A family with two boys and a newborn baby girl made the move from San Francisco to Mill Valley to allow for more space and comfort for their expanding family. They found a charming Craftsman that was in good condition, but it didn’t represent their personal style. Deciding that some professional help would be required, they hired interior designer Anja Michals to add some character to their new home.
“They contacted me shortly after purchasing the house and wanted to make it feel like their own, and make some updates,” Anja said. “The home is a classic Craftsman style that needed some attention.” There weren’t too many major alterations to the interior of the home that needed to be made so the focus was on aesthetics and furnishings. “The clients and I decided that they wanted to make it feel more unique, mixing modern pieces with antique finds,” she explained. “We labeled it our ‘Midcentury Project’ because we felt like we could add some unexpected eclectic characteristics to the space.”
The main transforming element was paint – Anja painted the doors and the kitchen cabinets, as well as the French doors to the exterior porch which were given a dark and moody color. The kids’ art room was painted a bold rich green where she had matching door fronts for the built-ins made. Beyond paint, Anja decided that wallpaper from St. Frank for the powder room and nursery would be another way to infuse necessary character to these spaces. “It adds a fun vibe,” she smiled. “We did not want it to feel serious, but more so fun, casual, and most importantly interesting.”
Interior details such as hardware and lighting were crucial in bringing both style and personality to the home. In the kitchen, for example, she used bronze pulls from Ramsey Condor and pendant lighting from Triple Seven Home. The dining room features the stately ALLURE Cluster 12 Chandelier from Studio PGRB. In certain areas of the home, she went even further than paint, hardware, and lighting: “We had a vision of tiling over the existing outdated fireplace with a mix of zellige tile and Tabarka Studio printed tiles, and a custom mantle made of reclaimed elmwood,” Anja explained. “We also added a custom bar off of the kitchen for additional storage with all custom bronze hardware to match the kitchen. Our intention was to add texture and small details to the space that would go a long way.”
As for the furnishings Anja created a mix of vintage and new, all with a ’70s midcentury vibe. “We found a vintage Swedish wing back chair that we reupholstered in a cozy Boucle fabric that works perfectly with the sleek rounded sofa from Lawson Fenning in the main living area,” she said. “In the dining area, we sourced a beautiful rich vintage table from Amber Interiors that paired with the shaker O&G dining chairs.”
Personalizing the home with aesthetic interior alterations as well as furnishing the entire space took nine months to complete. “We worked so well together, that neither we nor the clients wanted it to end!,” she said. “They are happy with the end result and feel like it is more a reflection of them.”
