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Melinda & David's Artsy Unique Home
House Call

(Welcome to Jessica from SF. She is one of the bloggers trying out for a place on the Apartment Therapy editorial team, covering different cities in the NW. Comments welcome!)

Name: Melinda Gorham and David Charles
Location: Glen Park, San Francisco

When Melinda moved into her two bedroom Glen Park apartment five years ago, the cream walls and gold fixtures were definite eyesores. Luckily, her amenable landlord gave her free reign to remodel, so the painting, fixture replacing and personalizing began immediately. Now with a new housemate, her fiance David, the home is...

 
 

...full of playful color, a carefully curated art collection and personality. The mixture David's Greek Brazilian heritage and Melinda's refined aesthetic has created a home that is finished yet comfortable all in all....

The bright blue walls of the living room invite you in immediately. Decorated with a mix of art, books and plants, the room begs to be used to wind down from a long day. The artists gracing the walls range from Barry McGee to Matt Furie to Melinda and her daughter Karson. The entertainment console which houses the television was contracted by a furniture designer on Etsy. The couch is from Therapy, pillows are from Urban Outfitters, the gray chair is an eBay find and the rocker is obviously Eames.

Some of my favorite elements of Casa de Rodrigues are found in the bedrooms and dining room. Melinda and David's bedroom is a modern cocoon, a room for relaxation and shelter. The walls are simpler, painted in a matte charcoal paint with few things hanging except the modern interpretation of a cross and 30 golden teeth created by Bay Area aritst Crystal Moray. The white bedding and curtains add peacefulness and harmony to the room.

The room of Melinda's daughter, Karson is every sophisticated twelve year old's dream. Described by Karson as "Contemporary Victorian, the room boasts eggplant walls, a bed draped with fabric resting against a velvet headboard, a chandelier and hot pink bed side lamps.

The dining room is obviously a gathering place with large refinished IKEA table (you would never know) with a bench from Ohio Design on one side for seating. A AJ Fosik "animal head" adorns the mantel as an homage to Melinda's hunting father. The toy collection against one wall has been expanding over the past five years, most recently additions from the couple's recent trip to Japan.

Melinda's office is used to store her nick nacks and small collections as she likes to keep the rest of the house tidy and neat. The stairway leading in to apartment is a gallery of artists the couple knows from around the world.

We've had amazing response to our Apartment Therapy House Tour Submission Form. While we will work with homeowners of our favorite homes to feature full tours, we will also share the best as House Calls — short, quick tours of readers' homes. Submit your home here.

-Jessica

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House Tours, Guest Posts, House Call

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Comments (46)

This is how I think bright wall colors work best (living room), with copious amounts of moulding. Nice choice. The girl's room is super-chic!

http://inspiredroomdesign.com/blog.php

posted by farmhousemoderne on September 29th 2009 at 8:31am
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Absolutely beautiful.

I love the dark walls - it's intimate and cozy and does not close the space in.

That 1st pic is wonderful. I love how they carry the charcoal through all around the home.

posted by bitdot on September 29th 2009 at 8:39am
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"knick-knacks", not "nick nacks"

I love the blue and black living room, and the girl's bedroom is super spiffy. Are those Coraline prints I see on the wall?

posted by Keira on September 29th 2009 at 8:46am
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I'm I just completely confused, or does the copy describe a lot more than what can be seen in these photos? I want to see the custom TV console and toy collection. And the office.

posted by asinner on September 29th 2009 at 8:47am
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I especially like your bedroom ( yummy wall color, great with the white bedding) and the dining room ( awesome bench)

posted by Aster on September 29th 2009 at 8:55am
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I love the bedroom - Dark color with light curtains. Similar to what I did at apt. Beautiful!

Karen

www.cheekyliving.com
http://blog.cheekyliving.com/

posted by cheekyliving on September 29th 2009 at 9:06am
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Here are more pics of their fabulous apartment if interested:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwats/sets/72157622180000544/

Thanks!
Jessica

posted by Jess Watson on September 29th 2009 at 9:10am
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Thanks for the additional pictures! I think my favorite is the master bedroom with the dark wall color. This might convince me not to do a headboard in mine. Plus, I like the row of 3 standard pillows, stacked, instead of king-sized. I'd just read that recommendation, and I like the look.

The gold teeth would give me nightmares though. And even though I'm totally not into the toy collecting thing, I think it's been done quite well in this space.

posted by asinner on September 29th 2009 at 9:58am
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what are the dark paint colors? beautiful home.

posted by nov9 on September 29th 2009 at 9:58am
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I love the how the playfulness of the toys and other knick-knacks contrast with the strong, solid colors of the walls. It is obvious that this couple has a very fun side to their personality and your pictures showcase it very well. Great work!

Jen

posted by jensinspain on September 29th 2009 at 10:02am
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i live in glen park and would love to be friends with melinda and david... their place is beautiful!

posted by JetKatDesign on September 29th 2009 at 10:05am
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I really love the colors they used. How I wish I had such gorgeous architectural details!

posted by lipstickonyourteeth on September 29th 2009 at 10:07am
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what an inspiring article and great colors! I wanna see more!

posted by autista on September 29th 2009 at 10:08am
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Super rad article! I wanna see more!

posted by autista on September 29th 2009 at 10:12am
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There is nothing I hate more than plain, white walls - I absolutely love the use of color!
Great article!

