See Why This 103-Year-Old Oakland Rental House’s Style Is “Vintage Lullaby”

Adrienne Breaux
·4 min read
Neutral sectional in vintage inspired living room.
"My vision is for a space with colors and textures that invite rest — what I call 'vintage lullaby,'" begins Kirsten White, of her rental house in Oakland. I love a backdrop of verdure, neutral focal points, and pink accents." Credit: Kirsten White Credit: Kirsten White
Vintage furniture in living room.
Chandelier in dining room.
"My favorite room is the dining room because of the Elisa Valenti artwork on the wall," Kirsten admits. Credit: Kirsten White Credit: Kirsten White
Dried flowers in vase on side table in vintage inspired home.
"This is the other corner of our dining room. The cabinet is from a vintage furniture warehouse in LA. The pitcher is from Ayla Mullen Ceramics. The painting is from an estate sale, and the candle sconce is from SuiteMeadow on Etsy." Credit: Kirsten White Credit: Kirsten White
Book filled nightstand next to patterned bedding in cozy bedroom.
The rug in the primary bedroom is from Ruggable, and the nightstand is Kent Coffey. "The bed set is by Sleepy Kitty Textiles, run by my friend and incredible textile artist, Gillian Spencer. Pink, pink, and more pink, please!" Kirsten exclaims. Credit: Kirsten White Credit: Kirsten White
Taper candles on bedroom dresser.
"This is our dresser in the bedroom, which I love to cover with cute knickknacks," Kirsten begins. "The print is from Reyna Noriega Studios, the watercolor is by me. The dresser is Kent Coffey. Knickknacks are from various vintage markets and estate sales." Credit: Kirsten White Credit: Kirsten White

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: House

LOCATION: Oakland, California

STYLE: Eclectic, Vintage

BEDROOMS: 2

SQUARE FEET: 1200

“Built in 1921, this house was home to Soviet émigrés for decades, and their grandchildren still own it today. The layout mimics a shotgun style, apart from interior doors that close off the two bedrooms and bathroom in the rear of the house,” begins Kirsten White, who has rented this place with her partner for the last two years. They decided to rent it “after falling in love with the hardwood floors, unique cabinetry, and location.”

“My partner, Geoff, is an attorney and I work in public policy in San Francisco. Because we both primarily work from home, we had to find enough space for two desks. I am still trying to figure out how to make these more cozy!” Kirsten continues.

Vintage furniture in living room.

“I am autistic, so I have very strong preferences for color, textures, and overall feel for each piece in our home. My vision is for a space with colors and textures that invite rest — what I call ‘vintage lullaby.’ I love a backdrop of verdure, neutral focal points, and pink accents. Even though a lot of our furniture is mid-century modern, I am enthralled by Art Deco and want as much pink as possible. I try to get at Deco silhouettes and palettes in a more tranquil way,” Kirsten admits.

“I love curating thoughtful tableaus that spotlight vintage treasures. We source vintage pieces from Facebook Marketplace, thrift shops, and estate sales. Tracking down the perfect piece can take time, but finding well-loved pieces with unique histories is worth the wait.”

Resources

Neutral sectional in vintage inspired living room.
Credit: Kirsten White Credit: Kirsten White

LIVING ROOM

  • Couch — Living Spaces

  • Throw — Anthropologie

  • Coffee Table — Estate Sale

  • Stool — Etsy

  • Pictures and Art — Estate Sales

  • Side Table — Vintage

  • The Scalloped-Edge Table — Facebook Marketplace

Chandelier in dining room.
Credit: Kirsten White Credit: Kirsten White

DINING ROOM

  • Cabinet — Vintage

  • Pitcher — Ayla Mullen Ceramics

  • Painting — Estate Sale

  • Candle Sconce — SuiteMeadow on Etsy

  • Dining Table and Chairs — Soy Vintage LA

  • Painting — Elisa Valenti

  • Tablecloth — Etsy

  • Rug — Revival Rugs

Book filled nightstand next to patterned bedding in cozy bedroom.
Credit: Kirsten White Credit: Kirsten White

BEDROOM

  • Print — Reyna Noriega Studios

  • Watercolor — Me

  • Dresser — Kent Coffey

  • Knickknacks — Vintage Markets and Estate Sales

  • Rug — Ruggable

  • Nightstand — Kent Coffey

  • Bed Set — Sleepy Kitty Textile

Thanks, Kirsten!

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

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