A ‘Scandinavian Boho’ Rental Has a Cute Nighttime String Light Setup

Name: Victoria Elizondo, fiancé Zach, and two dogs, Bella and Betty
Location: Oakland, California
Type of home: Four-plex
Size: 990 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We are fortunate to live near Lake Merrit, one of the largest urban bird sanctuaries and a lake. We call our space “Casa Zoya” which is a combination of Zach and Toya (my family’s nickname for me). We have tried to curate a space that feels cozy and intentional. It is filled with items that are sentimental. I love plants and have a lot. Some of them were my grandmother’s, and I hope to plant them in our forever home, but they remind me of her and bring life and energy to our space.

Our style is worldly and hard to describe sometimes. Our identity is found in almost all of our things. We like to thrift and restore, and a lot of our art is original from friends or artists in our community who we love. We shop estate sales and collect things from our travels. We want everything to have a story or a meaning. I like saying people feel at home and at ease in our space.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is our living/ dining room. It has the view of the lake. It’s something that not everyone gets to experience as their everyday, and I feel really blessed to live here and wake up to it.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Organic Scandinavian boho modern

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought for our space was a vintage teak serving platter. I love a good tray or serving platter. It was from this estate sale in Pacifica; the owner had collected a ton of mid-century treasures. It was $5, but I think it’s so cool.

Any advice for creating a home you love? My friend once told me “a well-curated home takes time.” I think that’s sound advice. Don’t rush it; allow your home to grow and evolve as you do. Keep the things that bring you joy, and let go of all the things that don’t serve a purpose and are just taking up space. It’s important that your space is functional and beautiful.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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