house swapping musical chairs.

reading loft makeover in studio apartment. / sfgirlbybay

since i’m in the midst of a remodel i have to temporarily move out of my house while it’s under construction. my very kind next door neighbor artist justin bua offered me his empty studio apartment in return for helping him spruce it up and make it liveable. so how could i refuse? i love a good challenge and this place has cute bones — it’s got beautiful rustic beamed ceilings and hardwood floors, and since the house is a 1930 spanish revival, it’s got some lovely character like a sweet, arched doorway. but then — and this is where the swapping comes in — my current downstairs tenant and assistant editor michaela saw it and fell in love with it, so she’s going to move out of my studio and move into justin’s. i can then move in down below — which is a little easier to manage all the construction from. and it can then be my home office when we’re done with the remodel upstairs. got all that? whew — okay, so here’s what we’re doing to make michaela’s new space great!

studio apartment with loft-like reading nook. / sfgirlbybay

we gave it a nice couple of coats of benjamin moore’s oxford white to give it a fresh look. and in the loft-like space (it’s actually just 4 feet high by about 2 feet wide around the perimeter of the room) we’re adding a little ladder to climb up there and putting two of these cute boxed daybed cushions back to back to create a long horizontal but comfy reading nook. and then we’re adding a slew of cozy pillows i found (above) — a couple of suri patched bolster pillows; the Magical Thinking Ayden Canvas Bolster Pillow; a pair of Magical Thinking Avery Tassel Pillows in cream aand a pair in pale peach; and finally, a pretty Plum & Bow Andanda Kilim Pillow.

decor and furnishings for studio space. / sfgirlbybay

for the windows, we’re using inexpensive matchstick blinds, but topped with these sheer Draped Shade Curtains to add a little ‘oompf’. and i like this rattan rocker from urban outfitters for the corner by the window. up in the loft area and behind the bed we’re using ikea’s paper lanterns for a soft, zen-like glow. on the floor, we’re using a vintage Moroccan boucherite rug along with a couple of Tufted Corduroy Floor Pillows in charcoal gray.

boucheroite rug. / sfgirlbybay

i’m bringing over my ikea MALM bed which has 4 under the bed storage drawers — handy for stashing bed linens and extra clothing. topped with more throw pillows and ikea’s TUSENSKÖNA Bedspread also in charcoal gray. i think we’d like to hang laure joliet’s large format todos print to keep with our california laid back vibe.

decor and furnishings for studio apartment. / sfgirlbybay

we’re probably going to add the nörberg Wall-mounted drop-leaf table in white to use for a dining / work space with two small side chairs. and in the kitchenette area, the sunnersta utility cart for a space-saving spot for kitchen accessories. we’ve got a bit of quick work to do to turn it around, but i think it’s going to be a sweet restful place with a little more space for michaela to make herself at home!

studio apartment space makeover. / sfgirlbybay