Tour a Jewel Box of a Bay Area Shop

Decor

For a long while at Apartment 34, we profiled favorite businesses in and around San Francisco. Post-baby, as much as I resisted, I succumbed to the baby blackhole, so that series kinda fell off the rails. I’ve slowly but surely getting back out into the world (watch my IG for a fun travel adventure this week) and when I walked into the new studio of Michele Holmes – the brow savant of the Bay Area – my jaw hit the floor. This little jewel box of a Bay Area shop is just is so so good, I had to capture it for you!

If you’ve ever gone to get your brows done, you know it’s not the most glamorous of experiences. There’s often a bit of pain involved. You’re frequently crammed into the corner of a hair salon or taken into a small clinical feeling room. But Michele as spun the brow world on it’s head with her new studio just north of San Francisco.

Michele has a degree in fashion with a background in buying, merchandising, marketing and sales. A grueling travel schedule and the urge to settle down, drove her decision to flip the career switch. She initially worked as a full-service spa esthetician before going out on her own. She started doing brow house calls and built her business exclusively through word of mouth. 12 years later, she remained the “little black book secret” brow guru in SF and Marin until the word got out. In 2015 she was crowned “The Eyebrow Whisperer” by the San Francisco Chronicle and has since been featured in Goop, InStyle, C Magazine and more.

The studio was designed with a mix of modern furnishings, antiques and custom designed fixtures. A lot of Michele’s inspiration came from old British hotels and country estate houses during her frequent family visits to the UK. Michele describes her personal style as “modern grandma,” but I describe and simply perfect. She blends antiques and vintage with key pieces from faves like Anthropologie, CB2 and Rejuvenation.

Personally selecting every single detail for her studio, Michele applied a single mantra: if it’s not pretty it doesn’t come in. The rule applied to everything, from the products she sells (all organic and good for you) to the brow chairs clients sit in (custom made) to the tools she uses – all gold of course. Her attention to detail and her eye for bold moments blend seamlessly. The epic wallpapers that grace the studio and bathroom walls were sourced from Sweden and England. The art work is all vintage sourced from estate sales, eBay and Etsy. Everywhere you look, you cannot help but love what you see.

As Michele describes, “I wanted to create a cozy environment where everyone felt welcome to stay and hang
out for a while. Beauty is beyond fun for us and we will gladly talk your ear off in our lovely lady land.” Well, she certainly succeeded. Even though I don’t need to get my brows done every three weeks (thanks for Michele – deets on my face changing beauty secret tomorrow!) I’m always looking for an excuse to simply go hang in her beautiful space. The Bay Area should consider itself very lucky to have this gem!

SOURCES
Lighting: Rejuvenation, CB2, Anthropologie, Houzz.
Furniture: Anthropologie couch/ chair
Various antiques sourced from Charish & 1st Dibs and estate sales.
Brow chairs: Custom from Salon Designers LA.
Wallpapers: http://www.lottastrad.se // https://www.wallpapersales.co.uk/acatalog/harlequin-wallpaper.html

RETAIL BRANDS
Beauty
Vintner’s Daughter
Soleil Toujours
Surratt Beauty
Lilah B.
Kristie Streicher
Henné Organics
Plume Science
Revitabrow
Gifts & Other
The Object Enthusiast (ceramics)
Maison Marie Louis (candles, bath products & fragrance)
Annie Anderson Designs ( Fine jewelry. 14K gold & natural diamonds)

For our entire Retail Therapy archive, CLICK HERE.

And do tell, do you like this series? Would you like to see it come back in full force? Please let me know!

original photography for apartment 34 by andrea posadas

Tasty Tuesday: You Scream, I Scream…

San Francisco

Summer is pounding down the door! Are you excited?? It’s currently brought unusually warm temperatures t0 San Francisco, which is sending the entire city scrambling for ways to cool off. It so rarely gets warm here no one has air conditioning (seriously!). So when I heard there is a new shop serving up authentic Italian-style gelato in San Francisco, I had to make my way there stat.

