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David and I moved into this apartment in July 2020, after dating long distance for two years. He was in Boston, and I was in San Francisco. I was living in a studio in the Marina, which was perfect for me, but when David decided to move here mid-pandemic, we quickly realized we needed more space! We hit Craigslist, and this was the first apartment we saw. The light and classic San Francisco architectural details won us over!
Everything in my studio was pink so when we moved in together, [so in here] I tried to tone down the pink (although our bathroom is all pink tile!) and blend our styles. David is a little more traditional, and I like a more modern, bright, and California vibe. The dark sofa and chair in the living room bring in a nice look that we accented with pops of color through textiles/pillows and art.
Design and art have been a focus throughout my life — my mother, Eugenia Jesberg started EJ Interior Design in 1992, and I joined her firm in January 2020. I graduated from Trinity College with a major in Art History and Architectural Studies. Before joining EJID, I worked in merchandising and product development at West Elm, Williams Sonoma, and Gap for several years.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Bright, happy, livable
Inspiration: Art, embracing the natural light, blending of styles
Favorite Element: The dining room is my favorite room in the apartment! The Alicia McCarthy piece just makes me smile. Alicia McCarthy is a Bay Area artist that I have always admired. She is known for her interweaving lines and stripes of bright colors, and she often uses unusual or household materials. This is a print of hers from Paulson Fontaine Press that I was gifted for my 30th birthday. I also love entertaining, and the white dining table provides the perfect canvas for creating tablescapes. My fiancé, David, has been a trooper in adapting to my hosting habits and obsession with collecting dinnerware.
Biggest Challenge: Lighting! While the apartment has beautiful natural light and bay windows, the overhead lighting was a challenge. In the living room, there is no overhead lighting or sconces so we needed to get clever with lamps. In the dining room, there was a tiny Art Deco-inspired frosted glass chandelier that was totally the wrong scale. I wanted a statement piece over the dining table and replaced the old fixture with the Arteriors ‘Mia Pendant.’ Changing out lighting even if you are renting an apartment makes a huge impact, but make sure everything is on a dimmer!
Proudest DIY: Ha! I did paint a few of the pieces on the gallery wall behind the living room sofa in an art workshop with Bibby Gignilliant, does that count?
Biggest Indulgence: Art and textiles! Every year for my birthday, I buy myself a piece of art. My first piece was the Erik Barthels from Uprise Art (the colorful piece above the living room chair), and then I started building from there. I love unique fabrics and the Christopher Farr Cloth pillows were a splurge but well worth it.
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? The building has a lot of Art Deco influences, and the moulding and architectural details in the lobby are quite unique and beautiful. The best thing is this giant, epic mirror! It has become kind of a ritual amongst friends to take #mirrorselfies on our way out of the building.
What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? I love a layered and collected look. I always try to find treasures while traveling. I have a collection of green ceramics from various places. They all somehow work well together and remind me of traveling memories.
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: Bookshelves allow you to showcase your personality, interests, inspirations, collections, photos, and more. The bookshelf was also a room divider in my previous studio apartment and has been a versatile piece in various spaces.
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? Don’t be afraid of color, buy the best quality pieces your budget allows, let your personality shine through and always have fresh flowers!
