A Relaxed, Organic Modern San Francisco Rental

Name: Delila and Nexus, and their dog, Amanda
Location: Hayes Valley; San Francisco, California
Size: 750 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years; Rented

Nexus and Delila’s personal styles extend deep into their apartment’s aesthetic — he describes his style as relaxed, and she finds inspiration and comfort in wearing a white T-shirt with vintage jeans and high heels. Though they live within walking distance of some of San Francisco’s best boutiques, Nexus and Delila’s love of fashion and vintage began long before they moved north from San Diego to open their own vintage clothing shop, ReLove; she’s worked in fashion for 15 years, and he’s always loved vintage furniture. It’s no surprise that two such hip, fashionable people have created a stylish, modern space where they can entertain and show off their DIY and thrifted treasures from all over the world.

Much like their shop, Nexus and Delila’s apartment has a very upscale feel, but almost everything in it is a gift from a friend, a thrift store find, or a DIY project. The beautiful DIY shelves in the living room were built by Nexus, and the teak wood planks used to build them were a gift from a friend. The figurines and sculptures on top of the gold dresser in their bedroom tell the stories of their—and their friends’—travels all over the world.

Almost every piece in Nexus and Delila’s home has a story, and either one of them can tell you where they got each item. “Don’t have anything in your space that doesn’t personally give you joy,” they said in their survey, and it’s clear that they live by that advice. A bronze ostrich sculpture they found in a thrift store in their hometown of San Diego sits on the living room’s DIY shelves, and in their bedroom, a portfolio filled with beautiful charcoal drawings from an estate sale sits on a bench, each drawing waiting to find a new home.

Our Style: Modern Organic

Inspiration: Foreign Cultures, Folk Art, Mid-Century Simplicity, California Flea Markets, Travel

Favorite Element: Wood

Biggest Challenge: Lack of storage

What Friends Say: “This space looks and feels like you!”

Biggest Embarrassment: Having to tell guests to walk lightly on the thin wood floors so as not to torment our downstairs neighbors.

Proudest DIY: The shelves in the living room built by Nexus

Biggest Indulgence: Framing Filippa Edghill‘s beautiful piece hanging in our bedroom.

Best Advice: Get rid of what no longer serves you! Don’t have anything in your space that doesn’t personally give you joy.

Dream Sources: DWR, STUFF, Objects USA, Ron, 1st Dibs

• Walls: Benjamin Moore Egg White (landlord’s choice)

• Burl wood: thrift store (used to be a coffee table)
• Runner rug: purchased on a trip to Marrakech, Morocco

• Shelves: DIY project by Nexus—brackets are by Rakks, and the teak wood planks were a gift.
• All flora: MY FRIEND INGRID, our favorite San Francisco florist
• Mid-century teak back sofa: Rusty Gold in San Diego, re-upholstered in grey linen
• Rug: purchased on a trip to Marrakech, Morocco
• Original Eames bent plywood chair: purchased from dream source Objects USA
• Mid-century dresser: gift from a friend’s dad who was going to throw it out!
• Chrome lighting piece: thrift store find—we took the bulbs off and like it better without.
• 1940s Admiral radio: thrift store
• Simple face drawings: gift from a friend, originally from a Nordstrom window display
• Carved granite faces: estate sale
• Wood painting of Martin Luther: found at a church rummage sale
• Charcoal drawings by unknown artist: estate sale
• Japanese slat bench: estate sale
• Original 1972 signed Yigal Zemer Windows IV piece: charity auction
• Chrome sculpture: by late San Francisco artist David Navarro, purchased at his estate
• Driftwood and bronze ostrich sculpture: thrift store in San Diego
• Tall teak leaf sculpture: Rusty Gold in San Diego (one of our favorite shops for treasures)
• Marble sculpture: by David Navarro, purchased at his estate
• Bronze horse: a gift from our grandma who collected horse sculptures

• Dining table: Saint Vincent De Paul thrift store in San Diego

• Shelves: IKEA Malm
• Counter: DIY made with recycled wood
• Antique West African masks: gift from a friend

• Wardrobe: IKEA with Restoration Hardware lucite knobs
• Headboard: Craigslist
• Bed platform: made by Nexus
• Zebra hide rug: Craigslist
• Japanese slat benches: estate sale
• Gold console: flea market
• Wood chair: San Francisco craft fair
• Large leather duffle used to house our linen: our shop, ReLove
• Other objects: flea markets, thrift stores
• Various sculptures and objects: found throughout the world on our travels
• Morse 1978 abstract hand painting: purchased from Objects USA
• Artwork above our bed: Filippa Edghill

• Chevron shower curtains: Overstock.com
• Artwork: Sarah Edwards

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