Name: Holly and Sean
Location: Nob Hill area
Size: 700 square feet
Years Lived In: Just over a year
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You'd probably never guess it by looking at these photos, but IKEA and Target are regular resources for these two. Holly and Sean seem to have mastered the art of decorating with those familiar, budget-friendly names. By incorporating travel mementos throughout their space, they have created a stylish and inspiring home. We imagine that an in-person tour would lead to lots of wonderful stories about some amazing destinations.
We first spied the couple's apartment on Holly's blog, Nothing But Bonfires, and we were so smitten by it, we had to drop her a note. She and her boyfriend Sean — who happen to be AT readers — graciously agreed to share their one-bedroom rental with us. (Bonus: Sean is a freelance photographer, so the photos are good and plentiful.) Now, after reading through their resource list, we are aching to hop on a plane with an empty suitcase for bringing back lots of cool finds of our own.
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Our style: I guess I’d probably call it “When Asia Met IKEA — And Then Took Her Thrifting.”
The inspiration for our home: I’m British, but I grew up moving around all over the place — Europe and the Middle East, but mostly in and around Asia. So the houses I lived in were always decorated with a mishmash of stuff my parents had collected while gallivanting across the world; a pair of 17th century chairs that had been in the family forever, for example, would be next to a lamp my mother had found in Bali the month before. I guess I kind of inherited that gypsy magpie gene that convinces you that a brightly-colored cloth from Ecuador will look just fine on top of a table from Target and underneath some miniature bronze camels bought in Abu Dhabi. (Don’t laugh: that is exactly what our living room is like.)
Plus, in the summer of 2006, Sean and I quit our jobs, packed our stuff into storage, and spent six months traveling in Southeast Asia: we made our way through China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Burma — and we bought as many mementoes as we could stuff into our backpacks. We moved to San Francisco right afterwards, so you can see a lot of our trip in our apartment.
Favorite element: The teak Indonesian elephant chair up against the window in the bedroom — my parents bought it in Singapore, where they live, and shipped it over. It used to be strapped on to the top of an elephant’s back so people could sit in style while they were riding — but now I just lie on it on Sunday afternoons and read magazines.
Biggest challenge in designing our home: It’s a fairly small space and we have quite a lot of stuff — we moved from a slightly bigger apartment in Charleston, South Carolina (twice the ceiling height and half the rent!) so it’s been a bit of a squeeze. I’m also a bit wary of creating too much of a “theme” apartment — we’ve got a lot of Asian stuff, because it reminds me of our travels and of where I grew up, but we’ve tried to also balance it with other things that appeal to us visually and aesthetically.
What friends say about our home: “Wow, you guys sure have a lot of Buddhas for people who aren’t Buddhist.”
Biggest embarrassment in our home: I really wish we’d painted more walls — with the exception of the bathroom, which we only painted a few weeks ago, it’s very “apartment rental neutral.” I’m planning to paint the hallway a deep red, though, and one wall of the kitchen a bright turquoise. We do go and get those little paint samples all the time — we just never get around to buying the actual paint.
Proudest DIY: Hanging the big wall o’pictures in the living room was quite a challenge — one that required a steady arm, a steady eye, a complicated diagram drawn out on paper beforehand, and a lot of patience. I think we almost broke up over that one, actually.
Biggest indulgence with respect to our home: We bought a really good mattress at the beginning of the year — it was a proper grown-up purchase, considering we’d just been sleeping on one that Sean got free with the bed in 2001, but it’s made all the difference in the world. I do also think it’s a bit indulgent to have a TV in the bedroom — especially when the apartment is so small that the one in the living room is only a few feet away! But it’s a luxury to be able to watch stuff from bed, and I like having it on when I’m getting ready for work in the morning. It makes me feel like I’m staying in a hotel!
Best advice given or received: If you see something you like, don’t buy it with the express intention of putting it in a certain place — or rather, do if you want to, but realize that once you get it home, you’ll probably end up hating it there and will find a much better place for it instead.
