Apartment Therapy Small/Cool Contest
Size: 400 sq ft
Home type: Apartment
Location: Queens, NY
Years lived in: 5 years, rented
Household: Me, my husband, and doggo!
Have any design professionals worked on this space: Just me
Describe your space
When I first visited the space, I was taken by the amount of natural light from the beautiful, big windows. Despite its actual square footage, the amount of light coming into the space made it feel spacious. I wanted to create “pockets” of spaces within the apartment that felt intimate but open — this meant using storage solutions that offered functional display, as well as ways to create these little nooks! Every area is decorated with memorabilia, reminding us of things we’ve done, places we’ve been, and people we miss. Through the lockdown, we felt incredibly fortunate to have our home.
Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?
As a designer, I love to make things! My favorite DIY has got to be my plywood structure bed. I built it high enough to hide all my secrets, collected items, and unfinished projects. All can be accessed by sliding the sofa from one wall to the other, and a bit of crawling. The height of the structure aligns with the top of the couch, offering a narrow ledge to place my coffee and/or cocktail, and when in bed, the windows feel as if they are actually floor to ceiling. I love waking up next to my plants (and husband), and enjoying the view from our apartment.
How do you make your small space work for you and feel bigger than it really is?
Aside from my DIY bed/storage structure, I searched for furniture to fit in the apartment in a Tetris-like manner. Creating distinguished areas within the apartment meant thinking about the apartment as building blocks versus one large space. This helped the decision to orient my wardrobe in an unconventional way, in order to separate both the entry and kitchen from the workspace. The open shelf ties the two spaces together, serving the needs of both, and allows light to continue to flow through the entire apartment. Rugs have also helped to define different areas, as well as add warmth.
How does your home reflect you?
As a lover of miniature things, plants, and all things handmade, the apartment definitely encapsulates my personality. Over the years, my style has evolved to become what I think could be defined as minimalistic maximalism. I love neutral tones for finishes and minimalistic furniture, but love collecting and making colorful objects. When my husband moved into the space with me, I wanted our home to also reflect his personality, so in spots around the apartment, you’ll find hidden “treats”, like a Duff Beer can disguised amongst the liquor bottles, and a photo of him as a child on the toilet.
