My Houzz: A Bright and Pretty Apartment in San Francisco
Personalised details make this converted Victorian house a home
When Ana and Patrick Kamin moved to San Francisco from Hamburg, Germany, two years ago, they wasted no time personalising their sunny top-floor apartment in a six-unit converted Victorian house. They started with paint and furniture hacks, keeping the rooms bright and airy while mixing in earthy tones and blues and layering in textures and patterns. It’s become an ideal space for Ana to create content for her lifestyle blog, Fluxi on Tour, and for Patrick to take refuge in after a long workday as a software engineer.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Ana and Patrick Kamin
Location Upper Haight, San Francisco
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Ana and Patrick Kamin
Location Upper Haight, San Francisco
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
White walls, cabinets and decorative pieces combined with a healthy dose of sunlight ensure that the combination living room, kitchen and dining space doesn’t feel dreary, dark or cramped.
The home is filled with treasures the Kamins brought from Germany as well as new additions from their travels in the U.S. In addition, DIY projects created by Ana, like this navy-blue geometric art piece, are displayed throughout the home.
Blue Potted Accent Lamp Base: Cost Plus World Market
Blue Potted Accent Lamp Base: Cost Plus World Market
Ana, seen here, loves to come up with new recipes to share on her blog.
Ana and Patrick put a lot of effort into personalising their apartment. With permission from their landlord, they painted a number of surfaces, including adding a coat of bright white paint to the kitchen floor.
Ana sprayed blackboard paint on a kitchen wall. She finds the wall a convenient and fun way to display shopping lists and menu ideas.
White paint also made its way into the bathroom, which was originally covered in a dated brown tiles. The couple then painted a Molger shelving unit from Ikea in shades of blue to match the existing blue floor tiles. The project cost around £200, because they needed multiple coats of paint to cover the brown.
The hallway rugs are another DIY project. Ana hand painted an accent stripe on budget-friendly rugs from Crate & Barrel to add an unexpected bit of colour.
Rugs: Olin, Crate & Barrel
Rugs: Olin, Crate & Barrel
Ana uses the second bedroom as an office for working on projects for her blog.
Desk: Melltorp, Ikea; Saddle Office Chair: West Elm; throw: Eivor, Ikea
Desk: Melltorp, Ikea; Saddle Office Chair: West Elm; throw: Eivor, Ikea
She customised a Billy bookcase from Ikea by adding vertical dividers.
In the bedroom Ana transformed two basic unfinished pine dressers from Ikea to fit in with the couple’s love of bright colours.
Bed: Sundnes, Ikea (no longer available); nightstands: Rast, Ikea
Bed: Sundnes, Ikea (no longer available); nightstands: Rast, Ikea
On Ana’s side of the bed, an Ikea dresser used as a nightstand was transformed with soft pink paint and new handles.
Duvet set: Ofelia Vass, Ikea; cushions: H&M Home; nightstand: Rast, Ikea
Duvet set: Ofelia Vass, Ikea; cushions: H&M Home; nightstand: Rast, Ikea
This Tarva dresser got a major facelift with an ocean-inspired colour palette for the drawer fronts and new handles. A small collection of prints and frames sits above the dresser, while Ana’s collection of trinkets is displayed on top.
Dresser: Tarva, Ikea
Dresser: Tarva, Ikea
When the couple first moved in, carpet in the hallway hid the beautiful original wooden floors.
With some patience and permission from their landlord, the Kamins ripped up the dated carpet to create a sophisticated yet relaxed entrance.
With some patience and permission from their landlord, the Kamins ripped up the dated carpet to create a sophisticated yet relaxed entrance.
Ana bought these dining chairs from One Kings Lane and topped them with soft Tejn faux sheepskins from Ikea. The relaxed dining area reflects the couple’s unpretentious, laid-back style.
See how to choose the right dining chair for you
Table: Norden, Ikea
See how to choose the right dining chair for you
Table: Norden, Ikea
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. If you would like your home to be featured, please get in touch at ukeditor@houzz.com.
See more coffee table ideas.
Sofa: Lounge II, Crate & Barrel; cushions: Lappljung Ruta, Ikea; coffee table: Bentwood, West Elm; Andalusia Dhurrie Pouf: West Elm; Tuscan Moroccan Shag Ivory Rug: Rugs USA