A Colorful, Quirky, Fun Small/Cool Space
A Colorful, Quirky, Fun Small/Cool Space
Name: Marieliz Collazo
Instagram: @secondstation_thriftshop
Size: 895 sq ft
Home type: Apartment
Location: San Mateo, CA
Years lived in: 6 months , rented
Household: My husband, João, and our fur baby, Penny Lane
Have any design professionals worked on this space: No
Describe your space:
We loved this apartment because, even thought it is only 895 sq ft, the high ceilings and the trees surrounding it makes it feel really spacious. We never had a particular vision, we just wanted to bring elements that made us feel happy and that spoke to the things we like. About 80% of the house decor is thrifted or secondhand. I love thrifting, in fact, I have small biz were I sell secondhand pieces so it is only natural for me to go out and hunt all kind of pieces. This makes the space special because every piece has a story and that adds a unique element of magic!
Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?
Absolutely! It is so difficult to chose one! My favorite has to be the red stool in the guest room. I found it literally in the trash. It had what felt like a 100-year-old fabric- very ugly and stained. I took it home with me and spray-painted the legs in vibrant red + upholstered it with the cutest dog fabric. The black and white fabric resembles a San Francisco Chronicle newspaper front page, only this time all news is dog-related news. Even though I no longer have a kitchen counter like I did in my previous apt, I still keep it in the guest room. Too difficult to let it go!
How do you make your small space work for you and feel bigger than it really is?
Staying very much on brand with my secondhand philosophy, I repurpose almost everything! Storage wise, I like to store things in places or pieces that also serve as decoration. For example, I have a thrifted blue chest in the living room and besides being a beautiful addition to the space, it's actually were we store all of our weights, resistance bands and yoga mats!
How does your home reflect you?
In every single way! Our home decor is a true reflection of who we are, individually and as a couple. As a couple we both love music and pop culture. We like to travel, we are quirky and fun but also peaceful and nature-inspired. On an individual level, I love bright colors and plants and he is huge on gaming, comics and books. All these elements are included in our home decor. I love how you can open a kitchen cabinet and be surprised by geeky figurines, get lost in concert posters while at the same time be transported to a boho and peaceful setting in an area like our master bedroom.