Name: Kirstyn
Location: Pacific Heights — San Francisco, California
Size: 700 square feet
Years lived in: 2 — rented
Kirstyn's apartment is the quintessential San Francisco home, chock full of the impeccable architectural details we go crazy for. Each element, from the built-ins, to the molding, to the hardware, has been restored and finished with care. Her elegant and understated style allows the finishes to speak for themselves, enhanced with serene colors and choice vintage accessories for an overall calming vibe.
Prior to Kirstyn's move, the wainscoting was white washed to cover the dark wood and the walls were all freshly painted, resulting in a soothing, open space. The large french doors also contribute to this openness, and come in handy on those lazy days, when watching TV from bed is a guilty pleasure. The treetop view out the bedroom window is so peaceful, I can't exactly blame her for wanting to stay in bed every once in awhile. Like many older San Francisco apartments, there are an inordinate number of doors throughout the space. It took some innovation to create a flow that made sense and didn't consume too much of the square footage.
Kirstyn combined inherited furniture, craigslist finds and some well thought out purchases to attain a Parisian vintage aesthetic on a limited budget. Collected treasures from her study abroad in China and etsy antiques are scattered throughout the space providing a glimpse at past experiences. As the first real "grown-up" apartment of her own, her decorating process is a conscious endeavor. Not the type to purchase on a whim, Kirstyn's space is a continuous work in progress, slowly evolving with each new addition.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: I love 60's-70's modern art and architecture with a punch of classic Americana, a twist of Parisian Glamour and most importantly a sense of humor. I am not sure that this is reflected in my interiors, but that is how I would describe aesthetics I am drawn to.
Favorite Element: My bed, it's just so comfortable. I spend more time than I would like to admit here.
Biggest Embarrassment: I really love experimenting so I wouldn't say I have any true embarrassments, except my poor attempt at DIY painting in my kitchen. Apparently chalkboard paint is insanely difficult to apply.
Proudest DIY: It's sad to admit, but hanging my curtain rods by myself makes me pretty proud (I am not as handy as I wish I were.) Also, painting my nightstands and bench at the end of my bed.
Biggest Indulgence: 18th century French console table, a gift which I feel very lucky to have received.
Biggest Challenge: All the doors in the apt! I have 5 in my bedroom alone! And 13 in total (including closets etc). It is such a challenge to create flow from one room to another. I love watching guests who have never been in my apartment decide which doors to use to enter a new space.
From an accessories standpoint it has been incredibly difficult to find art that is within budget and also something that I'd like to hang on to long term. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Dream Sources: I am most often inspired by the carefully curated blogs I scour on a weekly basis. I am in awe of design talents like Ryan Korban, Grant Gibson and most recently the moody layered interiors of Abigail Ahern's London apartment.
Every year my stepmom volunteers at the SF decorator's showcase so I love going there and looking at the spaces created by local talent.
I live very close to all the Sacramento Street interior shops/showrooms such as Kendall Wilkinson, David Kensington, Sue Fisher King and March. I love checking out the newest window displays.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
Unfortunately, not available.
ENTRY
- • Console table: Beach House
• Print: 20x200
• Frame: Shabby Chic for Target
• Glass Sea Urchins: Summer House
• Rug: Dash and Albert, Summer House
LIVING ROOM
- • Couch: Ikea
• Console: 18th century French antique, gifted
• Pillows: Pottery Barn & William Sonoma Home
• Lamp: French antique, gifted
KITCHEN
- • Dining Table & Chairs: Alameda Flea Market
• "Panic Now and Freak Out" Print: London, England
BEDROOM
- • Duvet: Pottery Barn
• Giraffe Print Coverlet & Pillows: Michael Kors
• Graphic Pillow: Room and Board
• Side tables: Craigslist (originally from Peru)
• Lamps: Tuesday Morning
• Dresser: Sunrise Interiors
• End of Bed Seat: Beach House
• Rug: West Elm
BATHROOM
- • Shower Curtain: West Elm
Thanks, Kirstyn!
Images: Kathryn Wiens
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Just pinned the heck out of this apartment. Basically, I want to move in. Too bad about the unknown paint colors! I would really love to find out the wall color in the bedroom - it is so serene...
I love it! It's so airy and sleek.
Perfect room. Obvious care taken with every detail. Calm, cheerful, restful...
room = rooms
I absolutely love this! I love the color palette and the layout and the details and the decor and the airy-ness... I love it! So...you wanna come do my place now?! :)
LOVE! My goodness I love it!!
I wish I lived here!
What a peaceful apartment. It reminds me a bit of a pottery barn/williams sonoma catalog, but in a good way. I wish my house were as clean/edited and so well put together. I love SF apartments that still have the original detailing. My only "huh?" is the picture of the wellingtons/rain boots. That's a very Rue/Lonny thing that is getting kinda old. Maybe I'm just grumpy. Really I do love this apartment and tagged a bunch of photos as inspiration. Thanks for sharing Kirstyn!
Whitewashing all of that beautiful wood, what a shame. Looks like the space of a little kid with no taste.
I love the whitewashing. Clean and beautiful. Great job, Kirstyn!
