
The RealReal’s Rati Sahi Invites Us Into Her Soulful Family Abode
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Maria Del Rio
Have you ever stepped into one of those homes where everything is perfection? That was exactly what happened to us upon arrival at Rati Sahi‘s updated Victorian in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley ‘hood. The perfection wasn’t boring or textbook, either, but rather a hard-to-replicate mix of old and new items, from one-of-a-kind flea market finds to the best of IKEA, that gives the place major character and plenty of soul. The same can be said for Sahi herself. As the chief merchant at The RealReal, it’s safe to say this mama of two has style for days (not to mention an enviable office/closet from which to pluck her pieces). Here, she invites us into the home she shares with kiddos Ruk, 4, and Diya, 1, as well as her husband, and shows us where all of that authenticity and originality comes from.
- “We bought it three years ago when my son Ruk was 6 months old. We first fell in love with the kitchen. Every other house we saw just felt like a box with windows, but this one felt different and special to us. It was actually the first house we saw and we were over the moon when our offer went through—not sure how it worked out so well—we felt like it was meant to be!”
- Rati wears a The Row top from The RealReal and Suzanne Rae slip dress. Her daughter Diya wear an ARQ tank and shorts.
- “Our house definitely has classical elements, which we balance with modern art and furniture that I find on The RealReal and also shopping at estate sales. The kitchen is rustic, the parlors are classical, and the decor is a range of vintage and modern. I tend to be fickle with furnishings and am always moving things around and changing things up, which is why we searched for the perfect white paint so it would always work with our changing art and furniture.”
- “Buy what you love, test it out in the space, and make sure you can return it if you end up hating it!”
- “The vases on my dresser in my bedroom and the pottery in our living room, which I still can’t believe we found at a secondhand store! I also love the Thonet chairs in the kitchen (from The RealReal) and the linen sofa in our living room that my parents bought us as a housewarming gift.”
- Ruk wears an H&M top and Old Navy shorts.
- “I am okay with kid stuff around. You have to be or you will go crazy! It was first just in our living room and their bedroom and now they took over the dining room with their art supplies. I just try and mix in pretty pieces when I can!”
- A glimpse of the living room, attached to the dining space.
- “The future—traveling together as a family and having meaningful conversations with them as they get older.”
- “Raising a bratty kid!”
- “My oldest is Rukm, which means gold in Hindi. My youngest is Diya, and her name means light.”
- The perfect bay window nook.
- “My mom—she really takes care of all of us. My husband and I are so lucky to have her. She has given me the opportunity to follow my own career goals while still having my own family and not feeling guilty about it. Women never get that opportunity. I know she didn’t have it for herself. My mother-in-law is amazing as well. She is strong and independent and raised two of the most amazing people I know.”
- “Mother Mag, of course, and as I have questions or issues, I look to Google to solve them!”
- Calder brilliance.
- “I often catch myself using the same phrases they used on me growing up, like ‘Money doesn’t grow on trees!’”
- “They share a room, and I really just wanted to make sure there was a big rug and lots of pillows since we play on their floor a lot as a family.”
- “The IKEA chairs, a fish painting over my son Ruk’s bed, and the letter my niece wrote before he was born that says, ‘I wonder what you are going to look like—I love you Ruk.’ In a few short words she was able to capture everything I was feeling for the nine months prior.”
- The aforementioned art work.
- “Having no downtime, no breaks, and less time for yourself!” Rati wears a Gucci top, Brock jeans from The RealReal, and The Row shoes. Diya wears a Mabo dress. Ruk wears H&M.
- “Watching their relationship develop. It’s awesome to watch Ruk look out for his little sister and Diya look up to him.”
- “Enjoy every moment for yourself and with your partner. Those were some of my favorite memories with my husband, Kevin, looking back at our relationship now.”
- “It’s hard at the beginning, getting used to someone requiring so much attention and relying on you for every single need. As they get older, you start to have more meaningful conversations and enjoy fun outings with them to movies or dinner, which is the best! I love having a date with Ruk on a Saturday night. I am really enjoying the stage he’s in now. It’s very rewarding.”
- Chalkboard fun, FTW.
- “No, we are done!”
- “I am the chief merchant at The RealReal.”
- How stunning are these blue velvet babies?
- “I was our CEO and founder Julie Wainwright’s first employee and started with her out of her home in 2011. We have been doubling every year and now have offices and warehouses across the U.S. with more than 600 employees and are changing the way people shop!” A peek at Rati's dreamy guest room.
- “I grew up in San Francisco, attended the University of California, Santa Cruz as an economics major, then took a year off to study in Italy. After that, I had various jobs in finance, retail, and at an escrow company. I then opened my own store in Russian Hill, which later led me to The RealReal.”
- “It has made me more ambitious than ever, wanting to be a good role model for them and give them as many opportunities as I can.”
- Peek-a-boo!
- “It hasn’t, but I think it would have if I didn’t have such an amazing family support system.”
- “One month with Ruk and six weeks with Diya. I really wanted to get back! It was hard for me to be at home with the kids, and I also really love my job.”
- “My mom (again) is my secret weapon! I would never have been able to do this without her.”
- “The crazy growth every year. It’s a lot of fun and keeps things challenging and rewarding.”
- Rati's incredible kitchen, which was customized by a chef who formerly lived in the home.
- “I'm committed to growing The RealReal for now.” Rati wears a The Row shop from The RealReal and Topshop leggings. Diya wears Zara.
- “My wardrobe always changes, but I guess my style is fairly consistent: Simple shapes, neutral colors or small prints, and luxurious fabrics.”
- “I wear more flats and low heels.”
- “Oversized light sweaters in San Francisco with mid heels and jeans.”
- Word play.
- “I have a love/hate with the flip-flops and leggings trend that is happening right now.”
- “The RealReal, Matches Fashion, The Line, Zara, and Maryam Nassir Zadeh.”
- Copper crush.
- “I am more likely to buy-up knowing that what I buy has resale value and I can make, on average, 50-percent back. That’s the interesting thing about The RealReal—it changes the way people shop and think about the items they have in their closet.”
- Rati wears a Celine sweater and Miu Miu shorts from The RealReal.
- “Really simple—mainly Kiehl's products.”
- “I have been going to pilates twice a week in the morning, and I also walk to work a couple of times a week.”
- “Kevin and I are strict on bedtime and getting the kids in their own bed at 8 p.m. every night so we get some time together for ourselves.”
- “The accessibility to museums, parks, and restaurants. There are countless things to do! We spend a lot of time at Golden Gate Park on the weekends.”
- “I love my 15-minute commute to work, so it’s hard to think about moving anywhere else right now."
- “My parents and also Kevin’s parents. His parents are only two hours away, and his sister and father are in Santa Cruz, so there’s always someone to help with the kids.”
- “With and without kids, I love going to Golden Gate Park, Crissy Field, the beach, taking weekend trips, and visiting Santa Cruz, Anderson Valley, and Merced, where Kevin’s parents live. Kevin and I also try to get away every couple of months on our own to Los Angeles, New York City, or just Sonoma or Napa for the weekend.”
- For more on Rati and her family, check out her Instagram feed.
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