These Renters Turned an Old, Tiny Nook into a Bold Multipurpose Dining and WFH Spot
Name: Kayleigh Kahn and my partner and all our plants!
Location: Inner Sunset — San Francisco, California
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 600 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My partner and I both work for a local grocery company (which is how we met!), so this year has been quite the whirlwind for us. When San Francisco started to see a mass exodus of people whose companies let them work remotely, I jumped at the opportunity to rent a one-bedroom within my price range. Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of my time and energy (with a ton of help from my partner) turning this space into a bright and comfy oasis — a relaxing home where we’re excited to spend the time we’re not at work!
I identify as someone who’s both grounded and rooted in routine, but also attracted to the spontaneous and fanciful — and above all, enchanted by all the natural beauty of the outdoors, especially in northern California. I think you see this come through first and foremost in the ever-growing collection of plants that’s taken over almost every nook and cranny of the apartment! I’ve also always been most attracted to earthy hues — burnt orange, greens, yellows, and a smattering of neutrals — which you can clearly see as soon as you step into this space.
And I LOVE sunlight: Big windows with a ton of light are my #1 priority in an apartment. I love waking up with the sun, and I try to let as much of it as I can in, despite San Francisco’s tendency towards foggy days! Beyond my color palette and love of all things bright and natural, I also love collecting trinkets — either from my own past or fun vintage items I find out in the world. I appreciate that they add quirky personality to wherever they’re placed, and I enjoy weaving pieces of my own history into the decoration of my apartment through pieces I’ve held onto since childhood.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Cozy, bright, eclectic, maximalist
What is your favorite room and why? It’s more of a nook, but it’s my favorite nook in the place — The Bar! Over the course of the first few months living in the apartment, we worked to turn this old dining nook into a fun, multi-purpose space that would both give us a dining space and also give me an area to work from home. From the peel-and-stick wallpaper, to the thrifted barstools, to the bar itself (upcycled from an old IKEA table!), this space is truly a labor of love. I learned all the ins and outs of power tools, hardware, and the importance of a stud-finder throughout the process! Now, we spend every morning eating breakfast at “The Bar” together, and it’s incredibly gratifying to know that we built it all from scratch on our own.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? A fun brass container with a white stone for a handle! I found it at a local vintage store. It’s a large cylinder that is the perfect home for the bundle of Crazy Bones (a classic game from the ’90s that I loved as a kid) that my partner bought on eBay for me as a hilarious surprise.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t feel like you need to “pick” a style or even clearly articulate your own. Just pick things that excite you or speak to you in some way and your style and home will come together. It should be a reflection of who you are and where you’re most comfortable — and being comfortable in your home is the most important part!
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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