First Landing

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Atelier Oleana wraps a contemporary San Francisco home in welcoming charm for a young couple expecting their first born

The dining room features a table and chairs by Maiden Home, the pendant is by Visual Comfort and the art is by Guy Diehl.
Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

“My approach is about designing emotionally resonant spaces that are tailored, elevated and layered with intention,” says Anu Jain, founder and principal of Atelier Oleana. “I believe a home should feel deeply personal and reflective of the people who live in it. I love spaces that have a point of view!”

The kitchen cabinetry is custom, the hardware is by Rejuvenation. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.
In the living room, the chair and side table were found on 1st dibs, the sconces are by Aerin and the art is by Gwen Hardie.
Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

She and her team were hired by a young couple who were starting their life together. They recently purchased a 3,000-square-foot home in San Francisco’s Richmond District that was brand new, but needed a more warm and welcome feel. “It was their first home together, and they were preparing to welcome their first child at the same time—so it was a very special and transformative moment for them,” she recalls.

Wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries softens the powder room. The mirror is from Pottery Barn and the sconce was found at In Common With. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

The goal was to make their new home feel refined yet livable with texture, quiet pattern and deeply personal art. “They leaned toward a restrained, tonal palette and wanted the home to feel serene but expressive,” Jain notes. “It was my first project with such a warm neutral palette, as I usually tend to infuse more color in spaces and it was  a very fun challenge.”

In the office, the desk is from CB2, the chair is by Croft House, the bookshelf was found at Soho Home and the pendant is by Arhaus. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

With the couple soon expecting their first child, Jain and her team had to work quickly to transform each room. Luckily most of the changes were cosmetic. They began by lime washing walls, modifying the kitchen and bathrooms, and adding architectural moldings to bring more depth to the space. “The living room is the soul of this home,” she proclaims. A custom contemporary travertine fireplace anchors the room with a mesmerizing painting by Gwen Hardie above that inspired the palette of layered neutrals in the room.

A bed by Restoration Hardware sits below a pendant by Aerin in the primary bedroom. The sconces were found on Etsy, the bedding is from Parachute. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.
The primary bathroom sconces are from Worley’s Lighting. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.
Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

“I have a deep affection for the nursery,” says Jain. “Lime washed in a soft, serene cypress green, it radiates a gentle, happy energy. The client envisioned a space that felt like a Northern California forest—organic, textured and connected to nature—so every element was chosen to reflect that spirit. I met their baby daughter just days after she was born, and now I’ll always associate that green, sun-dappled room with her.”

The earthy lime washed nursery features a glider by Pottery Barn, a pendant from Arhaus and a crib from Crate & Barrel.
Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

When asked how her clients felt about their first home as a family, she notes, “They’ve told us it’s the first time a space has ever truly felt like theirs—reflective of who they are and how they live. With a new baby and a new home, the transformation made a huge impact, and they’ve said that coming home now feels peaceful, personal and complete.”