apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love your use of color - it really draws the eye and separates the different living spaces. I think that in a lot of small spaces people feel like they have to go with light colors to make the space seem more open, but I think adding colors really makes the space more comfortable.

I knew the instant I saw the first photo what building it had to be! I was wondering why no one in that building had entered, as the units are small and have much potential chic. (It's a block away from me and our best candidate to buy a rare 1-BR eventually -- cue creepy stalker music.)

You got the good bathroom tile and a *corner* unit -- lucky you.

I like this, and I like gritty neighborhoods, too!

So the curtain behind the sofa hides the bed. Very nice. I think this apt. would have shown better with larger frame pics? Very-well edited, subtle and calming. Good job.

I cannot for the life of me figure out where you store your clothes. Is there a dresser in by the bed? Any hang-up area?

This apartment has a very pleasant San Franciscan feel to it. The buildings in the Tenderloin all have great bones with lovely exterior architectural details. Like wende, the first thing I thought was, "Good god, he scored a corner unit on an upper floor--in a deco building!" Really tasteful choices without feeling precious or overdone. Plus the gentrification of your neighborhood continues, so you are doubly-blessed (though I assume parking is non-existent for your place). Doesn't much matter... lots of great new/new-ish places within walking distance: Rye, The Cortez (at Hotel Adagio), the place that used to be the Blue Lamp (Swig?), etc... Mama like.

Very cool. You've got it all. Charm. Great stuff. Loads of light. But, of course, for San Franciscans it's all about the view. Lucky.

I wish we could see your bedroom.

I do have one quibble. I know you don't have much wall space because of the wonderful windows, however I think having art between all of the windows is somewhat jarring. I might leave the space btw. the windows facing the couch empty and just let the changing light be your art. This is a case of do-as-I say because as I type this I'm watching the sunlight on my new-leafed California buckeye and the washed blue sky after yesterday's deluge and looking at two windows w/art between.

Dorio -- On the layout, see the little room where it says "tansu"? That's the closet. It's probably about 5' x 8'. And yes, you do have to walk through the closet to get to the bathroom!

(One of my friends lives in a studio in the same building, or I wouldn't be kibbitzing to quite this degree. Not that ignorance has ever stopped me before...)

I LOVE the armless chair in the first photo. Please tell me it's not a find and is something that I could go out and buy tomorrow.

i love the bathroom, ESPECIALLY since it's original! i'm in a building of the same era on the other side of the hill. the only thing that's original in my bathroom is the deep bathtub, so i remodeled it with subway tile so it looks appropriate. i installed a faucet that looks just like yours. is yours porcher? one thing that kinda bugs me is your lack of toilet seat cover. i guess that's a guy thing?

I really like that pillow with miro...sque print you have on the orangy sofa. Where can I get it?

Beautiful place. Love the tile in the kitchen and that bathroom is incredible! Also love the arrangement of furniture in the living area although the table and chairs seem a little too large and take away from the clean lines of that cool chair across from the rich orangey sofa. Those windows are amazing!

Sep, I may be wrong, but I think this is at least a cheap version of tht chair.


http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-11/qid=1142738531/ref=sr_1_11/601-9194769-4340134?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0000AXBZT

It looks like a West Elm chair from a season or two ago.

Your sense of organization inspires me. With many people clean lines don't always mean clean living. You have shown what it means to have, hold and then let go of the incidental items of daily living; letting the architecture of the room and furniture function without the drain of clutter. That is the most important statement going here.

I love this simply because it seems you love it and therefore it reflects you--don't all owners (renters) aspire to have their apts reflect themselves? Good job.

Wende in SF:
thanks for the explanation. Tansu. I learned a new word today! I was looking more at pics and not close enough at floorplan.

Here goes nothing. Inspired by the contest, this is day 1 of "throw-out-half-of-everything-I-own" week:)

Hi - could you tell me where you got your couch and curtains (behind the couch)?

Another Michael from SF, nice place!

Michael, the pictures do not do your apartment justice. Of course the sense of calm in your apartment is impossible to translate!

Hi Laura,

Not sure if Michael is checking comments, so I'll answer instead of keeping you in suspense. The curtains were custom made and match the curtains hanging in the dressing room (not that you can see them).

Fantastic. I would live in this place in a second.

Aw, thanks Heather! Peace in my home environment is what I seek above all else. It is a huge blessing to have it in this world...Laura, we'll figure out how to hook up after the contest and I'll give you the name of the workroom that did the drapes. It rocks!

Hey, Hanifa! West Elm, like, I am so sure. Got the chaise in 1990 from a now defunct shop on Divisadero...and that's vintage silk chenille upholstery! One of the legs is starting to wobble; better get that fixed.....

excuse me but is there no cover on the toilet?

Very nice! Love the color combos, and the vintage aqua-colored chair. It's being knocked off everywhere, but no one ever gets it quite right. I also like the Eames fibreglass chair. They are the nicest sculptural design ever. I'm heading straight over to Craigslist to find one while they're still affordable.
With only 480 sq. ft. you could redo the whole place in a different style every season, just like Auntie Mame!

Hey Robo, thanks! That Eames chair is one of the early ones. When they first went into production they used a piece of rope at the edges of the form to strengthen it; later they changed to a different process. In this one you can see the rope. The label is still fresh on the bottom of the chair. Kicker is I got it about 10 yrs ago at a garage sale in Denver for $35!!! Shipped it hope in a New York second.

Great job! I lived in SF for (too) many years, and know just how well your design fits the place. I like that you did a vintage-style bathroom, while doing the rest of the apartment in what I would call soft-modern. I like to mix it up. And it makes sense to me to have the bath design match the age of the building. Something about the permanence of bathrooms perhaps. Wish I could see more of the kitchen.

Jer,
This has sent our dear friend Beckie into a decorating frenzy!
No wonder,...it's a fabulous refference, & a knockout inspiration.......new shelves for the ''family'' gallery,...new frig,
....flat-screen pc, & much more. All adding up to a recovery
with distraction from the otherwise overwhelming health issues!
Your crib is an enviable masterpiece!
''....I think..red,..yes, let's make it festive,....& don't over-charge me, just because I'm rich!''
Norma

Classic styling that would normaly be found in larger homes, fits quite well in this small face.

Nice mid-century fiberglass chair and I also like your kitchen backsplash.