My Houzz: A Bland Condo Gets Color and Personality

After spending almost a year exploring the real estate market in San Francisco, Eunice Chang finally found a place she could call home. Although the condo looked like a bachelor pad and was located in a nondescript 1990s building, it was on the top floor, and the building sat on a small side street straddling the city’s vibrant Castro and Mission districts. “I loved the idea of a walking neighborhood,” she says.

With a hands-on attitude, treasure-hunting know-how and an ongoing desire to improve her space, the homeowner filled the interior with meaningful pieces and a soothing palette of blues and neutrals. “I don’t know if my home will ever be done,” admits Chang, the lead user experience researcher at Opower. “Every time my friends come over, something at my place has changed.”

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Eunice Chang
Location: Castro neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 1,073 square feet (100 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Year built: 1992

Excited by the potential of a south-facing living room, Chang tried to make the most of all the natural sunlight. Hardwood floors replaced old, tired carpeting, and fresh paint gave the walls new life. Pale aqua paint at the rear of the bookcase creates a vibrant backdrop for an ever-growing collection of mementos.

Wall paint: Muslin, Dunn-Edwards; accent wall paint: Opaline, Dunn-Edwards; leather chair: Cavett, Crate & Barrel; resin deer head: Z Gallerie; striped pouf: Target


Although the structure of the entry hall could not be altered due to strict condo rules, visitors are greeted by a bright aqua door.

Door paint: Fountain City, Dunn-Edwards


Chang’s design sensibilities and love of travel are apparent as soon as you enter the foyer. The sculptural piece of driftwood was a gift from a friend, and the woven bag is a souvenir from a vacation to Africa with her family.


This wall-mounted rack was a quick DIY project. The piece of wood is an old floorboard found at Urban Ore, a salvage yard in Berkeley, and the decorative hooks are from Cost Plus World Market. The groove in the top holds postcards from family and friends. The rack extends the length of the entry hallway, making it both impactful and practical.


“It takes time to get to know your home,” says Chang. She rearranged the living room furniture over time until it felt just right. The sectional and coffee table were Craigslist finds, and the wood and leather armchair was a recent purchase.

Chang smartly placed vintage mirrors to make her home feel bigger and brighter.

Armchair: Cavett Leather Chair, Crate & Barrel


A buffet beyond the sofa hides technology items, like the Wi-Fi router. The mirror is vintage, and the lamp is a recent purchase from Bay Home Consignment in Berkeley, one of Chang’s must-stop places when she’s in the East Bay.

Buffet: Blake, Crate & Barrel


Two vintage suitcases are displayed in the living room. “I really like smart storage solutions,” says Chang. The smaller suitcase is a Rose Bowl Flea Market purchase she made with her father when she was a middle school student in Southern California; it now serves as storage for her swimsuits. The larger suitcase is from the Alameda Point Antiques Faire.


One of the homeowner’s most prized possessions is this original painting in the guest bedroom, which also inspired the room’s color palette. The artwork originally hung in her childhood home and was a housewarming gift from Chang’s parents when she bought the condo.


Inspired by her travels and the comforts of hotel stays, the homeowner wanted to replicate the experience in her own bedroom. The bed was a gift to herself when she landed her first job out of graduate school. It’s flanked by two eclectic bedside tables from Craigslist, a table lamp from Ross and a chandelier from Lamps Plus.

Chang applied the high-impact wall treatment as a DIY project after discovering self-adhesive wallpaper.

Bed: Colette, Crate & Barrel; wallpaper: Devine Color Diamond in Horizon, Target


Dresser: Hemnes, Ikea; desk lamps: Ross; leather chair, desk, desk chairs: Craigslist; accent wall paint: Vintage Find, Kelly-Moore


These top-down blinds open up the view of the sky while blocking out the clutter of neighboring rooftops.


Realizing she was more likely to wear her accessories if they were visible, Chang crafted a jewelry holder using a fabric-covered piece of cork and a vintage frame.


Chang’s 1990s kitchen is a work in progress, as she’s taking her time to do minor upgrades and replace appliances as they age. The Ikea kitchen island is a Craigslist find that also serves as the primary dining surface. She had the countertop replaced with a larger one to make better use of the space.


This marble subway tile backsplash is a recent upgrade that replaced dated black granite.


Displayed on open wood shelves in a corner of the kitchen are a star light purchased at the Renegade Craft Fair, a wooden sailboat that Chang repurposed as a napkin holder and a weathered wooden level from a local flea market.


A secondary exit from the kitchen leads to a small landing that doubles as an outdoor space to maintain some plants. While the area is tight, it offers phenomenal views of the neighborhood and is sufficient for a small succulent collection.


Chang’s condo overlooks the brightly colored homes dotting San Francisco’s hills.


As much as Chang, seen here, loves to continue tweaking the decor, “I do think it is important to keep the things I really love,” she says. She takes much joy in the process of collecting and curating each piece in her first home, and looks forward to filling it with what she calls “forever items.”

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