posted by sharonmac07 on September 29th 2009 at 10:22am
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I have a very similar color in my bedroom. Going to try out a very bright, chartreuse-y yellow for my headboard (which I found on the street around 14th and 6th...) REALLY love the color palette in the living room...
Erin
SYL: Slipcover Your Life.
http://www.slipcoveryourlife.com

posted by Erin Stanton on September 29th 2009 at 11:16am
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I LOVE the art on either side of the bed in the eggplant room!

posted by ashes88 on September 29th 2009 at 12:02pm
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The bedroom and the dining room really inspire me. They are both so sophisticated. And the daughter's room? I would have KILLED for this room when I was 12. Heck, even now...
Thanks for sharing. I might have to go check out apartments in Glen Park...

posted by tara1979 on September 29th 2009 at 12:14pm
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that blue is gooooorgeous!

posted by CozyLittleCave on September 29th 2009 at 12:38pm
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i'd die for the fireplace in the dining room, and the fact that it is black makes me even more envious. where did they find the head above the mantle? refreshing not to see bull horns.

great house, i'll definitely check out the link above for more pictures. nice work jessica!

posted by pilar on September 29th 2009 at 12:39pm
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Nice work, on the whole, but that last picture is bothering me. If this is a gallery of international art, why not show the art? It may be an artistic angle for a photo, but it doesn't seem right for a house tour.

posted by shockthebourgeois on September 29th 2009 at 12:58pm
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Ohh, I've dreamed of painting my walls a charcoal color for months now..maybe this is the push I needed.

Great post!

posted by ohhellologan on September 29th 2009 at 12:58pm
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Thanks everyone for the comments and feedback! And thanks for checking out all of the images on flickr. It was definitely a struggle narrowing the photographs down to 5.

Jessica

posted by Jess Watson on September 29th 2009 at 1:28pm
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Great post: this is a gorgeous apartment & well written article. Would love to see more from this contributor!

posted by futurette on September 29th 2009 at 3:07pm
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Thanks for this House Call; I'd love to see the rest of this apartment. Jessica, well-written description, and thanks for using "my"! I'd be happy to read more posts from you.

posted by michpc on September 29th 2009 at 3:25pm
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Beautiful apartment! Love the colors and details! Nice work, Jessica! Would love to read more posts from you.

posted by thuypop on September 29th 2009 at 5:16pm
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I am obsessed with their dining table and bench! I want details on how they refinished the Ikea table!!!!!!

posted by frenchieandflea on September 29th 2009 at 5:19pm
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A very handsome place indeed! I love it!

posted by dunklekatze on September 29th 2009 at 6:48pm
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Great place! I need that white ceiling fixture in the charcoal room with the cross :) Where did you get it?

posted by Redd on September 29th 2009 at 7:12pm
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The big cross above a bed made for three heads makes me think "Christian menage a trois?" But all kidding aside, the home is fresh and airy--good job!

posted by MellyMcCallu on September 29th 2009 at 7:14pm
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When will we be seeing a full tour/article of this inspiring place?

posted by autista on September 30th 2009 at 9:16am
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Beautiful blue walls with the dark curtains!

posted by sugarcake on September 30th 2009 at 7:00pm
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That is a beautiful home! I can't wait to get invited to come over and eat Pão de Queijo

posted by iamxande on September 30th 2009 at 9:54pm
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Meh. The use of accessories like mosquito netting is immature. I don't adore it.

posted by medusa12120 on October 3rd 2009 at 12:02pm
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Love the charcoal and the crucifix above the bed -- gothic yet not ... also, Merriam-Webster online names "nick nack" as a variant to "knick knack" should anyone care. xoxo

posted by Micki on October 3rd 2009 at 2:16pm
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Very nice post Jessica!

Melinda, David and Karson, you have a beautiful home.

posted by scarletdog on October 3rd 2009 at 8:12pm
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What's with the cross? I don't know if I'd want to be having some fun in that bedroom only to look up to see God.

But different strokes, I guess.

posted by Sunnydark on October 4th 2009 at 6:00pm
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Your colors in your apartment are beautiful. The charcoal color and also the eggplant look so rich.
I am not a fan of the gold teeth, however, and do not know what they are suppose to express. Also, I see that often people tie the drapes in the center as you have, and wonder why this is done. To me, it reminds me of skimpy fabric, that doesn't fit the window.

posted by BonnieSchulte on October 5th 2009 at 1:51pm
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I lurve the charcoal gray and white -- cozy and crisp at the same time.

posted by citipearl on October 5th 2009 at 2:26pm
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One of my favorites, really..and I'm a house tour fanatic. I liked the figurines a lot. I've gone on this robot kick lately and seeing that made me feel normal! Great contribution, well presented!!

posted by muffinhead on October 5th 2009 at 5:42pm
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Hello - this is an absolutely lovely place to visit and the furnishings and colours are magnificent. Take out all the "knick-kmacks" and I would rate it first class -(but that is just me - glad you love them)

posted by Betty14 on October 5th 2009 at 6:15pm
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beautiful

posted by emal on October 6th 2009 at 11:13am
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@Pilar- the 'head' above the fireplace is a sculpture by artist AJ Fosik. I am totally jealous. ;)

posted by Jesse Lu on October 11th 2009 at 8:17pm
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Not a fan of that crucifix. Do like that tribal mask over the fireplace though.

posted by Cosmotosis on October 17th 2009 at 9:38pm
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The only thing in those five photos that really put me off was the net in the daughter's bedroom; I think the gorgeous bed and headboard would deserve a more finalized touch of something above them.

Otherwise a wonderful job!

posted by luftskibet on October 26th 2009 at 5:57am
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Spooky... is this the Addams Family new house?

posted by ladymantle on October 30th 2009 at 3:41pm
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