All posts filed under: San Francisco Apartments

studio apartments and small living spaces

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Ever since I downsized my lifestyle (last year), I must say  I am the most content person as far as my living space. Just to help you understand, I went from a 3300 square foot home in the country to a 597 square foot studio apartment in the city. So you can imagine that while settling into this new lifestyle, at first I couldn’t help but feel crowded and claustrophobic and in order to survive I kept telling myself it was all temporary until I search for a bigger place. But over the course of the year I grew to love my space and realized it has become the most inspirational place for my creative writing. So I decided to stay another year. However, since I  decided to  make the studio my home for now, I wanted to personalize the decor. As usual I went to the internet for inspiration and found some photos of suggestions to consider. Let me know what you think?

decor ideas: vintage cupboards

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You know the funny thing about vintage cupboards is that, you either like them or hate them.  I happen to be one who loves seeing them when I go to Napa or Sonoma, California because, cupboards are used in most boutique stores, wine shops, deli’s and some bakeries to house their goods. I really can’t imagine a store without them in the wine country, but having one in an apartment just doesn’t seem ideal in my opinion. So, although I shop for cupboards at antique stores and online, I always talk myself out of bringing one home. I tell you though, if I were fortunate enough to have my own coffee shop, I would most certainly incorporate them into the decor of the shop. What’s your take on cupboards?

pacific heights – san francisco – an architectural marvel

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San Francisco is probably one of the most beautiful travel destinations I can recommend. But of course you all already know that, right? What I truly appreciate the most about my city is the fact, that even though it is comparatively small to most other metropolitan cities, the hills more than make up for the size and of course the fact, within walking distance or (a Muni ride) away, you can experience different cultures within each district (or neighborhood), making it actually and suggestively  a huge city. My choice of exploring any city is of course walking and one of my favorite neighborhoods to explore, not only because of the challenging hills, which give me a great work out, but also the architectural marvel for my visual therapy away from the 9×11 computer screen. Now, I have included some street signage for you, amazing tourists from around the world and neighboring states and Southern Cal  as a guide, so that when you are visiting the city, you can chart your walking tour based on the …

for the writer at heart – a desk and a chair

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I once read that small studio apartments are the most inspirational places for the writer at heart, and after thinking about it long and hard, I realized how true that was, even throughout history. Most well known writers, lived in studios, sometimes in Paris, while they wrote their books. So, as I transition from my past life to the new one, I too have chosen to stay in a studio apartment for a bit in order to, let’s just say, realign my life and get focused on what I want to accomplish from it.  Besides, big houses and too many rooms are not a place for the artistic minded individuals (in my opinion) In line with  the topic I have decided to write about in this entry, I decided to search for  photos of a desk and chair ensemble, to see what actually came to mind when I looked at them. What do you think? Enjoy the photos and have a wonderful weekend.

kitchen talk – small space decor

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I can honestly say that the best kitchen I ever had in my lifetime was a galley style with the simplest decor in a San Francisco high-rise apartment. Everything was within reach, easy to clean and a wonderful window, so strategically placed that I seldom had to worry about airing out the kitchen. Mind you I didn’t even have a fan or a vent and the appliances were the simplest and probably the most durable. So, in light of missing my galley kitchen, I decided to share some photos of my favorite galley kitchen decor.

herringbone pattern hardwood floors – a san francisco lifestyle

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The beauty of living in a wonderful city like San Francisco is that you can actually choose to live in a Victorian or Edwardian style building with its original hardwood floors,  from the late 19th to early 20th century, still intact. I don’t know about you, but no matter how flooring suggestions evolve through the centuries, there is nothing more appealing than hardwood floors – especially if it’s distressed  herringbone design or pattern – throughout the home. So, just in case you disagree or are wondering what herringbone pattern is, just take a look below and then let me know what you think?

white affair in home decor

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As I stated earlier last week, I love Springtime and will often turn to an array of color or not for decorating a home. I am not picky when it comes to pastel shades, whites and eggshell (a.k.a off-white or cream) and even some bold colors as long as it is tastefully incorporated throughout the home.  Of course I cannot stress enough how I wish I could re-decorate my home at least four times a year, at the beginning of a new season. But, since that is not an option, I simply sigh over some of the enticing photographs of decor gone wonderful. Now, the color white to me represents cleanliness (or sometimes) dirty if not cared for very well. It is a difficult color to maintain and use correctly while decorating a home. Too much white, although sometimes soothing to the eyes (believe it or not) can be a bit bland, unless of course you thoroughly enjoy the shade (or is it?). With that said, check out some of the picks I found and …

springtime in san francisco

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On Sunday when I went for my usual walk, I realized that the reason I appreciate Springtime in San Francisco so much, is because we usually miss out on a traditional  Summer in the city due to the heavy fog and cold weather. Springtime in the city, is the only time, we actually experience  warm weather while the days are getting longer. I know we also have, what is famously known as Indian Summer in the Fall, here , but since Fall is normally a prelude to Winter, the days are shorter, so the feeling is not the same psychologically, if you know what I mean? Anyway,  yesterday with Camera in hand, I took some photos of  the first signs of Spring around the city by the bay. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Happy Monday everyone!

decor – vibrant yellow hues in interior decor

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I am so glad Spring is here and I might say that San Francisco is getting a pretty good taste of it this week with warm temperatures and sunny skies. Usually around this time of the year, I begin to think about bright colors, flowers and all things Spring. So naturally my decor radar tends to lean towards unconventional  (and to some conventional) colors throughout the home. In this case, it is the color yellow. In my opinion, this color is also a hit or miss, depending on the shade or hue selected to incorporate throughout the home. It is also a color found mostly in mediterranean themed hotels and coastal homes. I for one love the color and as I stated before, if I had the chance to redecorate my home several times throughout the year, I would surely include the color yellow . Here are some of my favorite photos of yellow decor, tell me what you think?

incorporating the color sage in decor

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In light of St. Patrick’s Day and the much anticipated Springtime coming our way anytime in the next few weeks, (depending on what part of the  world you are) I have decided to pay homage to the color “sage” in decor. Now, this is one color, I truly love and will only consider incorporating throughout my home in a subtle fashion. Such as a vase or flower pots here and there, a unique serving dish, candles and I think that is about it. Even though that is the case, I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow at some of the interesting decorating suggestions in the photos below (My favorite is the bedroom). Anyway, I figured I better share them with my readers. Enjoy and Happy St. Patty’s Day to you all.