About Anthony

Welcome to 136 Home, a digital space where we share innovative and intelligent ways to create a home you’ll love one detail at a time. The expression ‘136 Home’ reflects my belief that every home, regardless of size or location, can be a place of comfort, beauty, and inspiration. It’s more complicated than 1,2,3, maybe more like 1,3,6. But don’t worry. I’m here to make it all make sense.

Interior design - Design

So, welcome! I’m so glad (like really glad) that you’re here. I’m Anthony, the creator of 136 Home. With a wealth of experience in the home and lifestyle blogging sphere, I’m here to share can’t-miss DIY home decor, design, garden, food, and interior styling tips from the heart of San Francisco and, most recently, my cabin in Northern California. I’m truly thrilled that you’ve joined me on this journey – because your visit helps me live my dream – so thanks for that!

Here’s the tea. I’ve spent more than two decades in the brand, design, and hospitality spaces, helping people like you bring forth magic to create a life they love. I studied at the Academy of Art and have a business degree from San Francisco State University. I have been working in brand management for the past twenty years.

My years of experience blending exceptional design sense while harnessing the art of running a home have taught me that there’s nothing better than an aspirational home life, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the matter. I originally started this blog to share my home renovation journey. Then y’all went bonkers (and the blog went viral) thanks to my Instafamous Banquette, a unique seating area that became a social media sensation, and my gallery wall, a curated display of art and photographs.

Then, I fell in love with sharing so much more, including delicious recipes like my Auntie’s Famous Chopped Cheese Sandwich recipe that the NY Times shared.

Not to mention my number one blog post of all time that shares pro plant and garden tips that folks can’t get enough of to keep those proud plant babies healthy.

As if that wasn’t enough, you can count on us to share simple yet affordable ways to level up your interior and exterior spaces. Not sure what your design style is? Check out my remarkably popular Design by Zodiac sign series on Instagram – I guarantee you’ll get at least a few good ideas there.

@136 Home, I support a diverse community reaching more than 2.3 million like-minded folks, get confident cooking in the kitchen, taking care of their plants, and taking the mystery out of great interior design. If you love to mix old and new elements to make a big, bold look, you are in the right place. So stay awhile for great mouth-watering recipes, tips on how to curate affordable finds, and hear pro tips to build the home lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of – while discussing everything about home every day.

You can be sure that every DIY tutorial, interior deesign hack, recipe, and plant care tip on the site has been tested and fine-tuned because I only share what I love and know works for me. I got you because, after all, we’re friends now.

Background

Ever since I was young, I’ve been crazy about being in the garden while decorating and designing spaces. Would you believe I was in an ornamental horticulture club in High School? My mom and I were always on the hunt for new homes due to our frequent relocations, and I fell in love with interior design by rearranging and furnishing these spaces. This early exposure gave me a deep appreciation for bringing life to a room, planning the layout, and finding unique pieces and plants to make our home feel special.

I followed my passion for decorating and redesigning spaces by studying at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. During my time there, I gained experience working for 7×7 at Hearst Magazines, contributing to publications like Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Better Homes & Gardens. Since then, I’ve been fully immersed in the world of food, home decor, design, and gardens.

In addition to my studies, I also dabbled in the hospitality and food service industry, which deepened my love for creating delicious recipes hanging out in the back of kitchens with some of the Bay Area’s restaurants with top chefs watching and helping them make the next “can’t miss” Michelin star dish. This passion for amazing meals has become a major obsession and part of my blog because I believe that cooking a good meal for someone is the ultimate act of love.

Right now, I’m working in brand marketing for some of the biggest entertainment IPs in the world. Through hard work, I was able to buy my first home, and this journey led to the creation of “136 Home,” where I share the ups and downs of the home renovation process. My work has even been recognized by various publications and trendsetters such as Jonathan Adler, Apartment Therapy, Domino magazine, as well as McGee and Co., Chris Loves Julia, and Yellow Brick Home just to name a few. I guess I did something right along the way!

