Name: Carly, Chip and their dog Lucy
Location: Pacific Heights — San Francisco, California
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 3 — rented
Carly, Chip and Lucy live down the street from Alta Vista Park, in an apartment set on the hillside overlooking San Francisco. On top of their serene location, there is something about this couple's home that draws you in and makes you want to stay. Part of the charm may be contributed to the soothing soundtrack of Chip's record player humming in the background and their adorable pup Lucy, always in the center of the action. All elements factored in, their home embodies the perfect mix of elegant homeyness, with a refreshing style, that's both eclectic and sophisticated.
Carly, the mastermind behind the decor, always has an eye out for furniture and other additions to their home. She has an uncanny ability to uncover items of that are both unique and high-quality, finding furniture everywhere from the street corner, to flea markets, to high-end design stores. With an eye for color, texture and pattern, she has a knack for seamlessly meshing various styles and creating spaces that are both stunning and cohesive. She showed me some of her fabric samples for reupholstering a few of the pieces in the living room and it became apparent that (in addition to her day job as a lawyer) this girl knows what she's doing when it comes to design. Not afraid to test out furniture, move things around and make subtle changes as she goes, her decorating process is a mindful adventure.
The first six months of living in the apartment, Carly and Chip focused on making it beautiful and livable. But now, ready to embrace a few modifications, they've slowly started moving from room to room, making small improvements along the way. The couple have been proactive in dealing with the quirky charm of old San Francisco architecture as well as some of the less appealing aspects of renting. From painting the fireplace to creatively covering cords, they've enhanced their space for the better, with great attention to detail.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Chic, timeless and elegant.
Inspiration: Domino
Favorite Element: I enjoy mixing textures, from patterns on chairs, to paintings, to dressers. The combination of all these pieces makes the apartment feel unique and interesting.
Biggest Challenge: Taking different styles and making sure they don't compete with each other.
What Friends Say: When are you moving out? Can you come help me with my apartment? How do you live with a white linen couch and a black short-haired dog?
Biggest Embarrassment: My wedding dress from almost 4 years ago is still hanging in the foyer. Maybe it's time to get that thing boxed up.
Proudest DIY: Redoing the closet doors in my bedroom closet. I had these 70s mirrored sliding doors that made the entire room look outdated. As soon as they came off, the whole room came together.
Biggest Indulgence: Barclay Butera white linen sofa.
Best Advice: Try to focus on one room at a time, otherwise you'll get too overwhelmed.
Dream Sources: Oly studio, Dwell, ABC Carpet, Bungalow Classic in Atlanta, Aria bedding.
Resources of Note:
ENTRY
- • Light above desk: Pier 1
• Desk: West Elm
• Dresser: Alameda Flea Market
• Chairs: Alameda Flea Market
• Sconce: Jonathon Adler
• Mirror: Z Gallery
• Lamp on Dresser: Purchased at Wynne Alex
• Runner in Hallway: West Elm
LIVING ROOM
- • Sofa: Barclay Butera
• Coffee table: Oly Studio
• White vanity: from the street
• Knobs on white vanity: Anthropologie
• Side tables: Target
• Chairs: Craigslist
• Wood Shelf: purchased at SPRING, now out of business
• Entertainment center: Alameda Flea Market
• Ottoman, Mirror on Fireplace and Lamp: purchased at Martin Richards Designs
• Chandelier: Alameda Flea Market
DINING ROOM
- • Dining table and chairs: Alameda Flea Market
• Book Case: Ikea
• Canvas Painting: Allison Baske
KITCHEN
- • Pendant Light: CB2
• Butcher Block: Ikea
• Cookware: Le Creuset
• Folk art: Artist in North Carolina mountains
BEDROOM
- • Chandelier, Chairs and Dresser: Alameda Flea Market
• Bed: Purchased at Studio D
• Bedding: Dwell Studio
• Lamps: Past Perfect, Shades: Restoration Hardware
• Night stands: Harrington Galleries
BATHROOM
- • Hand Towels and Towel Hooks: Anthropologie">Anthropologie
Enter House TourThanks, Carly and Chip!
Images: Lindsay Tella
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Nice, but needs some color.
