I met Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home over five years ago. I was a fan of Mary Ann’s blog and her fresh Southern California Style. When I heard she was moving to San Francisco I suggested we meet at the Design Center. That was over five years ago. We quickly became fast friends. Today I am honored to share Mary Ann’s charming San Francisco apartment. Mary Ann is well traveled and has collected many treasures that have found a place in her home. She has a knack for mixing the high and the low and the new and the old. Enjoy the collected look in Mary Ann’s San Francisco Apartment.
Space and views are at a premium in most San Francisco Apartments. Mary Ann’s apartment has it all. This lovely entry awaits once you enter.
Here she has mixed an antique chest with a black chinoiserie chair and a new bench. Every room in the apartment can be accessed here except Mary Ann’s sweet office off the kitchen.
To the right off the entry are Mary Ann’s lovely master bedroom and bath. Her bedroom overlooks the cable car line with views of the bay in the distance.
Straight ahead is her pretty guest bedroom with her signature classic casual style. Note how Mary Ann uses clear lamp bases throughout her apartment. They create the illusion of space and reflect the ocean view out of every window. Yep you heard me right. Every room in Mary Ann’s apartment has a beautiful ocean view.
To the left is her enchanting living room with its views of the city and the bay. I love how she has kept pattern and color to a minimum to play up the real star, the incredible vistas.
Note how she has added texture everywhere for warmth.
Mary Ann’s shelves are filled with the old and new, and artifacts gathered from her travels. She is a master at bookcase styling.
She updates her charming mantel from season to season.
Let’s take a peak at her stunning dining space, which also shares the stunning views of Alcatraz in the distance. Here Mary Ann is setting her table for one of our recent luncheons. She has covered her antique table with a quilt. Her antique chairs covered in a pretty suzani fabric for an updated look.
As you can imagine, a 1920’s San Francisco apartment kitchen is tiny. Here Mary Ann’s craft is at it’s best. She has made the most of her tiny kitchen and given it her signature style. She recently added a pretty floor cloth to disguise the dated linoleum. How about that view of Alcatraz?
Every time I look at Mary Ann’s darling tiny office it makes me want to go home and tidy mine up (well sort of!). Every item has to have it’s place in this tiny office. She has made it charming and functional. The modern office chair and crisp stripe shade make it fresh and modern.
I hope you enjoyed the collected look in Mary Ann’s San Francisco Apartment. If you would like to learn more about how to get the collected look, you might enjoy my post The Collected Look How to Get it here. If you would like to see more of Mary Ann’s charming apartment stop by Classic Casual Home, and Most Lovely Things , Northern California Style for more of Mary Ann’s classic, casual style. I have linked a few items below if you would like to steal Mary Ann’s look!
Get Mary Ann’s Look
Lovely! I live in Iowa but when Our son and family lived in CA we would visit San Francisco often.
The X benches are something I would love to have a source for as they are an item I am looking for. Would Mary Ann share the source?
Hi Rebecca
Sorry for the late response I have been on vacation. The X benches are linked in the “Get Mary Ann’s Style” widget below. I am so glad you enjoyed her beautiful apartment.
Cindy I wrote my post today and I linked to yours as you had such great pics. Loved our lunch together and it was too short. Isn’t her house amazing? The views are unbelievable! She is the most gracious hostess to. We have to plan another meet up soon. Love that first pic of you two! xoxo Kim
Yes! We do! Can’t wait to get together again and I linked to you as well!
A lovely and loving tribute to your friend. Love the antique pieces Mary Ann mixed with the modern. Texture is such an overlooked quality in a home, but it is one of those things that is so welcoming. The views are simply gobsmackingly beautiful. And then there is Chief, because every room (according to my late MIL) needs a touch of black…and white.
Amen to the use of texture! I can’t agree with you more. But then I am a bit of a texture maniac. Texture first in my book…pattern and color later. Mary Ann’s apartement has it all. She has confidence in her own style so she doesn’t go overboard on trends but adds simple upgrades that make it fresh. She never tries too hard.
