My Houzz: It All Started With a Rug
When Rena Thiagarajan moved from Chicago to an apartment at the top of Russian Hill in San Francisco, she had only a mattress and a dresser. Though most people would consider finding a sofa to be the obvious next step, Thiagarajan began to hunt for the perfect rug. An avid textile lover, she wanted something unique and with a storied background that she could decorate around. She also loves to travel, and once she realized that textiles are one of the easiest items to roll up and pack in her suitcase, they became her go-to souvenirs from her trips. Before she knew it, she had amassed a hearty collection of colorful textiles from around the world.
The rug also played a part in the start of a new career for Thiagarajan. When another rug she bought from the same vendor as the inspirational one never arrived, dealing with the obstacles and problems inspired her to quit her job as a corporate lawyer and start Project Bly, a travel and lifestyle site that connects people around the world as friends, shoppers, vendors and more. Thanks to the opportunities for world exploration the site allows her, she has put together a globally influenced collection of art, home decor and, of course, rugs that defines her cozy space.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Rena Thiagarajan
Location: Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters); 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
The rug that started it all is a 1920s east Khotan rug she found in Almaty, Kazakhstan. “When you’re looking for a rug, you should look for one where the colors make you happy, or that is soothing,” Thiagarajan says. “It should be something that you’d like to walk on with your bare feet, or lie on it and read a book.”
Chair, sofa: Crate & Barrel; lamp: Mid Century Modern Finds; coffee table: via Craigslist
One of the difficulties Thiagarajan faced was uncovering the rug’s history. She compares buying rugs to buying antiques — one has to really enjoy the piece, especially the story behind it. “This rug has obviously been used,” she says. “But it adds to the character and history. I look at it like buying a piece of art. The imperfections add to it.”
An eclectic assortment of colorful art, unique furniture pieces and decorative items, including some with interesting patterns, is scattered throughout the home, a result of Thiagarajan’s travels and eye for design. “Don’t be afraid to mix it up,” she advises.
To keep things cohesive, she made sure all the patterns had at least one common thread running through them — whether it was the color or the pattern itself. She made it a point to use colors that complemented one another but weren’t too matchy-matchy.
Credenza: Mid Century Modern Finds; art: Rena Thiagarajan and Project Bly
Thiagarajan’s home also functions as her office and artist’s studio. Despite combining work, play and relaxation in one space, she has no problem separating functions. Home remains a comfortable and calm place where she can sit, read and just be, but it’s also a place where she can work efficiently.
The detailing and open layout are the architectural features of the apartment she most enjoys. Thiagarajan uses a second kilim rug she found online to subtly divide the dining and work space from the living area.
Thiagarajan used to have a studio in the Mission District of San Francisco, but when she began to work from home, it became more difficult to venture there in the evenings. She describes herself as a messy painter, but her pre-1906 hardwood floors are pristine.
In the kitchen the warm tones of the runner rug play off the colors of the kitchen cabinets to perfection.
Sheer red curtains bring out the warm ocher and burnt-sienna notes in the painting above the bed. The kilim rug in this room provides subtle red tones to play off the brighter curtains and painting, while the simple white bedding adds a peaceful touch.
Painting: from India; pillow: from Morocco
Chair, lamp: flea market in Alameda
Not all of Thiagarajan’s finds come from far-flung corners of the world. The chair, lamp and repurposed jewelry hanger were found just across San Francisco Bay, and the dresser is from a local hardware store.
Jewelry hanger: flea market in Alameda; dresser: Ace Hardware
For Thiagarajan designing, traveling and finding one’s passion mean diverging from the expected. “By going off the beaten path, you learn more about everything and anything,” she says. “A pillow can be just a pillow, but when you know the story behind its creation, it provides a new level of meaning and significance as a design object.”
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