The Main Ingredient for the Ultimate Dream Kitchen

Decor

I realize it’s been quite a while since I’ve offered you an update on the Victorian. Well, that’s primarily because the old saying is true: when you move into a remodel still in progress the work slows waaayyy down. While things were livable when we moved in a few weeks back, they’re no where near “done.” There’s still a lot of finish work that’s left…well unfinished to date, but I’m slowly but surely trying to chip away at it. As of right now, the house feels a bit like we’re squatting in a really nice, albeit unfurnished airbnb.

So while I have to hold off on any big reveals until the house is in tiptop shape, I thought I could tide you over with some hints at what’s to come. For example, designing my dream kitchen. That was probably my favorite part of entire renovation process. I mean, I’d been dreaming about it for years at this point (the blog is almost 9 years old after all). While the kitchen wishlist was pretty standard; bright white counter tops, a stunning backsplash and a range to make a chef proud, I did add one detail that wasn’t part of my original must-haves.

Can you guess what it is? What do you not see in the image above?

Did you say appliances?! While working on our remodel designs, I fell in love with the idea of integrated appliances. That’s when you build cabinetry over the top to blend in with the rest of your kitchen seamlessly. The look is so clean, so polished. With integrated appliances the kitchen becomes the star rather than some stainless steel behemoth. I’m pretty obsessed with the look.

I love how this kitchen still feels very traditional, but timeless. The bit of molding on the cabinets and the classic marble backsplash give it such an elegant feel. Obviously an integrated look can also swing very modern with minimalist lines and dramatic touches like stainless steel counters, or a stunning waterfall island.

We found the prefect refrigerator for the job, the Thermador Freedom Refrigeration system. Completely customizable, we were able find the perfect unit to fit our space. I love refrigerators with french doors. It makes is so much easier to access everything. And freezers on the bottom are a must. You get more storage area and how often do you really dip into your freezer? It’s nice to everything you use daily at arms reach.

I could not be happier with the look of our integrated Thermador appliances. Just like all the images above, the space feels clean, sleek and understated. I simply cannot wait until I can reveal everything to you, but for now, here’s a teaser of what you can expect to see when I do!

lambert & fils chandelier // benjamin moore storm gray paint // school house electric pulls // silestone by cosentino counters in zeus and backsplash in lusso // thermador freedom refrigeration // pendant

image 1 hecker guthrie / image 2 karlavagen 76 / image 3 by armelle habib / image 4 hecker guthrie / image 5 raya todorova

Do a Little Treasure Hunting this Weekend!

Decor

In case you missed it, I wanted to make sure you saw that I’m currently hosting a furniture sale on Chairish! Since I’m moving in a different design direction for our new house I’m letting go of a lot of my favorite items from the loft. But I’ll feel so much better about it if I know that items go to good homes.

Things like my beloved gilded bookshelves from the Apartment 34 studio.

Man I loved that shelfie. I cannot wait until I have the house put together enough that I can actually style something. I’m like an addict that needs her fix. But I digress.

While a lot of pieces have already sold, there are still some gems left. Whether you’re hunting for a new piece of furniture, some lighting or an accent piece you can scoop up a little something fun. And remember you can make your best offer on anything you’re loving. I’m looking to close out the sale soon so am ready and willing to give some great deals!

sleeper sofa // brass pendants // round mirror // swing light // desk // bar // wall sconces // floor lamp // bar stools

If you live in the Bay Area local pick it up is available for all items and Chairish does ship cross country. If you have questions about anything you see feel free to ask in the comments below or send me a message through Chairish. I hope you find something you love!

photography by aubrie pick

Spoilier Alert: Our Loft Life…Is for Sale!

Decor

As much as I loved living in modern lofts during our first five years in San Francisco, now that we’re in our 160 year old Victorian, I’m definitely taking my design approach in a different direction. And so it’s time to officially say good-bye to the loft life – and many of the pieces that went with it!

While this is a bit sad for me, this is incredibly good news for you. At 5:30pm PST today, I’m going to be launching a Loft Life Sale with Chairish. For those of you that haven’t heard about Chairish, it’s a simple (brilliant!) concept – think craigslist, but curated and actually easy to shop. The Chairish staff takes on the work of weeding through, let’s be honest a lot of junk(!), for all the rest of us, making sure everything the site offers up is the best of the best. And thankfully my pieces made the cut! Nearly everything you see in the picture above is now hoping to find a good home.