Meet Coletta Gelato. It is a welcoming peach of a shop, and not just because of its welcoming peach color scheme. There’s bar-top seating and a nice sunny spot to enjoy your treat outside. The daily rotation of flavors are hand written on the butcher paper menu. At the counter, you find said flavors ready for scooping, but you won’t find any of those prototypical mounds of candy-colored ice cream that you might associate with gelato shops in Italy. That’s actually because those gelatos are filled with stabilizers and fillers to get them to stand up like that. Sadly, a lot of Italian gelato is made from powder these days! I know, I’m horrified too.

But Coletta founders, Antonio Massimini and Henri Waltenspühl are purists. The two share a childhood love of gelato, growing up with Italian grandparents, but they did not meet until they were getting their Masters of Management in Food & Beverage in Milan. While there, they fell in love with the idea of making the best gelato they could create. So they attended Bologna’s Carpigiani Gelato University to perfect their craft. Luckily for us, they decided to bring their gelato to the US. As Antonio explained, the decided San Francisco is the ideal location because the abundance of amazing ingredients in the Bay Area allows them to make a product that is a cut above.

At Coletta, they make their base from scratch daily. It’s a long, laborious process that includes mixing milk (that they source from local Clover Dairy), mixing it with sugar and raising the mixture to a precise temperature. Then there are the unique flavors – Coletta offers classics like Pistacchio, Gianduja (chocolate + hazelnut) and Tiramisu, but also more local-influenced options like Gauva sorbetto, fresh Peach or Mint Chocolate Chip. All of their ingredients are selected for their quality and freshness and are organic.

Coletta is also putting a foodie twist on their gelato, creating infused flavors, such a basil and chai. They even let it slip that they’re working to perfect a low-sugar option in the future! But what really sets gelato apart for me is the texture. Real, beautifully crafted gelato is light, airy and oh so creamy. You don’t feel gross after eating it. That might by why I was known to indulge as many as 3x a day when I was in Italy (eek!).

There a number of contributing factors to this. For one, unlike ice cream, gelato is made with milk and only milk. Ice creams are made with a mix of milk and cream as well as eggs. This makes gelato a lot lighter (and often half the calories!) of ice cream. Also gelato is made and kept at much warmer temperatures than ice cream. That makes it much more flavorful. Gelato also isn’t meant to be stored for a long time. It’s intended to be enjoyed the day it is made. Coletta doesn’t keep any gelato more than two days to ensure the highest quality and freshness.

After living in Italy and visiting many times since, I’ve spent years sampling gelato anywhere I see it pop up in the US, hoping to replicate the memories I have from Italy. It’s very rare that I’ve found gelato that lives up to those expectations, but Coletta actually surpasses them! The texture is perfect, the flavors are amazing (I was particularly impressed by the almond topped with coco powder) and the space is just the cutest.

But if you can’t make it downtown, fear not! Coletta has also imported roving gelato carts straight from Italy. Bike powered and totally adorable, it’s going to be popping up around San Francisco this summer. I will certainly be stalking it. Follow them on Instagram to find out where they’re popping up.

For now, head to 685 Harrison Street to get your gelato fix. Coletta is open Tuesday-Sunday 12pm – 9pm.

For more of my favorite San Francisco gems, CLICK HERE

original photography for apartment 34 by andrea posadas

Retail Therapy: NYC’s Sincerely Tommy

Decor

Meet Kai Avent-deLeon, Brooklyn native and owner of concept store, Sincerely Tommy – where boutique meets cafe. Sincerely Tommy is a bright, sunshine filled space containing a wonderfully curated selection of women’s fashion and lifestyle objects. A platform for emerging artists, Kai carefully chooses pieces from up-and-coming designers to display in her store. The shop also serves as a cafe, with plenty of seating for neighborhood regulars and freelancers to enjoy the space. It’s been awhile since we did a Retail Therapy post around here and we’re lucky that Kai recently opened up to Apartment 34 about life in New York, the creative process, and finding a sense of self and identity. If you need some serious inspiration and self-motivation, be sure to scroll down!