Dream source for stuff: It’s not so much a store as a whole country: I’m dying to go to India at the moment, and bring home one of everything! I have these great dreams where I’m in a huge market in Delhi and there are stalls and stalls of stuff for me to choose from. Then I wake up and the closest thing I’ve got is Target’s Global Bazaar section. Not quite the same.
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RESOURCES
Appliances
- Most came standard with the apartment, but the hot pink KitchenAid mixer was a Christmas gift from my uncle a few years ago — I put it on my Amazon wishlist never thinking anyone would buy it for me, but he says he just got carried away when he saw it.
Hardware- All came with the apartment.
Furniture
- Hallway: Table from World Market.
- Kitchen: Table and chairs from IKEA (pine that we painted black). Yellow chair from a Charleston thrift shop called Page’s Thieves Market. Wine rack from World Market (we took out the top shelves for storage).
- Living Room: Sofa from World Market. Red chair from Page’s Thieves Market in Charleston ($35!). Antique Chinese chest (used as side table) also from Page’s Thieves Market. Table behind sofa from Target. Coffee table, CD shelves, Billy bookcases (one was always white, and one used to be silver so we painted it to match), and TV stand all from IKEA.
- Bathroom: Wooden chest from Target. Glass shelf from IKEA.
- Bedroom: Bed from some random San Diego furniture shop in 2001 (Sean bought it and can’t remember the name). Side tables from IKEA (pine that we painted white). Easel from an art supply store. Desk from Target. Antique Korean chest (with TV on it) bought by my parents in 1985 (think it’s about 80 years old). Indonesian elephant chair bought in Singapore.
Accessories
- Hallway: Teak Indonesian mirror belongs to my parents. Green silk tea lamps from Vietnam. White Buddha bought on Arab Street in Singapore. Turquoise vase from Target. Black candle holders from IKEA.
Orange “resin rocks” made by Slatkin, bought in Neiman Marcus. Standing monk statue bought in Inle Lake, Burma. - Kitchen: Spice rack from Williams-Sonoma. Hanging pot rack from IKEA. Teapot from a market in Singapore. Vintage turquoise Chairman Mao clock (Christmas present from Sean) from an antique shop in Singapore. Turquoise salt and pepper pot bought in a market in Hoi An, Vietnam. White pitcher from West Elm. Hanging mobile bought in market in Cambodia. Vintage cake stand from the now-defunct Cathedral School shop on Hyde Street in San Francisco (my old favorite thrift store; I was despondent when it closed!)
- Living Room: Pillows just from TJ Maxx. Red fruit bowl bought in Vietnam. Dark red placemat bought in Indonesia. Red tea light holder (on coffee table) from Bali, filled with red seeds from some tree in my parents’ backyard in Singapore. Gold Buddha bought in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Weaving on table behind couch bought in Otavalo Market, Ecuador. Birdcage from Target. White pitcher (bigger than the one in kitchen) from West Elm. Antique opium pipe bought in Bangkok. Gold camels bought in Abu Dhabi in 1986 (my mother’s). Big red Buddha atop bookshelf bought in Chinatown in San Francisco (on our first visit to the city together, way before we moved here!). Wooden carving atop DVD shelves bought in Bali.
- Bathroom: White platter and tea lights from IKEA, rocks from Target. Small white vase from IKEA. Waffle-weave shower curtain from Target.
- Bedroom: Four-foot high totem pole from Indonesia, bought in antique shop in Singapore (and carried back to Charleston by me as a Christmas present from Sean — not sure what I was thinking!). Pillows on elephant chair from markets in Cambodia and Singapore. Reclining silver Buddha on desk a present from Bali. Flowered pencil box on desk a present from India. Four-faced Buddha next to TV on Korean chest bought in a market in Shanghai.
Lighting
- All overhead lights came with the apartment. Embarrassingly, all other lamps are IKEA!
Paint
- Bathroom is “Badger Brown” made by ACE Hardware (bought at Brownies on Polk Street—hurrah for neighborhood hardware stores!)