Where is the jewelry holder in the bedroom from? It looks absolutely perfect!
Love the jewelry holder!! I have been looking for something just like that. Any suggestions on where to find it?
I never comment, but I had to sign in to gush. This is probably my all-time favorite House Tour -- there is NOTHING I don't love about this place. This pretty much exemplifies my style and what I hope to transform our home into.
Love it! Where is the rug in the dining room from? And the rug in the bedroom?
Really love the creamy wall colors throughout the living room, halls, kitchen and bedroom, with the white trim. Can you post the paint colors if you know them? Thank you!
This is a lovely home, really bright and clean. I disagree that it "needs more color." There's a lot of color, here. I see reds, greens, yellows and blues. Just because there's not a hot pink sofa in the middle of a room or an accent wall somewhere doesn't mean it's colorless.
It looks like a home people really live in and use all the space, which is nice.
Also, Lucy the dog? An absolute honey. SO cute.
Wonderful! You have such a light, clean, and airy home. I adore your vintage furniture - the black sideboard and the white desk in particular. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, I think this is stunning, in an old silver with patina, angled sunlight, subtle good flow, way. It really shows that good design and a beautiful space are about relating to the surrounding environment, as much as they are about what colour yer couch is, or maybe more so. Sitting in front of the fire in my cozy butter coloured sitting room, looking out at grey skies and slowly falling snow, makes me feel warm inside, but this house makes me want to move to San Fransisco and soak up some of that incredible light.
Silly question, but where did you get your boots from? Cute!
I love that when I look at this house the things do not scream Ikea or West Elm or any big box store brand. I like that the things look like they've been selected over time and curated for this home. You've guys have done a wonderful job, and as an aspiring lawyer it's great to know that I could be able to make my home this beautiful as well as have my dream career.
P.S. Your kitchen is my favorite part. I'm a sucker for your stove and Le Creuset bakeware.
I love your living room pillows. Where are they from?
I have the same exact side table in the kitchen. Have had it for years and I love it!
Beautiful place, Chip and Carly. I'm especially taken with the dog and the turntable. Is she part pointer? What brand is the turntable?
Also, as Lucy gets older, you may want to put a riser on the floor for her bowls.
This is a beautiful home. I love your soothing palette of neutrals with pops of color in the perfect places. The mountains of North Carolina are full of great art!
And thanks for providing the source for the entry sconce. I had been looking everywhere since seeing them on What Not To Wear.
These tours are fascinating, to "visit" other's homes and see the gamut of sensibilities, aesthetics, ethos, humanity. Very fond of the lived-in-ness of this tour. Can you please give more info about the visible red/white print with what looks like a mouse or rat shaking hands? Artist? Thank you
I love EVERYTHING about this. The muted palette, the lack of clutter, the non-matchiness without any clashing...it's just beautiful. They have fantastic taste.
Love stove. Love the dresser that is blue and white. Love the art - love everything! Thanks for sharing! :)
OK, so how do you manage a black dog and a white sofa?
I have a long haired black cat and a white sofas and chairs. I'd love to know if there's a better way than draping washable white throws on everything.
Lovely place and Lucy brings a smile to my face, she looks like she enjoys posing...a real natural!
Great place-adorable family
cute!
My name is Chip and my girlfriend's name is Carly. We love dogs, we love San Francisco, she loves boots, and I love my swoop hair cut. So... yeah. Freakin' me out a lil.
Hey neighbors! Great job with the space.
I especially love how the living room came together, the vignette created by the four Eiffel tower pictures (hanging pictures like that- no easy task), the bathroom colors & those matching leather chairs- what a find!
Your apartment is perfect. I love the color scheme, it all feels so zen and calming!
That jewellery holder looks like one my grandmother has to display souvenir teaspoons - maybe it has been re-purposed?
PS. very cute doggy
Love the chest of drawers in the bedroom. Where is it from??? And love love love that dog.
I love EVERYTHING about this.
Adorable home and adorable pup!
Gorgeous home, but where did Carly get those boots - PLEASE SHARE!!!
I enjoyed every photo in this house tour. There is a nice ethereal feeling to their space. The colors are very soft and pale. I also especially love the old stove.