Shopping with Chairish is super easy. You can browse on the Chairish site or through their mobile app, which I’m obsessed with, and make an offer on any item – even below asking price. If the seller accepts your offer – the find is yours! I won’t admit how many things I’m stalking for our house right now. Suffice it to say, my shopping list is extensive. Items on Chairish ship anywhere in the US and in some cases internationally, but everything in my Loft Life sale is also available for local pick up in the Bay Area. Score for you, my fellow northern Californians!

While my sale doesn’t actually go live for a few more hours, I wanted to give you, dear readers, a sneak preview of what I’m selling. Here are just a few of my faves that I’m (reluctantly!) parting with. PS – everything is drastically under the original retail price.

wall mounted swing lamp $425 // sconce $100 // vintage coffee table SOLD // pendants $775 // side table $125 // media console $650 // bookshelf $1,200

From our living room, I’m saying so long nearly everything. My prized vintage travertine coffee table is probably the hardest piece to part with (for a deal at $250!). But that’s just the start. Our jumbo floor lamp (for only $275), modern arm chair, side tables and even some accessories need new homes. Our media console is definitely a great piece. It’d even be great as storage in a kids room.

But I’m also saying ta-ta to prized items from my old office, or should I say offices. Things from this version, this version and this version are all for sale, including my gilded bookshelves and my pair of brass dome pendant lamps. I have a feeling those babies are going to go very very fast. There’s actually a ton of lighting in the sale, including my pair of Cedar & Moss wall sconces shown in our bedroom here and another wall accent light I used in the nursery. I’m even selling my king sized storage bed. For all you clothes hogs out there, this bed is your dream come true. You can not only put things in the drawers, but under the mattress too. It proved to be amazing shoe storage (sorry for taking it all husband).

Whether you’re hunting for a pretty major piece of furniture like an arm chair, bookshelves or coffee table, or a piece of art or a cute accent piece, my Loft Life Sale has a little a bit of everything. So set the alarm on your phone for 5:30pm today. I really want all of our things to go to great homes and there are only 30 pieces so I think (hope!) everything will go quickly.

You can shop the entire sale RIGHT HERE.

Be sure to check out the latest on our historic San Francisco Victorian HERE. Now that the renovations are complete, I’m about to start the design of each room in earnest – aka the fun is really about to begin!

It’s Official – We’ve Moved!

Decor

No – not the blog. This puppy’s not going anywhere. In fact, we’re just getting warmed because we moved into our house yesterday! Hence why I’ve been MIA this week. Sorry about that! It’s been 642 days since we bought this crazy 150 year old San Francisco Victorian. The blood, sweat and tears that went into our renovation have been truly admirable (only the tears have been mine – the blood & sweat belonged to our amazing contractor and his team).

But today there is nothing but an exhausted smile on my face. I cannot wait to dive head first into phase two of our project – turning our dream house into my dream home. Now it’ll be a while before I can fully reveal all to you, so I’ll have to beg your continued patience. But oh my, do I have some fun plans in store. And I’ll continue to share sneak peeks on Instagram and now Snapchat on occasion too (seeing if I can hang with the cool kids there). Here are few snaps to whet your appetite.

This house has literally been years in the making. But to see it come from the diamond in the rough it was (if you need a fresher on where this sucker started just click here or here) to what I’m sitting in as I type right this very second…well it’s a remarkable transformation and a testament to the team of amazing and talented professionals who helped build my vision – almost from the ground up.

But the adventure is only just beginning. I hope you’ll plan to stay on board for the rest of the ride!

In the meantime, get caught up on our renovation here.

Check out a ton of my design inspiration here

And follow my Pinterest board for the entire project here!

I’d also love to know what you’re curious to learn about! I’ve made many a fascinating discovery as I traveld down this occasionally bumpy renovation road and I’m sure there will be missteps in the upcoming design process too, but I like to think we’re in this together. For those who have been around for years – I appreciate you more than you could ever know.

