My Top 5 SF ‘Hoods

I want to move. Kind of. Eventually. I’m not totally in hate with our current Lower Pac Heights studio, and I don’t want to jump the gun (I’m still finishing grad school, may take a pay cut in the next year, want to pay off my credit cards, blah blah blah). But I can write about moving…and day dream about it. So here it is, the list of the 5 San Francisco neighborhoods I would most love to live in.

1) The Inner Sunset. Call me nostalgic (born there, spent my baby days being babysat by my grandparents in the back of a photography store on Irving, fondly remember hanging out there, again, as an early teenager, smoking cigarettes at cafes with older people who were much cooler than me, etc.) or cliche, take your pick, but I love this neighborhood. The park, the shopping, the food, the weather (just kidding), the Irish pubs….it’s home to me. Also great that it’s just a hop (Lincoln) skip (Oak) and a jump (Franklin) from other places you may need to be or a leisurely drive from the beach.

2) Potrero Hill. Duh. Close to the Design District. Quiet (no tourists, hello!), amazing views, sunnier days…killer legs from walking those hills, etc., etc. Love this neighborhood, have always wanted to live there, and we’ll leave it at that.

3) Noe Valley. Not so quiet, but still tons of charm, still some of the best weather in the city and full of great restaurants, neighborhood-y bars, yoga studios and cute cafes…cute babies and puppies everywhere. Sure. Why not. Doesn’t hurt that it’s super close to the Mission- a culturally rich neighborhood I love but don’t want to live in- either.

4) Lone Mountain. Rossi Park, all the food glory of Clement but none of the chaos, well groomed yards and happy children frolicking. I love Lone Mountain, so pretty and tucked away. My grandma’s ashes are here, too, at the Columbarium on Loraine. She grew up in this neighborhood and I love feeling close to her. ❤

5) Pacific Heights. I dream of living near the Presidio (not in it, just close by). There is a quiet calm in the back of Pacific Heights and sure you pay for it but I’m just day dreaming anyway, right?…

Space of the Day

Via Wit + Delight Tumblr

It looks simple at first, but what I love about this space is all the attention to blending indoors and out, circulation of passage and air, and so much natural light. It is, of course, all in my favorite color palette of neutrals, too.

P.S. Go Giants!! Last night was super awesome.

Interior of the Day

Swedish Photographer Jonas Ingerstedt’s Home

{Modern}

[Photos from the current DWR catalog]

Reccomended Reading: Easy Living by Terence Conran

I started reading Terence Conran’s Easy Living last night and woke up feeling calmer and more rested than usual. This easily translates into a good mood– a sense of happy, even.  Maybe it’s because I was reminded to notice the light sneaking in through the windows this morning, or because I had a new re-found appreciation for the way my blankets felt- heavy and warm. Maybe after so much was accomplished this weekend, Monday just feels breezy- routine and expected can actually be pleasant sometimes.  Easy Living helped remind me that things don’t always have to be hard. Sounds simple enough, but I don’t think I’m the only one that, every now and again, makes things more complicated than they have to be.

Our lives are so full and crazy and that is all the more reason why our homes are so important- they can serve as our allies, our sacred retreats. They are the place where living can be easy, healing, restful. So here’s to good design, to home and to this great book, which gracefully guides us towards and breaks down the elements of “easy”.

xo, coco