Modern Farmhouse Meets California Cool

Name: Valeria Jacobs, my husband, three kids (two boys and a girl), and a minature pincher
Location: Castro Valley, California
Size: 1,400 square feet
Years lived in: 10 months, renting

We live in a cottage-style home. When we first saw the listing for rent I got a feeling that it was the house for our family. I fell in love with the big windows in the dining room, the hardwood floors, and overall it felt like a little home to us. My husband and I are both Peruvian, born and raised and have been together since high school (almost 15 years). We have two boys and very recently we welcomed our little girl. My husband is a mechanical engineer and I own a small online shop called Rebecca and Genevieve.

I work and take the pictures of all the products for the shop right at home. It is always fun to move things around and try new setups with the different vintage rugs I have for the shop.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Modern farmhouse with California cool.

What is your favorite room and why? The living room, because it’s where we spend more time as a family. We have made the space with the idea to fit our lifestyle. We have two little boys so we knew that we had to focus on adding character not with things but with accents. We added a gallery wall that we love so much because we have some of our favorite pictures displayed. We also did a mini makeover to the fireplace by adding contact paper that looks like cement tile. They’re small changes that make the space feel more like us.

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? The bathrooms. It can get be very chaotic in the morning because it is very narrow.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t do something just because it is trending. Only add things you really love. Take your time and enjoy the process.

Thanks, Valeria!

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