Long known for its shipyards — and heavy industry, the Dog Patch district along San Francisco’s southern waterfront has evolved from a once a gritty neighborhood to one of the City’s most sought after addresses. We’ve loved watching this neighborhood transform and were delighted with the opportunity to decorate a newly purchased Dog Patch condominium this year.

Our clients, well-educated and well-travelled parents of a young child, wanted their home to be a peaceful, retreat-like environment – in calm colors but with a dash of playfulness. The palette was very soothing and cool – dark grays, navy blues, and flaxy linen, accented in unexpected citrine.

At the entryway to this well designed condominium, a unique bent glass table, sourced from Houzz, with lots of utilitarian uses. But we styled it with vintage gears turned sculpture, and artwork sourced from SFMOMA, and a nice bundle of pink tulips.

The framed piece above the customized sofa was a serendipitous discovery found among our client's collection while we were putting the final touches on the room. It complemented our color choices perfectly. Using someone's own art gives the home a soulful feeling. Once we saw it against the existing pallet of dark shades, we knew it was the sass the room needed.

Dark purples, shimmering olive and cheerful shades of yellows – used sparingly, these rich colors created a well-balanced and modern room – without being precious. Above all, this home had to be comfortable, beautiful and functional. In otherwords, livable.

The open floor plan needed defining. Creating the living room, a large, L-shaped, customized sofa – upholstered in soft, cozy flannel – is hard to resist. Well-priced, well-constructed; produced with renewable fibers and grades of materials, helped us keep costs down on these customized, small production furnishings. Now this inviting sofa is a gathering place for the family. It gives you a hug and makes you feel safe.

Opposite the fireplace, a textured wall lends the room a tailored, masculine feel. This specialty wall covering looks and feels like fabric, but is made of easy to maintain vinyl. Think small child. An elevated console table behind the sectional moves the furnishing away from the wall and closer to the fire creating a more intimate space. Bright yellow lamps frame the sofa and the owner’s beautifully hung artwork, while custom designed pillows and woven window shades harmonize to create beautiful layers of colors and textures.

In this case (and most frankly) the pillows made the project. Even a retail-sourced project is greatly enhanced if you factor custom pillows into your rooms.

A circular ottoman, upholstered in performance leather was custom designed to accommodate a small child. This specialty material is washable, wears well, and is easily wiped down if their little one makes his way into the living room with jam on his hands. The shelf below the cushion acts as a place to stow magazines or books while you have your feet up.

From the sofa perspective, we de-emphasized the television as focal point by relocating the flat screen, from above the fireplace, and positioned it in a custom built-in designed by one of our craftsman. He installed strips of LED lights in the case work which is operated by the press of a button so the lights can be on or off depending on the mood.

A set of period perfect, midcentury modern trinity nesting tables adds sculptural function while relaxing on the sofa with drinks or dinner. Creating the apex corner to the room, a swivel chair creates allows its occupant to converse with people in the dining room, the open kitchen, or as intended, the living room. And, it’s fun for the toddler who appreciates the fun of spinning around in the chair.