Erin

The Mania of Moving

Decor

If you’ve ever wanted to see the ugly underbelly of blogging, today’s your lucky day. Because there’s nothing pretty about moving. It’s messy, it’s dirty, it’s chaotic. And we’re in the thick of the storm so I’m not going to sugar coat it for ya.

Our move is in fact, just one week – yes I said it – one week away! Color me panicked. After living in the same apartment for nearly four years, getting our place back into rentable shape is more than a little daunting. Because it’s all about the renter’s holy grail – getting your security deposit back, am I right? As a reminder, here’s what things looked like when the loft was at its peak.

Needless to say, it’s devolved a bit.

We’re slowly but surely dismantling all the work I put into making this place feel like home. Now it’s my job to make it look like a place a new tenant will love. While it may feel like you’re powerless when it comes to the discretion of a landlord, there are a few things you can do to put your best foot forward and give yourself the best chance of having your deposit returned.

One thing we needed to do is patch some walls – I’m a sucker for picture rail shelves, what can I say – but having paint brushes, drop cloths and tools on hand is certainly not practical in apartment living. Neither is taking the time to fill holes, sand, prime & paint when I’m frantically packing boxes with an 11-month old on my hip.

Hence TaskRabbit. If by some miracle you’re still unfamiliar with this awesome service, in short TaskRabbit is an app that connects you with people ready and willing to do the things you don’t have the time, know-how or brawn to complete on your own. Living in the city, TaskRabbit has come to my rescue more than once and this case was no exception. My Tasker, Logan was a dream come true. He showed up promptly, every tool necessary in hand and completed in two hours what would have taken me a whole day!

chloe was an excellent painter’s assistant

Having that repair work crossed off my list is such a relief. It leaves me free to focus on the purging I’m attempting to do right now – because why pack what you don’t want, right? – and all the sorting and organizing that needs to happen too. If time gets really short, I just might call Logan back to help me pack boxes!

There are a few other things to do if you want to have the best chance to get your security deposit back – and they’re all things you can rely on the expertise of an experienced Tasker to help you do in half the time.

The obvious one is clean. You want to check your lease to see if a nonrefundable cleaning deposit is already built in, but if it isn’t, go crazy. Deep clean those bathrooms, cupboards, drawers and baseboards. All the details you might ignore in day-to-day life – this is where it’s worthwhile to clean them.

Along with patching walls, look for any other minor repairs you might want to make. Perhaps you need to touch up your walls, replace some chipped trim or fix a leaky faucet. Any wear and tear you can spruce up will increase your chances of getting your hard-earned money back.

If you have a small move you can even have TaskRabbit help you do that! Maybe you can convince your friends to schlep boxes and all you need is help with some heavy lifting.

As an added bonus, TaskRabbit is offering you, my dear Apartment 34 readers, an exclusive discount on their services! Simply enter the code APT34 to receive $20 off same-day tasks – because you never know when you’re going to need last second help. (this offer expires 3/31)

I wouldn’t be surprised if I call in TaskRabbit reinforcements one (or two!) more times before moving day.

image 1, 2 by aubrie pick

This post is in partnership with TaskRabbit. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting posts that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

Remodel Update: Fireplace Goals

Decor

As we head into the heart of winter, there’s nothing more romantic than curling up in front of a beautiful fireplace, am I right? I certainly have fireplaces on the brain right now. We’re lucky enough to have four – count them – four fireplaces in our new/old house. Yes, that sounds excessive to me too, but it was the only way the house was heated for I don’t even know how many years (though we do have central heating now, thank goodness). I’ve never designed a fireplace before, let alone four so I’m trying to figure out what the heck to do! I’ve gathered my top seven inspiration images to give you a sense of where I’m currently headed.

Our dining room, living room, master and guest bedrooms will each feature a fireplace. Very cool? Yes. A touch overwhelming? Absolutely! Two of the fireplaces will be entirely decorative – our dining and guest bedroom. The other two will feature gas inserts. Regardless of their function or lack thereof, I still want to pay homage to the heritage of the house and create some stellar focal points. But there are so many variables to consider. There’s scale, size, the types of materials you use, any decorative elements, what the hearths should look like…the options are rather endless I’m afraid.

