My Houzz: Color, Character and Artistry in San Francisco

As a long-distance couple moving in together for the first time, Kelli Ryder and Timothy Lamb were faced with the challenge of combining their styles to reflect both of their personalities. The solution? Humor and compromise. "We were able to mesh our styles together and compromise when it came to decorating," says Ryder, an editor. "We like to have a sense of humor in our decorating; we don't take things too seriously."

To keep their apartment from becoming too gender biased, "we would call each other out if there were too many black and metal things, or too many pink and sparkly things," says Lamb, an artist. The result is a cozy, comfortable home that successfully blends their individual personalities and includes details worth a smile.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kelli Ryder, Timothy Lamb and their cats, Roxanne and Leonard
Location: Panhandle neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: About 650 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Ryder and Lamb already had a few staple pieces of furniture, such as their sofa, dining table and coffee table; they shopped at places like Ikea, Overstock.com, Target and West Elm for the rest. Ryder bought the gold accent table at Target. "I love finding a good deal," she says.


One of the biggest design dilemmas the couple faced was the placement of the large JJ Villard painting in the dining room. "Our apartment is large by San Francisco standards, but it is still a very large painting for an apartment," Ryder says.

They moved the piece from room to room, but it was never quite right until the couple tried it in the dining room, where it stayed.

Rug: Revival Turquoise Rug, Joy & Revelry; candleholders: Jonathan Adler


"Tim really wanted a pendant light, and I wanted a chandelier" says Ryder, "This light is both, and it's shiny!"

Quark Ceiling Lamp: Overstock.com


One of the unique features of the apartment is this multifunctional built-in unit in the dining room; there's also an abundance of closet space in the home. The couple painted the dining room charcoal gray to define it and give it personality. "We love the dramatic neutral gray; it really makes the built-in pop," says Lamb.

A faux saber-tooth-tiber skull sits on top of the unit. "We got tired of our friends asking if it was real, so we decided to spray paint it gold," Lamb says. "I would paint everything gold if I could," adds Ryder.

Wall paint: Gunmetal, Benjamin Moore; "R/R" print: The Deli; skull: Saber Tooth Tiger Skull, Z Gallerie


A small animal figurine rests inside a terrarium on the dining table. "It's our cat Leo," Ryder says.


Artist Jason Laferrera created this fox print. "The print was Tim's before I moved in, but I adore it," says Ryder. "My family has a cabin in the mountains near McCall, Idaho, and there's always little foxes running around. This print will always be a staple in our home."


Lamb picked all of the artwork in the apartment. "But it's evenly split on his tastes and mine," says Ryder. The Barbary sheep trophy on the wall was purchased at Paxton Gate and was once used as part of an installation at one of Lamb's art shows in Los Angeles.

The coffee table characterizes their combined decorating styles. "We love to mix rustic pieces with more modern, clean designs," Ryder says. "The table is rustic, but I can still put flowers and other pretty pink things on it."

Coffee table: Seguro Rectangular Table, Crate & Barrel; rug: Threshold Criss-Cross Shag, Target; rockers: Vinnie White Cradle, Overstock.com; terrarium: Turning Triangles, Urban Outfitters


"When we moved into the apartment, everything was beige," says Ryder. "One of the first things we did was pick out paint colors and paint the living room and dining room." They envisioned this bright blue on a whim while out to brunch on a Sunday. "We stopped at the hardware store on the way home and painted it that night," says Ryder. The color is a custom mix from Benjamin Moore.

"We love our living room because it is cozy yet stylish," says Ryder. "We didn't want it to look like a showroom; we want to be able to enjoy our home without worrying we are going to mess it up."


Ryder works from home for Rue magazine and writes for her blog, Leopard and Lavender, at this desk beneath bay windows. "It's nice to have different nooks in the house to use," Ryder says. "It keeps me from getting cabin fever."

Desk: Parsons, West Elm; sheepskin: Rens, Ikea


Lamb spotted this rustic corner piece on the side of a road and immediately grabbed his truck and brought it home. "I love mixing in old pieces," he says.


Large bay windows brighten the bedroom, though they made furniture placement tricky.

Bedding: Alyssa Matelassé, Peacock Alley; bed frame: Parsons, Room & Board; curtains: Ikea; chair: Lina, Lulu & Georgia; table: Sculpted Geo Console, West Elm; pillow: Posh Polka Dot Charcoal, Society Social


"We were really lucky with the layout of our apartment," Ryder says. "We can both be at home without being in each other's space."

Kilim rug: eBay; desk: Go-Cart Console, CB2; bookcase: Expedit, Ikea


Ryder, shown here on the left, is thankful her long-distance relationship between San Francisco and Boise, Idaho, is over. "Tim [at right] had been going to tons of open houses, dealing with the horrendous S.F. application process and competition, but I wasn't able to help or offer any input," she recalls. "We were really nervous that I'd have to move into a place and neighborhood I'd never seen before."

With major luck, they scored this apartment when Ryder was in town for a quick stay. "We came right over and knew immediately it was the perfect place for us," she says. "We filled out an application and a check on the spot, and crossed our fingers." Ryder got the good news while waiting in the airport security line on her way back to Boise.

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URL: My Houzz: Color, Character and Artistry in San Francisco http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21484.html