Flooring/Rugs and Carpets
- All hardwoods original to the apartment
- Rug in living room from IKEA
Window Treatments
- All blinds came with the apartment
- Curtains in bedroom from IKEA
Artwork
- Hallway: Vintage Vietnamese propaganda posters bought in Hanoi ($3 each!). All photographs taken by Sean (Burma and Vietnam).
- Kitchen: “Doriane” poster bought ages and ages ago in college. Flatiron Building photo taken by Sean. Turquoise and red painting on kitchen wall bought in Chinatown in Singapore.
- Living room: All photographs taken by Sean in Asia.
- Bathroom: “You Make My Dreams Come True” photo of sidewalk graffiti in San Francisco, taken by some guy named Lee Wolfe, bought from a street stall somewhere near the Embarcadero. Matisse print from IKEA. San Francisco photographs taken by Sean.
- Bedroom: Photo of monk over TV taken by Sean in Burma. Sand painting of Buddha over desk bought outside a temple in Bagan, Burma. Square red prints bought in Hanoi, Vietnam. Antique Chinese “Hundred Children” screen over bed bought by my parents in Singapore in 1985.
Thanks, Holly and Sean!
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This is by far my favorite Home Tour the year, its so warm, inviting and full of life! amazing space!
view E.M.H's profile
so lovely! i've never seen a KitchenAid THAT pink before :)
okay, what kind of flowers are the purple ones in the kitchen? i've been looking for those!
view my little apartment's profile
I love that kitchen aid! I have the light pink one (and the blender). I chose them because some of the proceeds support breast cancer. But oh how I love that hot pink!
view mjr's profile
The purple flowers are aliums or "globe alliums" (actually part of the onion family). They come in a range of sizes. You plant them as bulbs.
view snoopy's profile
Really warm, I love it. The built ins are great in this place.
view Otherkate's profile
I agree - this is my favorite House Tour this year. I imagine this is what my apartment would look like if I knew what I was doing. Although I would replace all the Buddhist accoutrements with animal figurines and nature prints. I really like the little camel caravan. I recognize a lot of the furniture because those are all my favorite stores, too.
Beautiful apartment!
view Pteetsa's profile
It's very tasteful in a ethnic, exotic sort of way. I would add some color though. The brown & white color scheme is a little drab. Maybe, blue? Lots of blue?
view Mr. Dangerous's profile
Zeut alors! Something about this apartment feels so French, the charming window, the warm wooden floors, the awesome collection of pieces arranged just so. Well maybe French by way of Bangkok.
I covet those little camels! So whimsical! Where are they off to? And I might have to steal the "loo rolls" idea.
Plus, I love the picture of the graffiti over the toilet, made by a famous San Francisco artist who sprinkles the city with messages of love like "You make my dreams come true." Only here.
view Anne & May's profile
very nice. love that window seat. i almost got a platform bed like that, but wanted to keep the open footprint for storage.
view Lady J's profile
Well mixed.
view farmhousemoderne's profile
My favorite part is the cat that looks like our cat Itty Bitty with the little spot on her nose and dribbling milk on her chin. What a nice place!
view kaanswfm's profile
i love the entry hall mirror, i have one, but a darker wood stain finish.
they sure have style, the bathroom was amazing!
view venus_thames's profile
I've described my interior design taste as mid century-Ikea-Asian. This really sums it up! Okay, not a whole lot of mid century but what a wonderful space they've created. I love it. This is the kind of space where you really get to see that tasteful, artistic and charming don't have to cost a ton of money.
view oakland's profile
love the bedside table!
view amy korngiebel's profile
I absolutely love the style of this home because it reminds me so much of my own- right down to the couch, pillows, and choices of dark wood furniture. They've obviously gotten to travel quite a bit! I haven't been back to Asia since I was a child, but I have similar items that my parents brought to America with them. All the framed photographs make me want to take an exotic vacation just so I can take pictures!
