My Houzz: Midcentury Meets Vintage in the Mission
http://www.decor-ideas.org 12/19/2014 00:13 Decor Ideas
Moving from separate homes to a shared apartment and blending furniture and accessories may be difficult for some couples, but for Jesse Hayes, a graphic designer, and Kate Davison, who recently moved to San Francisco from Georgia, their shared love of vintage and family antiques and an appreciation for midcentury design made it as natural as breathing. The couple already had most of their furniture, much of which had been passed down from family members or collected.
Their rental is a thoughtfully curated mix of pieces collected over time, with a smattering of contemporary furniture and a few new pieces, such as a bookcase, couch and dining table. Their apartment is the result of the couple’s balanced partnership, and many of the small, quirky knickknacks found around it are Hayes’ finds.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kate Davison and Jesse Hayes
Location: Mission neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 1,000 square feet (149 square meters); 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
The couple describe their style as “vintage and modern thrown together.” While they both love midcentury design, too much of one thing would’ve made their home boring. “I love the idea of having a new piece, but then mixing it with something you found at some weird thrift store, because you can never buy that,” says Hayes. “There’s something about that that’s kinda cool — it’s not really catalog-like. Together the items work more strongly as a unit, rather than having everything straight out of a book.”
Chair: Big Daddy’s Antiques; bookcase: Salvation Army
Originally, they planned to go with a gray couch. However, when they saw the bold blue color of this sectional in the showroom, they knew it was the color for them, especially when it perfectly matched the chairs they already had.
“It’s key to mixing vintage and modern pieces,” says Davison. “Textures and colors make a big difference.” They also advise balancing each style equally. For example: Have one big statement piece, such as a midcentury modern chair, that’s surrounded by older pieces to soften it up.
Couch: custom, Funky Furniture; coffee table: thrift store; rug: Pottery Barn; chair: from a friend; framed art: Kime Buzzelli
Napoleon print: Jesse Hayes; framed artwork: Kime Buzzelli; Castro Theatre print: Lab Partners; assorted art: thrift stores
When they moved in, the couple knew immediately that they needed a corner gallery wall. Without it the wall would have been too stark. It’s an eclectic mix of art from Hayes and his friends.
Davison uses her antique trunks, passed down from her grandmother, to hide unsightly items. “They’re currently packed with stuff, but they don’t look like they are,” she says.
Another piece that they purchased when they moved in was the dining table. Found on Craigslist, it was quite a steal but needed some sprucing up. Inspired by Pinterest, the couple repainted the bottom of the table the night they moved in to make sure it was perfect. Mixing different chair styles only adds to the unique feel of the space.
Dining table: Craigslist; dining chairs: thrift store
Both of them love collecting small treasures, but they also know when it’s time to cull and make sure their home doesn’t get too cluttered. “We’re good at saying ‘This is good, but not good enough,’” says Hayes.
Small decorative items, found mostly by Hayes, add a personal touch while not overwhelming the small kitchen.
Spice jars: Anthropologie; apothecary jars: Target; milk bottle measuring cups: Anthropologie
The two are also both self-professed clean freaks who are not averse to rearranging to ensure that everything is just right. They will redo vignettes around the house, and Hayes goes through and rearranges all the spots every six months.
Duvet cover: West Elm; lamps: thrift store
The chair is from a Georgia antiques store. It’s a nice fit with the dresser, which the couple rescued from the street.
A thrift-store basket, ideal for storage, sits in a corner next to a dress form Davison found in a Georgia antiques store and Hayes’ guitars. Though no longer in a band, he still enjoys playing at home. The clock face was a gift from Davison’s sister.
Hooks and rods provide additional hanging space for towels in their bathroom. The white palette keeps the room looking clean and uncluttered.
One of their favorite things to do is entertain. Since they’re lucky enough to have a patio, unusual for San Francisco, they love to host barbecues when the weather permits. Entertaining is made even easier with a window that leads straight to the patio, so they can pass out food straight from the kitchen.
“We love inviting people over to enjoy the space with us,” says Davison. “It’s a great neighborhood.” The hospitality goes both ways, she adds: “It’s not uncommon for our neighbors to lean over the balcony and invite us over for drinks.”
Davison and Hayes, seen here, are adamant about taking the time to pick pieces they like. They won’t rush or get something just to get it. Each piece is carefully chosen to fit right into their cozy home. “Our house is a perfect reflection of us as individuals and as a couple,” says Davison. “We both have contributed heirloom pieces from our families as well as started a collection of our own together, which helps keep things interesting and also a little quirky, but somehow it all comes together. Call it eclectic, call it vintage modern, call it what you’d like, but we just call it home.”
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