Tell us about your New York? Is there any other place you would like to live?
I feel very privileged to have grown up in New York. You are exposed to a lot of culture, and you get to be involved in a lot of things that you wouldn’t necessarily have the same ability to do living anywhere else in the world. Growing up I was involved in acting classes, dancing, and really anything creative. I think that definitely contributed to my passion towards what I do now, and being creative in general. Even now as an adult, I have been able to define my taste and interests because of that upbringing, and dig a little deeper.

New York has had a huge influence on who I am as a woman, and who I am as a person. There is a lot to be said about the city in general – finding inspiration in different places and being able to explore. I personally really enjoy the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side for the old architecture, it reminds me of old New York and growing up there. Around the Met too, the Met and Guggenheim are my 2 favorite museums in New York.

I love Brooklyn, obviously, I grew up there. I love the drastic differences between the neighborhoods. Bed-Stuy has a great combination of community and a bit of youth and vibrancy. As I get older and prepare to settle down a bit more, I’m exploring other places. I’m thinking of living in an area that’s more outdoors, with fresh air and more scenic. Maybe somewhere in the desert, or in Africa. This wouldn’t be permanent, but maybe for 3 months out of the year.

What does your creative process look like? Where do you draw inspiration?
I don’t have a set process, I tend to go with the flow in general. When I’m inspired to do something, I just do it. Starting the line for the store, for instance, was just inspired by wanting to wear certain things myself, and feeling like I wasn’t finding those things at an accessible price point. I just started making clothes that were really fun and comfortable. I never studied fashion design or the technical aspects of producing a line, so it was all very new to me. I was just inspired by different textiles I saw in Mexico and went from there.

My inspiration for the store was very similar. There were a bunch of brands that I knew existed that weren’t getting real representation. I saw a lot of talent and not enough opportunity, so I wanted to open a store that allowed those creatives to showcase their design and also be the first store to carry those brands.

Do you have any side projects in conjunction with Sincerely Tommy?
I’m currently working on a website for interiors, where I’ll be doing consultations for people’s homes and businesses. I’ll also have a small shop section where I’ll be selling small objects. I’m hoping to launch this within the next two months.

What are the original influences on your personal aesthetic?
My mother and my grandmother have played a huge role – they have their own sense of style that’s really strong and unique, so watching them growing up, how they would dress and how they would decorate their homes, has always played a really big part in my own style and taste.

Overall, I definitely go for minimalism, and as I get older I want less stuff. If I do buy something, it’s something from a city I visited, and to me it represents that city and the time that I had there, so it has sentimental value. The benefit of minimalism is that the store and my home are pretty much the same. I can always sell something in the store if I choose not to want it anymore. I like natural textures, neutral colors, and things that are very easy to mix and match.

We know you have worked closely with your mother and grandmother on Sincerely Tommy. What pieces of wisdom have you taken away from the women in your family?
To be strong and independent. They both epitomize the concept of taking risks and have sought out ventures, whether career or personal, that are the road less traveled. I really admire that and it has helped me develop my passion and way of living life. I admire them so much – they represent and embody strong independent women in every sense.

We can tell you have a strong sense of self and identity, what advice can you offer to women out there who may struggle with going full force at what they want?
Find yourself first. Having a really good relationship with yourself and understanding that it’s constantly evolving is always most important. Once you are at a point of being comfortable with yourself, everything else comes naturally. As human beings we put a lot of pressure on trying to find outside sources to complete us, but once you have figured out who you are, everything else just comes to you. It’s a never ending journey.

