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Toshiko Shek home offers a thoughtful example of making a rented apartment feel personal. In Santa Cruz, California, Shek has created a space that balances chic, modern decor with vintage details, using secondhand furniture and adaptable touches rather than permanent renovations.
Inside Toshiko Shek’s Santa Cruz home
Shek lives in a small rental apartment in Santa Cruz, a coastal town about an hour and a half south of San Francisco. Her home is roughly a 10-minute walk from the Pacific Coast. Because the apartment is rented, painting and major alterations are not options. Instead, she personalizes the rooms with furniture, textiles, and decor that can be changed or moved. This is a useful approach for renters: focus on removable accessories and carefully chosen furnishings when permanent updates are off the table.
Thrifted furniture and vintage details
Much of the furniture has been upcycled or found secondhand. One standout is a coffee table purchased for $10, then sanded and painted cream. Its three glass panels add a contemporary element while the refinished surface gives it a fresh look. Shek also found a matching antique Victorian dresser and nightstand for less than $100; the set was already in good condition.
A large lamp combines a revamped vintage base with a new shade. Its mint color differs from the apartment’s main palette, but the gold accent and distinctive scale make it a characterful feature. Mixing one or two contrasting pieces into a coordinated room can help the space feel collected rather than overly uniform. When buying used furniture, check its condition and dimensions before bringing it home, especially in a small apartment.
Seasonal color and a flexible bedroom
Shek has lived in the apartment for four years with her fiancé and two cats. She refreshes the decor from time to time, changing a former mint palette to black, cream or off-white, and mustard. The bedroom also shifts with the seasons: light bedding suited the summer, while new bedding and decorative pillows in rich autumnal colors create a cozier feel for fall and winter.
Swapping pillow covers and bedding is a practical way to update a room without replacing larger items. It also makes seasonal changes easier to store and reverse when the weather changes.
A closet room and a sun-filled living area
The couple moved from a one-bedroom to a two-bedroom apartment in the same complex a couple of years ago. Shek uses one bedroom as a closet, though some shoes and clothing are stored elsewhere, and more than 20 hats are displayed together on the wall. As a stylist, she considers her wardrobe an important part of her work, even though storage remains limited.
The rest of the apartment is kept open and spacious. The sun-filled living room is where the couple spends much of their time, and Shek also edits photos and writes blog posts from the couch, often alongside the cats. Fresh flowers from the farmers market provide another simple way to bring color and a seasonal touch into the home. For small spaces, keeping frequently used areas uncluttered can make a room feel more comfortable and versatile.
What makes Toshiko Shek’s home work
Toshiko Shek home shows how a rental can reflect its residents without major changes. Secondhand furniture, reversible seasonal updates, and a clear mix of modern and vintage pieces give the apartment its personality, while an open living room keeps everyday life practical. Renters can take a similar approach by choosing movable decor, measuring furniture carefully, and using textiles to refresh a room over time.