Thank you for sharing!
view vegidesi's profile
My fave so far this year! Very cozy and warm.
view millzee's profile
I read Nothing But Bonfires -- Holly (and Sean) are amazing, wonderful people. It's lovely to see that their house is as warm as she seems on her blog! I sorta want to invite myself over for dinner.
view artnerd's profile
I am using that kitchen in my style tray. I LOVE this space.
view harmonyfrance's profile
love the cultural effects and all the unexpected nooks and crannies. well done!
view *heather leaf*'s profile
I really like the way you composed the wall of pictures in your living room.
I also love this quote from your friends: âWow, you guys sure have a lot of Buddhas for people who arenât Buddhist.â lol
view lightspeed's profile
What friends say about our home: âWow, you guys sure have a lot of Buddhas for people who arenât Buddhist.â
Here's a test to determine if you have too many Buddhas: temporarily replace every Buddha with a crucifix. If guests start looking at you weirdly, and the house looks like it belongs to Jerry Falwell, then you have too many Buddhas.
Other than that, it's a complete charmer.
view Blandwagon's profile
Beautiful, warm, inviting home, made better by the presence of the camels from Abu Dhabi, which is where I grew up and where my family still lives :D
Also, thank you for showing the world that shopping (a lot) at IKEA and Target isn't the faux pas that it's often made out to be!
view Talloush's profile
Thank you for saying such nice things, everyone! I'm so glad you like our place; it's definitely a work in progress (need more paint!) but it's getting closer all the time. Thanks so much for all the lovely comments.
view Nothing But Bonfires's profile
This home is amazing! I love the way the pictures are hung, it gives me ideas.... I have brass camels like those!- my uncle brought them back from Saudi a long time ago. Love this home!
view crash's profile
Charming home and I love the expression on the cat's face. Indignant.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
Absolutely gorgeous home. I'm very well traveled myself, and I've always had my heart set on a house that reflects that. I've got great plans for my mother's place once I've inherited it, and this peek into your home has certainly inspired me.
I think what I love most of all is the colors. The earth tones are so natural and easy, with just the right splashes of eye catching shades. All too often I see homes that, while beautiful, seem a little too harsh in coloring. You've stricken the perfect balance. The pink highlights in the kitchen are very unexpected, but very enduring. I've never been one for pink, but I think you've won me over.
view Ajax's's profile
That elephant chair is soooo very NOT Ikea! I've never seen anything like it before.
As for the rest--well, what's not to love?
view Aulaire's profile
Beautifully put together! I love how the theme runs through your entire space. You've done an absolutely fabulous job!
view PlanItGirl's profile
I'm definately bookmarking this! This is exactly how I want my space to look except swap the pinks and orange with muted cool tones and vibrant greens. bravo
view Renngrrl's profile
Beautiful space! If I must covet one thing, it's the Chairman Mao clock!!
view RJD's profile
In my dreams, the one where I'm a hip city-dwelling chica with a cute boyfriend, I live here. Sigh. Lovely space!
view IAGRL's profile
Cute! A little "Better Homes and Gardens" for my taste but I really like the personal touches.
view aack's profile
Awesome place!!
view danze's profile
Thanks for sharing your cozy space! This is easily the best home tour this year! You clearly know what you're doing.
view darcidoodle's profile
How much do I LOVE this space? Well done! I'm copying at least something from every room. This space is hip and young, yet there's a wisdom and depth in the global furnishings. It's fierce!
view mindybates's profile
Warm and inviting.
Also one of my favorites in recent postings.
Buddhas are a current, serene decorating prop for many.
Enjoy it. They are sweet.
My critique would be all the pictures hanging so close to the ceiling.
Try taking a row away and see if the room is a little more comfortable.
Otherwise very well executed.
view paulmuscat's profile
Reminds me of this great store in Jeffersonville, NY called Global Home. Their website is www.globalhomeny.com
view Round the World's profile
I love this home -- so inspirational (borrowing a few ideas now while decorating my new apartment)
view S. Elizabeth's profile
re: the white West Elm pitcher in the livingroom:
This pitcher came in a range of sizes, from large (pictured), to small enough to be a creamer.