To check out our entire Retail Therapy archive CLICK HERE

Check out our favorite makers HERE

Interviews with more inspiring women are RIGHT HERE

image 1 via garance doré / photography by apartment 34 by kat harris photography of the refined woman / interview by laura banas

Retail Therapy: Consort NYC

Decor

There’s nothing that gets my design motor running more than a brilliantly curated home store. That’s why the new NYC outpost of Consort Design, which I profiled last year HERE, has me like whoa.

Situated in a charming 1830s Tribeca townhouse, Consort’s new retail space feels like you’re walking into the coolest person you know’s living room. Light, bright and beautiful right? It’s not hard to see why Consort Design is one my major interiors crushes right now. The shop also features a full-service design studio for the lucky ducks in New York needing the Consort magic touch. I love the modernist deco vibe Consort tends to express. I swear they helped usher in the blush trend that even I got caught up in this week. While they tend to feature more bold color than I might bring into my world, they temper it with stunning minimalism like that black, white and gold moment. I mean, that marble surfboard situation? Genius.

I must admit I have FOMO for all my New York friends who can just stroll into Consort for a dose of happy any old time they feel like. For now, I’ll just peruse their website and drool over things like the perfect Kaare Klint safari chair….so tempting!!!

For our Retail Therapy Archives, CLICK HERE

photography by Reid Rolls courtesy of Consort Design

Tasty Tuesday: Simply Delicious Restaurant Design in San Francisco

Entertaining

While I’m a sucker for a good recipe any day of the week, I might love good restaurants even more. A fabulous meal I don’t have to clean up after? It’s the best, am I right?! But I particularly love it when beautiful food is served in an equally stunning space. This is certainly the case with a brand new pasta bar that recently opened in San Francisco’s Mission District; Barzotto.

Having just returned from my trip to Italy (sneak peeks of which you may have spied here), I am loving having fresh handmade pasta – and an awesome looking spot to eat it – in my own backyard.

Every detail throughout Barzotto is spot on. The former space was a restaurant called St. Vincent – which I loved in its heyday – but it is nearly unrecognizable from its former much-darker self. All walls were taken from black to white using either original exposed cinderblock walls or Venetian plaster. Even the wood-paneled ceiling has been white washed and space’s central open kitchen bar was clad in white square subway tiles installed on a diamond-oriented bias. At the front of the restaurant, there is a simple seated bar at the open windows where guests can watch San Francisco’s Mission neighbors stroll by. The geometric tile floor totally pops against the subdued tones.

The lighting throughout is gorgeous too — a collection of contemporary brass pieces from Schoolhouse Electric, Restoration Hardware, and CB2 – my faves all around. Plants and pops of greenery bring life into the space. Installations in vintage pots were designed by Eleanor Gerber-Siff from Wallflower Designs. Carrera marble tables are simply accented with wooden salt and pepper grinders, utensil caddies and gold-leaf votive candle holders. A long bench with suspended leather backing banquettes is flanked by custom walnut framed-mirrors in the main seating. I give it all an A+. Guests are greeted at a custom counter and built-in shelving for retail wines, fresh pastas and soft serve gelato sundaes (I hear the spumoni with the house-made magic shell, candied cherries and pistachios is incredible. I cannot wait to try it myself).

At the heart of the restaurant, chef Michelle Minori and her team are hand-rolling fresh pastas so that guests seated at the open kitchen can sit in on the action. Extra-long spaghetti hangs on drying racks for practical reasons (and dramatic effect).

This light, bright space just makes me happy – and hungry. I have a feeling many a carb-filled evening is going to be spent here.

For more of my favorite spots in and around San Francisco, CLICK HERE.

interior design by hannah collins, photography by kassie borreson

Retail Therapy: Sweet Spa in San Francisco

San Francisco

The sad truth is that I don’t get out nearly as much these days. When you’re on baby-time, the schedule is surprisingly rigid – from feedings to naps and bedtime routines – there is very little time is left for excursions. So when I do make a point to get out and explore a good spot in the city, it’s got to be really really good. Case in point: Parlor Mini Spa in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood.