After scanning reams of Pinterest pages and doing some Google image searches I have begun to zero in on the general look I think we need to go for. I’m particularly drawn to 19th century Louis XV style mantels. Their curvature is so sexy! The designs often featured ornate carvings and some sort of crest at the center. But then again, stately English styles that featured a cleaner square design are also rather fetching. They certainly lend themselves to my more minimalist aesthetic. So then I’m torn. I do know that our original fireplaces also featured arched openings so I think at least one or two will need to have that design element.

With the clock ticking down on our remodel, it’s time to go into decision mode. I’d love to hear which fireplace you love the best. And if you happened to dealt with putting new fireplaces into old houses please share any tips or tricks you might have! I’ll be sure to compile all the knowledge and share it back out.

If you missed any of our remodel updates CLICK HERE

If you’re curious about the before pictures CLICK HERE

If you want to see more of my design inspirations CLICK HERE

What I’ve learned about renovating an old house CLICK HERE

image 1 via // 2, 3 via vogue.com // 4 via // 5 via // 6 via new york times // 7 via pinterest

Four Ways to Simplify in 2016

Decor

Everyone I run into lately has brought up their desire to slow things down this year. The always on, always connected, always sharing what’s new, what’s next, where I am right this second seems to be weighing on people. I think we’re hitting a tipping point to change our collective approach to the rat race and I’m all for it. Anything that makes the day’s pace slow is alright by me.

Luckily, there are pretty easy ways to bring some semblance of sanity into daily life. I’ve decided to try four things to add an air of calm to my world this year.

CLEAR THE CLUTTER

The art of tidying was all the rage in 2015 and it’s certainly not going anywhere. The concepts are pretty straight forward. Set a bar for what you surround yourself with.Keep things that bring you joy, that are useful or are just extra special. Things that don’t make the cut? Anything that’s sat in a drawer for a year, stuff that needs to be fixed, something you’re saving “just in case,” or anything you’re just sick of looking at.

I’m definitely taking a “out with the old” approach to decorating in 2016. Notice there was no “in with the new” at the end of that cliché. I’ve been having a ball getting rid of stuff and firmly believe if you purge the physical things clogging up your life, it will spill over to your mental and emotional life as well. You quite literally have space to breathe. Design books that I haven’t revisited in the last year? Buh-bye. The magazines I keep thinking I’ll reread? Oh no.

My coffee table is now a blissfully open expanse, punctuated by a tray to set my daily cup of ~~bliss~~ coffee – but nothing more. Thankfully, our pending move is going to help facilitate an even deeper mass exodus, but you don’t have to move to do your own version of decluttering. Here’s how I try to tackle it: take one hour per week to address a specific area in your house that feels stuck, but won’t overwhelm you. That might be the junk drawers, under the bathroom sink, the box of unsorted paperwork. Then you can block out an afternoon for major projects like the closet clean out. I promise, you’ll slowly but surely chip away at the overflow.

REFRESH YOUR ARRANGEMENTS

With all those things that do bring you joy – display them! Put them within arm’s reach. Set them out in high trafficked areas that you’ll see daily. I’m a big fan of using picture rails to not only display art or personal photos, but also books, magazines and even a candle or air plant for some texture. They add a ton of interest without taking up a lot of real estate. They’re perfect for small spaces or a hallway. Any time you need a mood booster – rearrange. It’s my form of meditation and I swear by it.

TAKE A TIMEOUT

All too often I grab a coffee on the go, chugging it while I’m racing to from point A, 15 minutes late to the point B. This year I’m committing myself to sitting down and fully enjoying a cup of fresh coffee and a little time to myself everyday. Thankfully, I’ve fallen in love with my VertuoLine Evoluo from Nespresso. I’ve been partnering with Nespresso as part of their “Experience A Cup Above” campaign. (You may have spied this post or this post).

Having a Nespresso at home makes taking a few minutes to myself really easy. A push of a button and I have a beautiful cup of coffee and a good ten minutes of sanity-returning quiet time. And the fact that Nespresso’s coffee capsules are made of 100% aluminum and recyclable means no additional clutter. I’m currently obsessed with the Limited Edition Swiss Chocolate variation that was available during the holiday season. That little whiff of chocolate makes mama very happy. You can also try the Intenso variation that is a permanent addition.

SET AN INTENTION (OR 2!)