Blog Story

When I was in college, as if I didn’t have enough going on, I started a small community website that shared upcoming events, news, and excellent local restaurants in the area. I guess my love of sharing valuable news and information never disappeared after that. I’m just genuinely obsessed with helping people find the answers to the questions they were looking for. It just makes me happy. Seeing how helpful my community website was led me to think further about ways I could better be of service by leveraging what I was already doing daily.

Flash forward to 2019. One day, I shared a video on Instagram of myself painting my kitchen cabinets black. Unbeknownst to me, another fantastic content creator named Elise at The Fox Family Den shared that with her followers, and I woke up to tens of thousands of new followers. My half-baked blog wasn’t nearly ready to go live at the time, but I said – screw it. You’re never really truly prepared for anything in life. I have learned that over the years. You have to seize the moment. So, in that spirit, I hit publish on the very same day. Thus,136 home was born, and I have been hitting send everyday since.

Here’s the thing: I knew that the blog would be helpful and beautiful, but I didn’t realize how much y’all would love my design aesthetic. I still can’t! Thanks for loving me for me. You went wild for how I stuff every corner with lush indoor plants that soften and breathe life into a cold space. You were obsessed with my process of placing a bedroom rug perfectly and couldn’t get enough of my favorite black paint and how they transformed my kitchen cabinets. So, it was natural to begin sharing more of what makes my mom unique, including my secrets to taking care of plants and recipes that fill my halls with the aroma of crushed garlic and sauteed onions in butter. Is there a better aroma? I think not.

So, if you love good recipes, appreciate healthy plants, and love seriously gorgeous interiors, stick around—this is precisely what we are all about at 136 Home.

Design Journey + Press

Since starting my design education in 2002 and launching this blog in 2019, I have done a ton of amazing things in the design space. A few include:

Shout out in the New York Times
Being featured in Apartment Therapy
Curating a Fall line of furnishing with Studio Mcgee. I’m on page 19!
Featured by Redfin, highlighting my gallery wall techniques
Highlighted for my shelf styling techniques at Amazon Home
Editorial features with top bloggers Chris Loves Julia and Yellowbrickhome
Editorial in Domino magazine
Been interviewed by the ultimate DIY’er Make Space Podcast
Shout out from Jonathan Adler on his Instagram
Spotlight on the Home Depot featuring my dutch door DIY
Worked with top home decor and garden Improvement brands like Home Depot, Wayfair, Pinterest, and CB2

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration – Marketing – San Francisco State University – San Francisco, CA

Associate of Arts – Animation for Advertising – San Francisco, CA

Hartle Media 7×7 Magazine, San Francisco, CA

Brand Partnerships

I still can’t believe the opportunities the blog and sharing my home with y’all have provided. Below is a short list (but not all) local and national brands I have worked with

Currently

What have I been up to lately? I’m still living it up in San Francisco with my fur babies, Drummer and Pike. Most days, you’ll catch us tending to the garden, cooking tasty recipes, and finding new ways to spruce up my home sweet home. For a closer and often funny look at my life, head over to Instagram. We’re on YouTube, too.

Last year in 2023, we snagged the most adorable cabin in Northern California, just a couple of hours north of the city and a quick turn off of the bucolic Highway 1. It’s a charming sea ranch with loads of character, including a loft bedroom, wood-burning stove, and library. Awesome, right? The property is nearly an acre, with mature gardens, redwood trees, an orchard, and a babbling brook. But don’t be fooled by the charm – she needs a lot of work, like a new well, electrical updates, and new floors. Stick around as I take on my most significant design challenge – a 50-year-old cabin that needs loads of TLC and, unfortunately, some electrical work. You can already find a ton of cabin renovation progress, including on the blog—just type cabin in the search bar above.

In between cabin adventures, catch us working on the next great recipe. We’re always testing out new ways to keep your plants happy and healthy, while also checking out the hottest dishes at San Francisco’s incredible restaurants. This could mean evenings spent binge-watching the latest season of The Real Housewives, diving into a true crime novel, or tuning in to my favorite podcast while hunting for treasures at a local flea market, with an iced coffee in hand.

Thank you for joining me on this journey – your support means everything. Love you all! Xoxo.

-Ant