The spa opened last year just as we were welcoming le bebe into the world, so I was thrilled to finally be able to do some mama pampering in this lovely space. The spa’s founder Michelle Clark came from the business world and was in market for a type of mini spa, a place to go to relax and receive care that’s inspiring (and comfortable) and quick (but never rushed). It’s like she read my mind. My days of 4-hour spa treatments are long gone. Finding time to cram in a 45-minute pedicure is now the ultimate luxury, but a very worthwhile one.

Check out this crazy quote from The New York Times:

“More and more of us find ourselves unable to juggle overwhelming demands and maintain a seemingly unsustainable pace. Paradoxically, the best way to get more done may be to spend more time doing less. A new and growing body of multidisciplinary research shows that strategic renewal — including daytime workouts, short afternoon naps, longer sleep hours, more time away from the office and longer, more frequent vacations — boosts productivity, job performance and, of course, health.”

So basically it’s good for your health to treat yo’ self! That’s all the convincing I need so off to Parlor I sped (between morning feedings and swim class mind you). Everything in Parlor’s jewel box of a space is designed to perfection. From the marble-topped beauty bar that serves tea, coffee, juices and bubbly (required in my book!) to the cool entry and serene treatment areas, my design heart went pitter patter. The color palette is muted, the details show restraint and yet the space is warm, welcoming and cool. You kinda just want to hang out in there.

What better way to relax and take a much-needed break than in the lovely environment Michelle created. There are only two treatment areas – one with two seats and another with three – which is perfect because who wants to listen to random conversations during your moment of zen.

This is an idyllic spot to catch up with a girl friend or just enjoy some serious me time. Oh and I should mention that Parlor is much more than a nail salon. They also offer facials; chair and hand and foot massage and waxing, along with manicures and pedicures of course. You can see all the details about their services here. I strongly recommending booking something – soon – because I might beat you to it.

original photography for apartment 34 by suzanna scott and some snaps by me!

Tasty Tuesday: {A Delicious New SF Restaurant}

San Francisco

Like me, a lot of my blogger besties had babies this year. And if what I see on Instagram is true {and we all know Instagram pics are so realistic, right?!} their jet-setting, uber stylish, always in the know ways haven’t changed a bit. I wish I knew their secret. I wouldn’t say having a baby has totally cramped in my style, but it’s certainly given me a new bedtime {hello, 8:30pm}, altered my eating habits {5:30pm reservation please} and rearranged my social schedule {it’s now filled with playdates at the park instead of happy hours or long luxurious lunches.}

But that doesn’t mean my love for getting out and about has disappeared. If anything my craving for something new has only intensified! You can only exist in the cave for so long. So when noosa yoghurt, this seriously amazing new yoghurt brand, asked me to be a part of their “try something noo” campaign, I jumped at the chance. It was just the excuse I needed to explore something beyond the 10 minute-walking radius of our loft.

And thankfully I found myself at the new San Francisco restaurant Lord Stanely. I was smitten the moment I walked through the door. It’s not hard to see why.

The space is stunning. You might not notice Lord Stanely if you quickly walked by its Polk Street location in the heart of San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood, but it captures your attention the moment you step through the door. The decor is so right up my alley. Rustic minimalism but with a modern edge. I love how they layer in all kinds of texture. Polished concrete floors are juxtaposed with rough wood beams, a plant here and there and a killer oversized wall hanging made of sheep skin. I had to restrain myself from petting it.

Owned by a husband and wife chef team, the menu is light, refreshing and hit with a touch of European influence – both chefs are from England. I recently got to enjoy a custom brunch menu created with noosa yoghurt – you might have spied a sneak peek on my Instagram. Every dish that came out was flavorful and super interesting. Think soft scrambled eggs with chives & trout roe served in the egg shell!

