This Color-Drenched SF Apartment Is Like a Love Letter to Dramatic Design
When Nicolette Lewis bought this two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco’s Marina neighborhood a year ago, there was no color — basically nothing but white walls. “It was still very charming but very plain. A completely blank canvas!” Nicolette begins.
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Built in the 1920s, this 100-year-old apartment needed to be infused with personality, and Nicolette was more than up to the challenge. “My home is colorful, layered, and soulful — a mix of vintage pieces, bold patterns, and playful details that reflect my love for storytelling through design,” Nicolette continues. “It’s curated but never too serious, blending collected objects with sentimental touches. Think Parisian apartment meets California creativity, with a little bit of fun in every corner.”
Nicolette, who shares her home with her dog, Bali, explains that this home is her first full design project and one she says became very personal to her. “I wanted the space to feel colorful, collected, and emotionally resonant. Every room is layered with vintage finds, bold textiles, and sentimental details that tell a story. I love mixing high and low, old and new, serious and playful,” she writes.
“I identify as a creative, expressive person, and I think that really comes through in my home. I’ve always been drawn to bold color, vintage pieces, and unexpected combinations, and that shows up in everything from the textiles to the art to the way I mix high and low,” Nicolette writes. “My space feels joyful, a little daring, and full of layers, just like how I approach life. It’s curated, but it still feels lived-in and welcoming. I think design is one of the clearest ways to express identity, and for me, that means creating something that feels unique, warm, and full of soul.”
Resources
ENTRYWAY/HALLWAY
- “Vacancy” Light-Up Sign — Artefact
- Red Stripe Paper Mache Lamp — Tov Furniture
- Gallery Wall — A collected curation from estate sales, global travels, and local shops like Nest (SF), Sonoma Country Antiques, Plain Jane’s, and the French Market Marin
LIVING ROOM
- Custom Pink Velvet Sofa — Emerson Grace
- French Antique Metal Coffee Table — Artefact
- Painting — Jan Sierhuis, Coup d’Etat SF
- Ceiling Mural — Nicole Hayden (@nicolehaydenart)
- Additional Décor — Anthropologie, Williams Sonoma Home, Harvest Home
DINING ROOM
- Wisteria Wallpaper — De Gournay
- Table and Rug — Pottery Barn
- Chairs — Restoration Hardware
- Chandelier & Mirror — Arhaus
KITCHEN
- “Nicolette” Rug — Pottery Barn
- Bar Cart — West Elm
- French Wine Menu — Pottery Barn
PRIMARY BEDROOM
- Bed — Hudson & Grace
- Chandelier — Cottage Industry
- Bubblegum Lamp — Dock
- Artwork — Aliaksandra Tsesarskaya (Spain, 2022)
- Stranger (259) — Cheolhee Lim (South Korea, 2022)
- Nightstands — Williams Sonoma Home
- Bedding — Matouk
- Curtains and Tiebacks — Anthropologie
GUEST BEDROOM
- Wallpaper — Chasing Paper x Yelp
- Rug — Sonoma Country Antiques
- Custom Roman Shades — St. Frank Bright Botanical Suzani Fabric
BATHROOMS
- Guest Bath Wallpaper — Schumacher
- Primary Bath Rug — Sonoma Country Antiques
- Primary Bath Chandelier — Chateau Sonoma
BACKYARD PATIO
- Table and Chairs — Serena & Lily
- Pillows and Textiles — Pottery Barn
Thanks, Nicolette!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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