It's too bland/lacking color for my tastes, but it is definitely well thought out. I do love the shelf/baskets in the bathroom though.
So jealous of your home. Love all the natural light and beautiful wood floors as well as the clean, uncluttered look of your space. Definitely bookmarking this for future reference.
i love her boots!!
Terrific place. What model/brand is your turntable? Very cool.
Can I ask what kind of dog Lucy is and where you got her?? We have a dog that looks identical, but since she is a rescue dog we don't know anything about her. She is about 7 or 8 years old, and we rescued her in Portland, OR. I swear they could be sisters.
woo, what kind of record player is that? gorgeous!
Beautiful job! Love the turntable on that piece. I'm not sure, but the turntable looks like it may be the Pro-Ject RPM1.3 Turntable, shown here: http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-RPM1-3-Turntable-in-White (with a different cartridge and tonearm).
oh i just love the clean, elegant style of your place. Thanks for sharing it! And im so jealous of all your natural light. The only thing i personally would change is the black shelving in the living room... that seems to take away from the style you are going for. Also, i would replace the mirror over the fireplace with a large piece of fabulous artwork (imo). Yet all is just gorgeous regardless!
Wow -- all that white looks really fresh all of a sudden. Might have to rethink my green and blue walls.
I like it, looks like a lot of chairs all over but ok.
Her boots are Sigerson Morrison for Madewell, I have them on today!
I like the dog best.
I love Lucy.
(the kids and I have been trying to convince my husband we should get a dog... hence the intense dog yearning)
Lovely, charming home with some lovely, charming touches (especially love the kitchen).
Hey everyone- thanks for all the comments. I will try to get responses to all of your questions this weekend (having to attend to my day job!).
Beautiful apartment! Love the kitchen. Lucky you!!
I love this house. Quirky but calming. An impeccable jumble of eclectic pieces all nicely tied together with creamy whites. Fabulous.
DOGGIE!!!!! Oh, I know, I'm a kid at heart. :-)
Very clean and uncluttered. So simple yet so stunning.
very nice! i too would like to know the source for the bedroom rug.
Your apartment is so lovely. I can't get over those awesome chairs in your dining room. And you and your husband are perfectly adorable. I love it!
How is it that no one else has commented on the racist old picture above the stove? The rest of the house is absolutely beautiful, but I can't get over that image.
Very well done!
I LOVED every minute of this tour. I don't usually comment but just had to this time. off to do tour again...
the jewelry holder in the bedroom is awesome!! i would love to know if it was homemade or purchased somewhere??
I have always loved Carly & Chips apartment, I'm so glad to see it finally featured on apartment therapy! Carly has such a great eye and there are so many amazingly unique pieces in there space that all work so well together! Great job on the post as well, Lindsay!
Chelsea
Everything about this place screams "home". There's so much love and warmth in every detail. No wonder Lucy looks so comfortable and calm.
Hey there- I wanted to get back with everyone's questions... sorry it took me as long as it did.
Jewelry holder: It’s over 10 years old- I originally bought it in Atlanta (where I grew up) at a store in Decatur. I am not even sure if the store is still open. The holder is wood- I just painted it to make it look a little more feminine.
Rug in bedroom: CB2
Paint colors: My landlord did all the painting so I actually don’t know what the colors are- I will see if I can find out.
Boots: Belle by Sigerson Morrison, Tab Suede Platform Booties
Living Room Pillows: some are from a store that’s now out of business, it was called SPRING. They sold all organic, natural products. Two of the pillows I had made- I bought the fabric and took them to an upholster.
Lucy: she’s a mix of who knows what. She’s 10 and we adore her. We got her when we lived in Georgia- she was a rescue. We’ve now bought a riser for her so she doesn’t have to bend down.
Chest of drawers in bedroom: Alameda flea market
Turntable: Pro-Ject RPM1.3 Turntable
Now, selfishly, since everyone's seen the space, I would love suggestions on dining room tables. We just got cushions for the dining room chairs and I think it's time to upgrade the table. Any suggestions? Thanks again for all of the great comments.
xoxo
Carly
I would expect nothing less!