Sure, I’m happy to be a guest at Cindy’s apartment. The light and views are extrodianry. I also covet that cheese board she created. Beautiful and casual. Love it.
Sandra now that you are up and about we need to plan a get together with you as well!
I think if I could pick any apartment in S. F. to live, I’d choose Mary Ann’s. Everything about it is perfection and I never get tired of seeing what changes she’s made, big or small because they always inspire me. Thank you for sharing the fun afternoon that my favorite blogging gal spent in Mary Ann beautiful home. But the. There’s your wonderful home and garden, of which I never get tired of seeing!
Gail people like you make blogging worthwhile! You are the best!
I adore Mary Ann’s style and hope to incorporate a lot of it into our new home. Looking through your post I’m wondering it we should have forgone the suburban house and leased a chic City apartment. Those views!!!
Her apartment is to die for Juliet!
I love your relaxed California style. The views out your window make me miss my views. For 35 years I lived on the first hill of the Texas Hill Country. It was located on the outskirts of San Antonio and my view was spectacular! Now I have a smaller home in the city that’s U-shaped and built around a courtyard outside. It’s taken a lot of work to remove an old Spanish fountain and turn it into a pretty green area with a place to sit. Thanks for sharing Cindy and Mary Ann!
Thanks for weighing in Brenda. Mary Ann’s place is amazing. I bet your home is as well!
I’ve been following Mary Ann for a few years now….I’m still so impressed with her lovely style and gorgeous, gorgeous location.
Appreciate your beautiful post and seeing her space through your eyes. She really is a classic, and seems to be a very sweet person!
She is the best and she is as nice as she appears. She entertains beautifully and every inch of her apartment is beautiful. She is all that and a great friend to boot!
I love you, Cindy!
To die for! Makes a native San Franciscan want to move right back there. Stunning views from an extremely lovely home.
Mary Ann’s apartment is spectacular. I love her blog, and her wonderful style. Think I will need to sign up to your blog now!
Please do Gabrielle! Welcome!
sigh…..from afar Mary Ann’s apartment exudes warmth & comfort with great style! beautiful in every regard!
xo
Debra
Mary Ann has such great style, I love the apartment and the touches that give it such a welcome feel.
Karen
How wonderful to see Mary Ann’s apartment. So urban chic – and comfortable too! I appreciate seeing a beautiful style so different from my own.
Isn’t it wonderful how we make friends blogging? You have such a gift of welcoming people into your fold Cindy, and look what treasures it has brought you. How nice to get to spend time in Mary Ann’s beautiful apartment and to enjoy her lovely hospitality.
The apartment looks very stunning and I love the decoration style. Thank you for share with us.
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful apartment home. I don’t think I could stop looking out the windows night and day, for those beautiful views!!! I wouldn’t get any work done!!!
Wishing I was in the California girls group–what fun it seems to be!!! Thanks again for sharing.
So lovely, welcoming and comfortable!
So charming!
http://a-woman-of-a-certain-age.com/
PS. Sneaky shot of me setting the table…love it. Can’t wait so show YOUR gorgeous home. Perhaps I could come down soon.
A STUNNING COLLECTED LOOK SPOT!
Even the elevator and GARAGE were charming!
I can remember too when SHE moved here.WAS THAT TRUELY FIVE YEARS AGO?
HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN READING EACH OTHER?
I feel it has been a long long time!Close to a DECADE!Maybe longer………?
A BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT Mary Ann kudos to YOU and CHIEF THE BEST ACCESSORY!
XX
Our first meeting at the design center was the start of a GREAT friendship. It was so kind of you. Hard to believe that it was only 5 years ago. But I’ve know you longer through your blog! I was just looking at apartments yesterday (thinking it would be nice to have a little garden for Chief and entertaining…but you have made be appreciate our views all over again. Thank you sweet friend.
Mary Ann