Love the Clean white washing as well LOL. Clean, simple and fresh. What is there not to like. Why fill a house with a bunch of decorative stuff you don't need or use.
I think it's really nice, and I like the simple yet refined decor here. The photos don't give a very good feel for the layout - photos of boots and books aren't particularly helpful in understanding where the 13 doors are and the flow of the apartment.
It's shame the paint colors aren't available - did the landlord paint the place or were you allowed to paint over the woodwork ? I just moved into a similar place with dark woodwork and wainscoting, that I can't paint over. However, it's a nice change from the ubiquitous white trim and I consider it a decorating challenge to brighten up the place without losing a $4k security deposit by painting the wood since it would be irreversible.
It's perfect in a Pottery Barn sort of way. I could never paint over all that woodwork. I wish we could see the "before."
I too love all the whitewashing! Great job, love this home.
GretchenE you really need to lighten up and stop being so grouchy. I've seen several posts of yours and gee whiz :(
On another note...I love your space, it looks peaceful and relaxing!
Similar to sfgirl, I have LOTS of dark (mahogony) woodwork and wainscoting. I am not trying to "brighten it up" per se. But I am trying to make it relaxing and peaceful like you have done. Thanks for some inspiration!
It's lovely, and the bedroom is so peaceful! Beautiful blue in the bedroom.
Looks like the space of a little kid with no taste.
Clearly you have never met a little kid with no taste. There'd be more Dora the Explorer pillows and wallpaper featuring lifesized images of Hannah Montana.
Also you are drugs, woman. This place is lovely. There's nothing quite like serious amounts of white trim to make a room look stylish.
Adore!
wow just lovely ! very inspiring !!!!thankyou .
Very common Pacific Heights. As a French person I don't see this Parisian style perhaps more Pottery Barn's take on Paris?
loved the serene bedroom. the color change to blue from light brown is so seamless...
So darn elegant overall.
beautiful home.
And yes, whitewashing seems magical this once.
Sorry to nit-pick but the term "whitewashing" is when you use a lime and water mix to whiten a surface. It wears off over time and is usually an outdoor application.
Here the wood is just painted white, which is an appropriate treatment for this woodwork, and I love the way it looks!
I love how airy it is and think the paint job is lovely. So restful to come home to every night!
Loving the grey-blue paint in the bedroom.
Love this apartment, it looks way bigger than 700ft. Do not love, however the close ups!! One or two, fine, but I'd prefer an idea of the apartment layout than two zoomed in shots of what she's reading. =)
ACK! I sure hope that the reason that they painted the woodwork was because it was damaged - otherwise painting vintage Craftsman woodwork should be outlawed. You can never get the patina back and somebody will have to strip all that white sometime. And they will be cursing the '2010s white woodwork craze' the whole time.
The apartment is cute and well designed, I especially like the bedroom and kitchen wall colors. Just mourning the woodwork, Craftsman geek that I am.
Beautiful. But this is a no-brainer of a design challenge. It's much more difficult to move into a basic box apartment and make it sing. That being said, I love the vignettes that are placed on the table tops. I'd personally love a few punches of color here and there to remind me that I'm in a lively city like San Francisco.
Absolutely beautiful. Love the paint colors. I only wish my SF flat had all that fantastic light! (I do have almost as many doors!)
Would it make you feel better to know that it isn't a craftsman style building?
I agree--it doesn't look like Craftsman to me. More likely Art Nouveau. But I still wouldn't have painted the wood, and I agree that it is not "whitewashed"--it is covered in several coats of primer and paint.
Love the entry table and vignette.
As someone who has stripped and restored all my woodwork (in an actual Craftsman in Oakland), I would like to say I like it both ways and was in no way cursing anyone for painting the wood : )
Oh, and to the French person, she said she was drawn to the Parisian style, not that her apartment necessarily displayed it (yet, I assume). It's basic reading comprehension if you read the article.
wow- just a little hostility in these comments?
I'm wondering why?
This is a perfectly lovely little apartment, with an owner that takes time to care about where she lives.
I like it and would like to thank her for letting us see her home.
Oh and as far as GretchenE is concerned?
I would rather have an apartment that looks like it's lived in by a little kid with no taste- than to behave like a little kid with no taste by snarking in the comment section.
Perfection!
wish my sf apartment looked like this!
Wow, this is fabulous. It obvious countless hours were put into transforming this space into your own. I'm not sure I'm seeing the Parisien influence, but either way it's absolutely lovely.
Beautiful -- and in an especially beautiful part of the city....
Good photography. Photographer has its talent in taking those in the nicer one.
We'll done! Very tranquil. I love the old with the new approach.
Love it!
Where did you get the two chairs in the living room?
So incredibly peaceful and pretty!!
All of that natural light streaming in is so gorgeous. Lovely home.
love the space =)
This is in 'eclectic'? Really? No offense to Kirstyn- her place is nice, but not really what I'd call an eclectic style.
BridgetteTaylor, no offense taken I hid all the bizarre stuff for the photo shoot :)
Beautiful! I would love to know the paint color of your bedroom - it's so calming and pretty. :)
I love this! Do I live here? Because it's exactly how I would want my apartment to look. My car is even parked out front! (really!) Thanks, Kirstyn, it's lovely. I love all those french doors.