There are just too many things coming at us all the time to remember them all. And we can all agree there aren’t enough hours in the day to get through your entire to-do list, so this year I’m committing myself to serious prioritization. And to hold myself accountable, I’m writing it all down. There’s something about putting pen to paper that adds a whole new level of gravitas to a goal. This is something you can do while enjoying said cup of Nespresso and revel in your tidy minimalized space.

There you have it. Just a few simple changes to your daily routine and updates to your environment will help you get 2016 off to a positive start. I’m going to do my best to keep the momentum going long after January has passed.

Who else is with me?!

original photography by me & aubrie pick (images 3, 4)

This post was created in connection with my appointment as a Nespresso “A Cup Above” participant. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

Remodel Update: How to Pick Bathroom Tile

Bathrooms

Today we’ve got a little interruption to gift guide-palooza. Even with all the holiday hoopla, our remodel must go on! It’s been a few weeks since we concluded the One Room Challenge, but work on our house is trucking along. I’ve been focused on our bathrooms of late. We’re going to enjoy a master bath, a guest bath and a little powder room in this house. The designs have now been finalized and the finish work is underway! If you need to catch up, I gave a little sneak peek of my inspiration here.

My goal for our bathrooms was to go big on tile – it’s the perfect way to pay homage to our house’s 140 year old heritage, yet do so with a modern touch. But the sea of tile is vast. Overwhelming to say the least. You can wander big box aisles or head to super expensive showrooms but it’s really hard to know what the heck you’re getting. That’s why I decided to work with San Francisco-based Fireclay Tile. You know I love me a local business! I’m lucky enough that their gorgeous showroom is only blocks away from our loft. It doesn’t get much more local than that.

It made for a great mama-son field trip!

Fireclay’s tile is so beautiful. All tiles are made by hand at Fireclay’s factory in Aromas, CA, using recycled and locally sourced materials (including: curbside recycled bottles, discarded glass, bathtub porcelain and the like. Gotta love that.

While I’d taken the time to gather a ton of bathroom inspiration images, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted our tile to look like. And like I said there are SO many choices. Fireclay offers over 100 colors and 30+ sizes so finding the “perfect” design seemed a tad daunting. Thankfully, Fireclay helps you get exactly what you want from idea to execution. So many options and specifications could seem overwhelming, but that’s where Fireclay’s design consultants come in to streamline the process. You can begin with free samples of literally every tile they make. Then you get to consult a tile expert to help nail down the specifics. They’ll even provide free renderings to help you visualize installation, whether you’re simply adding a backsplash or tiling an entire bathroom. I was lucky enough to get to do my entire consultation in person, but you can do a consultation via email, phone or on their website.

I’m thrilled with how all our designs turned out, but I’m not ready to reveal them just yet. It’s no fun without before and after photos but I’ll give you a one word clue: Ombre.

Any guesses?!

If you’re playing catch up, check out the plans for the house’s media room HERE. And my moodboard for the remodel is HERE!

Finding a Little Zen this Holiday Season

Decor

With holiday season steamrolling its way into town, it can all get a little overwhelming. The decorating, the gift buying, the entertaining – all the stuff involved can really start to pile up. That’s why I’m making a point to create a calm, quiet respite somewhere in our house this season! In this case – it’s my desk. I revealed my mini office back when Carter was born. While I still miss the Apartment 34 studio, this little corner has continued to be my {tiny} happy place.

To help maintain my holiday sanity, I decided a few early gifts for myself were in order. I love the ultra modern pieces that the Moma Store carries. Their HAY Collection has such cool, minimal accessories. A sleek tray and a couple beautiful new notebooks are all I need to keep my seasonal to-do’s straight. And I let out a blissful sigh of minimalist relief every time I plop down at my desk. I’m all for making the festive season merry and bright, but sometimes this mama just needs a break. And you thought babies were the only ones who can get overstimulated!

If I had a touch more space, I would gladly add any one of these beautiful elements to my home office.

GET YOUR SHOP ON

1. Hourglass Colorplay
2. Cube Clock
3. Muji Pencils
4. Pencil Holder
5. Stendig Calendar
6. Hand
7. Tivoli Radio
8. Lamp
9. Porcelain Mug

Thankfully, I now have my shopping list for the new house is ready to go!

This post is in partnership with MOMA. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations we’re excited about and that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

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