Lord Stanley’s Citrus Champagne Cocktail seems like the perfect pre-Thanksgiving aperitif don’t you think? And their Pan-seared Scallop with Coast Herbs seems like the perfect bit to enjoy right after Thanksgiving week! A touch of curry gives it hearty fall flavors without weighing you down.

Needless to say, this mama was thrilled to get herself back out on the town. There’s something about exploring amazing food, local business and experiencing the work of creative minds that just feeds my soul. Now that Carter is starting to eat solid foods, maybe I should start bringing him along. Or maybe I’ll just leave him at home with some delicious yoghurt while I enjoy another Citrus Champagne Cocktail. Seems like a win-win for everyone!

original photography for apartment 34 by suzanna scott

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

Retail Therapy: {Oakland’s Best Decor Store}

Decor

We do our fair share of running around our cities exploring, perusing, eating, shopping and drinking. We call it “work,” but really, it’s what our life goals are made of! It’s an especially good day when we stumble upon something so good, we name it the best. We discovered this sweet shop over a year ago and have been loyal to it since. Every couple of months we pop in to see what newly curated treasures adorn the shelves and every time, every time, we fall in love with it all over again. Properly named and popularly adored, I Love Neighbor is the best decor store in Oakland and here’s why!

You’re strolling down Piedmont Ave on what’s likely a gorgeous day in Oakland. The East Bay is always good for sunshine! On any particular day, the City Across the Bay is at least 5 degrees warmer and the sky much sunnier than fog-ridden San Francisco. As you pass all of the usual suspects, some that have occupied the street for years – decades, even – Fenton’s Creamery, Lost and Found Antiques, Issues, you mosey past something new, fresh, young: I Love Neighbor. You go in {duh!} and your eyes become as big as saucers as they proceed to soak up every little nook and cranny of this gorgeously curated space.

Brass chandeliers made by local artists, glass and ceramic mobiles, vintage paintings and antique taxidermy all hang from the walls or soar from the tall, wood beam ceilings above you. Black and white Icelandic sheepskins, classic striped foutas, colorful Moroccan rugs and handmade textiles from artists in Brooklyn adorn a mid-century chair or spill over a dip-dyed ladder.

Locally made candles, cocktail syrups and shrubs, organic soaps and detergents {peach oil laundry detergent. hello!} line the chic shelves. Grey washed live-edge bowls, smoothly carved horn spoons, unique candlesticks, tiny leather coin pouches, brass scissors in every size and rope dog leashes all make the cut in their well-stocked cabinets.

And, the staff! Well, they’ll become your new best friends not only because they are so friendly, but they’ll also indulge you as you jabber about loving everrrrr-y-thing. They’ll likely tell you about the item in your hand and somehow convince you, in a way your best friend would, that you need it. The store is inviting, never stuffy or intimidating and there’s a backyard luring you in for “just a peek through the back door” yet it enticies you to sit down and stay a while – a neighborly Oakland mentality if we’ve ever seen one!

So if you’re in the neighborhood, stop by Neighbor. And if you’re not, do yourself a favor and be in the neighborhood! To all our buddies in San Francisco who rarely find themselves breaking out of their norm, I Love Neighbor is worth the quick drive over the bridge and we dare you, just dare you, to not fall in love!

original photography for apartment 34 by aubrie pick

Retail Therapy: {The Podolls, San Francisco}

Fashion

I first learned of The Podolls, the clothing line created by husband and wife design duo Lauren and Josh Podoll, not long after arriving in San Francisco. At the time, their designs – both their hand-designed fabrics and clothing made out of said fabric – were entirely online. But I was immediately smitten. This is my kind of style – oversized tunics, cozy sweaters, super soft tees all in a nice neutral color palette. So when they opened their first boutique in Burlingame I knew I’d love the brand personified and they certainly didn’t disappoint. And now they’ve gone one step further – opening a second shop in Noe Valley! We made an immediate beeline to the perfectly curated and beautifully designed space. From custom displays (made by Josh no less!), and an in-store playhouse – Lauren and Josh have outdone themselves with this space – and I couldn’t be happier for them – and for my closet!