Does anyone on this site have one of the creamer-sized ones they'd be willing to part with? I would pay, obviously :)
view debbro's profile
I love your bathroom floor! The punches of color throughout the apartment are fantastic (like the hot pink blender!).
view Chris in Seattle's profile
I come from an Asian family and it makes me cringe every time I see anything Asian in a western home. They always come off as glaringly pretentious. But I do like the sense of modern feel to this home when you incorporate them. Everything blends well and it doesn't look too old-fashioned either. Nice job!!
view charlitstar's profile
Very nice space and with a lot of personality. I am owndering where you got your white bed. It's just what I am looking for.
view nyc cat's profile
I like the decor, but also think that decorating with Buddhas by someone who is not Buddhist is akin to decorating with Cruxifixes when one is not Christian. I'm not Buddhist, but I find it kind of odd and offensive.
view figs's profile
Yes, I can see your point, Figs, but I think "offensive" is a little strong.
As for "odd": I grew up in Asia, so the statues of Buddha do actually mean something to me, despite the fact that I'm not actually a Buddhist; what I'm saying is that I didn't just see them at World Market one day and think "hey, cool, these are neat!" It's an evolved collection and each one is from a different region of Asia and has a different memory attached to it, from childhood to twentysomethinghood. I'm also fascinated by how the representation of Buddha changes from country to country, and since I've BEEN to these countries (and the temples within these countries) I'm not sure what's so wrong with having a meaningful memento from each.
Yes, I'm not a Buddhist, but I'm not anything, really, and shouldn't one surround oneself with things one finds beautiful and inspirational, things that provoke memory, things that are carefully curated to make one happy in one's own home? Not sure what's so "odd" about that.
view Nothing But Bonfires's profile
I spent the beginning of my life in Asia. I think the rest of your decor is very good taste, but I'm disappointed that I'm the only one who thinks that using another religion's revered icon, even as a meaningful souvenir, is not appropriate. No hard feelings.
view figs's profile
right ON, guys. i'm blown away by your place. pretty much everything about it. it's so organic in the truest sense--clearly born out of those who live there and not some design-y ideal imposed from outside. it's always been my dream to seamlessly incorporate my worldly acquisitions with all my beautiful less exotic exotic wares, but somehow i can't get the Bolivian textile to work with anything, and my rustic Guatemalan crafts just don't seem to fit with my other stuff.
i particularly love how nearly all the wall art is your own, and also how you seem to operate on what i consider a sensible, respectable decorating budget.
your whole place grabs at the tension between exploration and nesting, and makes me want a life filled with both!
view schlex's profile
I think I beat you on the buddhas chicca. We just moved, and I counted- we have a total of 17- in metal, wood, stone, laughing buddha, buddha side table, buddha lamp etc. And I am not even a tchotchke person.... i have just always been drawn to them. Something about them makes me very happy ;)
and no, I am not buddhist either. (but I do agree with lots of buddhist principles)
view Coopers_mama's profile
I'm a newbie here!
Anyways, love this site already. Especially the fabulous and unique home tours. I'm glad there are other people out there, like me, who don't want to sacrifice "living" over design. Too many times I know people who think good design is to buy up everything in a showroom and then put up velvet ropes to block traffic. :D Oh, and then having to weed out the things we love because it doesn't "fit" into the design scheme.
I just looooooove these spaces on the site!
view jhm_lee's profile
Love this. I've got some of the same pieces--the long pillow on the bed (Target) and white Target bedding. I love the throw though and don't have anything so lovely. I've got the little white Ikea plant pots, too.
And Global Market is coming to Target SOON! Yeah! (Actually, I love when their stuff is marked down--I got some great things at 75% off Target prices last year!) Have to admit my Buddha is from there and not my grand Asian travels.
I share this aesthetic, but my place isn't so finished. Thanks for the inspiration!
view kelleyk's profile