lovely apartment!
Now I'm an old married mom and live in Roseville, but I often long to move back to Sac. If my family didn't live here I'd do just that!
Gorgeous! I'm in love with your sofa/couch. May I ask where you got it?
Love your home! I have very similar taste and ITA about your couch - amazing!
I live in Citrus Heights, but I work in Sacramento not far from where you live. It's nice to see a home from my area featured. Your place is really cute and it must be so nice to be able to walk everywhere.
People who organize their books by color make me gag-- use over decoration!
Adorable.
@r.k I guess when they're nicely organized and aesthetically pleasing, they just don't read quite the same way, huh?
Love your space!! What paint color did you use for the walls?
@lgs...the bike is the Schwinn 'Cream' 3-speed...so far it's been a great bike for Sactown :)
@sfbanana...I bought the sofa from The Futon Shop...I still love the look and it's great for guests but the overall quality isn't so hot...next time I'd like to splurge and buy a more quality piece.
@anndouille...the color is 'landlord white'! Aka. I rent and have yet to touch the walls...I guess I got lucky with the wall color! :)
It's fun hearing from all the Sacramento folks, past and present. Thanks again for the kind words!
I'm a Sacramento transplant to Portland. Lots of memories of my days at CSUS hanging out in midtown Sacto. Best neighborhood in town IMO. I love your tower of books, it reminds me of the tower of suitcases at the Sacto airport!! It's so fun.
Great place! Sacramento is indeed an amazing place to live.
http://www.katalves.com/midtown