This SF Garden Apartment Fits a Few Different Functions in a Relatively Small Space
Name: Vicki Wang
Location: San Francisco, California
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 700 square feet
Years lived in: 2 months, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I moved to San Francisco from Brooklyn in 2019 not having any idea what to expect from this city. For my first two years here, I lived in Lower Pac Heights with two incredible roommates, but I realized as I am on the cusp of 30, I was ready to finally have my own space. I had dinner at Zazie right as I was thinking about looking for apartments and absolutely fell in love with Cole Valley. I love the proximity to the park and what a cozy neighborhood it is. I concentrated my search in the area, and once I saw this adorable little garden unit, I knew it was the one for me. This is the first-ever apartment I have lived in and decorated totally by myself and I had so much fun making a space truly my own.
I love design, but I work in tech in finance — the original plan was to become a graphic designer after college, but instead I found myself working with spreadsheets! I use my apartment as a way to tap into my creative side, and I really wanted to bring my personality through in my decor choices. I’m a gal who loves a neutral palette, but I like incorporating pops of color into my space through vases, florals, and small pieces of furniture. I really wanted my apartment to feel modern and chic but still cozy and inviting. I also love to build form into function. I have a set of shelves in my living room that serve as my primary wall decor but are also an awesome storage solution for all of my books and knick-knacks. I love that I’m also able to put pieces of my personality on display here, from my book collection to the prints at the top, which are a nod to my love of music. And while I’ve slowly converted to the west coast, New York will always have a place in my heart, so there are a couple of NYC-themed prints framed around the apartment as well!
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Airy, warm, inviting, coastal, and cozy!
What is your favorite room and why? My living room is hands down my favorite room. I love how sunny and airy it is in here. I spend pretty much all of my time (besides sleeping) in my living room, so it was really important for me to find and decorate a space that felt comforting and inviting. I work, hang out, and work out in this room and I love that I have space for all three of these activities, and during the work day I can turn around and still find a zen moment in this room.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought for my apartment was the print I mentioned above of Win Son restaurant in Brooklyn! I also got a beautiful dried floral arrangement from a local florist here in SF, @sweetspirefloral.
Any advice for creating a home you love? The most fun and easy way to start brainstorming decorating ideas is to make a mood board. I did this for my apartment on Google Slides, and it was so easy, and I had a blast. I took screenshots of furniture I liked online, pasted them into a slide and rearranged and tried different combinations until I narrowed down my favorites and nailed the aesthetic I was going for. I probably spent wayyy too much time on it, but no regrets!
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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