How to turn a generic space into a meaningful place

"It’s an opportunity to tell a story.” — Batch’s Lindsay Meyer, with design tips for KAILU's Open Road readers on how to turn a new space into a meaningful place using local brands and products.

Batch’s CEO and staging expert, Lindsay Meyer, shares tips on how to transform a space using local flair. 

Brushed across an apartment wall in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley is a mix of blue and white, growth and optimism, and purity and renewal (if you go by Chinese color symbolism). The furnishings follow suit: a blue rug from Revival, a white raw silk Heritage Duvet from KAILU, and a blue throw from Studio Variously.  

"Staging, for me, is an opportunity to tell a story,” says Lindsay Meyer, designer and CEO of Batch, a company that transforms homes for sale into shoppable spaces. “Blue and white is pretty timeless, and adding the ethereal watercolor look achieved a softer effect both men and women are drawn to.”

Shop for KAILU raw silk Heritage Duvets, featured inside the main bedroom at 188 Octavia in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, California. Staging by Batch.

Meyer and her team recently put the final touches on 188 Octavia, a boutique collection of studios and two-bedroom apartments that began leasing in September. The building is also Batch’s first project in Hayes Valley, a trendy neighborhood in central San Francisco. She sat down with Open Road to share her three simple tips for turning a generic space into a meaningful place:

TIP 1: START WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD

“For many years, Hayes Valley was gritty, young, artsy, and self-made,” Meyer says of the now ultra-hip corridor in San Francisco’s Western Addition district, which is lined with trendy boutiques and restaurants. 

Courtesy of Batch

“We wanted to pull in a set of brands that vibe with the spirit of that neighborhood and have local ties," Meyer says of the two-bedroom model unit at 188 Octavia. 


TIP 2: ADD LOCAL DETAILS

From furniture to accessories, the love for local brands is carried through each room at 188 Octavia. Some of these include:

Art by Kindah Khalidy (San Francisco)

Aperitifs by Lo-Fi (Healdsburg, CA)

Planters by Seven Sunday Studios (San Francisco)

Record dividers by Koeppel Design (San Francisco)

Heritage Duvet by KAILU (San Francisco)

Lighting by Pablo (San Francisco)

Mural by Conejo and Co. (Los Angeles)


TIP 3: GO FOR HIGH STYLE IN A BUDGET-SENSIBLE WAY

“Before, good style was Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn because there weren’t as many places to go. Now there are so many cool brands, whether it’s art or floor coverings, so it’s knowing how to sift through and build a tasteful mix of products,” Meyer says. “For 188 Octavia, we wanted a curated, collected mix.”

In the studio apartment Meyer combined white and light-colored textiles and maple wood tones with a graphic, gold-pink-and-black floor covering. “It gave the room energy and grounded it at the same time,” she says.

And in the blue-and-white main bedroom, she installed a Koko Art Shop removable wall mural — usually less price conscious than traditional wallpaper, but more sensible for ever-changing tastes.

“We’re not aiming to use the most expensive options,” Meyer says. “I’m always excited to introduce people to brands that are also good quality relative to price.”

And when Meyer introduced these pre-decorated spaces to prospective clients this fall, she not only provided an easier alternative to furniture and décor shopping (all items are available for people to see, touch, and feel — including KAILU Heritage Duvets — in a no-pressure environment), she also gave a head start to those looking to turn an otherwise generic space into a meaningful place, fuse their old life with their new one, and feel at home that much faster. 


TIP 1

Get inspired by your neighborhood by using brands that vibe with the local spirit.

TIP 2

Carry the love for local brands through each room with furniture and accessories.

TIP 3

Go for high style and budget-sensible options that are good quality relative to price.


SHOP KAILU

Browse our duvets in a no-pressure environment like Batch and 188 Octavia. And when you're ready, come back to our website to order. 

HERITAGE DUVET

KAILU's raw silk duvet is the product of old-world artisanal handcraft and modern design, resulting in a uniquely luxurious sleep experience. 


Follow our journey @kailu_silk

 

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.


You may also like