There's a dearth of stores in San Francisco that operate in the middle ground between thrift store and high-end antique store. What we yearned for was a place where you can furnish your flat with stylish vintage finds on an otherwise-IKEA budget. We were thrilled to discover the Apartment, which contains an ever-changing array of eclectic furniture (and tchotchkes) behind its cheery yellow-painted fa?ade. Owner Lann Ballard stocks items (including garden furniture, paintings, and light fixtures) ranging from the turn of the (last) century through the '70s, and has a sub-specialty in Asian items picked up on his frequent trips to China. We've picked up treasures including a tile table at an amazing $35 and an oak Mission armchair at a still-reasonable $350. And at Christmas, the Apartment features an irresistible table stocked with $5 impulse items: kitchenware, statuettes, and assorted kitsch seriously reduced from the original asking prices. Call ahead, as days and hours vary.