We sat down to pick Lauren’s brain about her passion for fashion, launching a fashion line and how she balances work and family life.

The Birth of Josh + Lauren + The Podolls

Josh and I met in 2003 when I was a buyer for ab fits here in San Francisco. I had been working in the fashion world for about three years and loved buying, but secretly always wanted to design! When I met Josh, he was making t-shirts with silkscreened artwork and I bought some to carry in the store. Six months later we had our first date and immediately started brainstorming about new designs and working together. We grew the collection over time and educated ourselves about textiles, pattern making, and production. We’ve maintained our commitment to using organic and natural fibers while we’ve expanded the array of styles well beyond the original graphic tees. The line has always been sewn locally and we’re very proud of that.

Shopping In The Store + Highlighting Other Artisans

We have been fortunate to partner with some wonderful retail stores, including local favorites like MAC (Modern Appealing Clothing) and dish, and yet we always dreamed of having our own retail store for our brand. The process of opening a store and running it day-to-day has brought me full circle back to the days of working at ab fits and I’m grateful for those years of experience. The Podolls retail stores showcase our collection along with the work of independent designers we admire and who complement our line. We don’t specialize in denim or accessories so, each season, I curate pieces around our collection from the lines we sell. Over the years we’ve met so many talented designers and artisans at the trade shows we attend so it was easy to select from makers we admire.

We designed a hangtag for items we sell in the stores that are not our label and we explain on there why we chose the item— possible categories are: made in the USA, artisanal production, natural fibers, recycled, locally produced, family-run business, philanthropic, and fair wage labor. Everything we sell hits at least one of those distinctions. Some of our favorite lines for women are: Ryan Roche, Micaela Greg, Closed Denim, Freda Salvador, Martiniano, Ampersand as Apostrophe, Marisa Mason, Reinhard Plank and Ariel Clute. We also have a children’s area of the store for our podots line as well as Bobo Choses, Mini Rodini, Cabbages & Kings and Mini & Maximus.

Right now, I’m spending a lot of time on the floor of the new SF location as we acclimate to the area and meet new customers. I love meeting new clients and introducing them to our line. The personal interactions inherent to brick and mortar retail are a big reason we opened the stores; you just can’t get that sort of intimate exchange when shopping online!

On Professional and Personal Balance

In terms of balancing professional and personal, I just try my best at it every day. Our son is in preschool now so we have a big chunk of the day to dedicate solely to work. Then we try to put all our attention on him in the early mornings and evenings. We love morning family dance parties and reading stories in the evening. When I prioritize my yoga practice, the days and weeks are much smoother—it’s so important to find those minutes for tuning in and turning off the mind. I have also found that becoming a mother has made me more efficient— I no longer have the luxury of over thinking things so I repeat the phrase ‘Done is Better than Perfect’. That’s a good one for all of us with perfectionistic tendencies.

Lauren’s Final Words of Advice

Cultivate experiences. Don’t settle. Strive towards your dream job. Realize that your work is your life so enjoy it.

Curious about the lovely design choices in the space? They’re just so gorgeous, especially in person!

Lauren tells all: the cash wrap/jewelry display case was made by Danny Montoya of Key & Kite, the playhouse was made for us by Jay Nelson {with indigo dyed curtains by Matt of Flint Outdoors!}, the maple and concrete chandelier was made by our LA based friends Airi and Ryan of wrk-shp and the built in cabinets, shelves and dovetail walnut bench were made by Josh. We wanted to create another light and open space like we enjoy at the Burlingame location so we painted the walls white and bleached and tinted the wood floors for a calm Scandinavian feeling!

Needless to say, it all came together perfectly! Check out the brand spanking new The Podolls San Francisco space in Noe Valley at 3985 24th Street!

original photography for apartment 34 by Charles Redding

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