by Furnishly | Sep 30, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
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Name: Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
Location: Downtown Miami, Florida
Size: 864 square feet
Type of Home: Loft Condo
Years Lived In: Five months, owned
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Earlier this year, Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon downsized from a two-bedroom condo to a one-bedroom loft in a downtown Miami high-rise. “Before I even moved in,” she says, “it was clear that I wanted this new place to be my sanctuary, somewhere I could make new and happy memories. I may be here for a while so when I was looking at listings, I kept thinking: ‘Will this be somewhere I’ll enjoy living a decade from now?’”
“My new place really fits the bill. I can walk to shops, movies, parks, and restaurants, and there are plenty of waterfront running routes nearby (running is my cardio). I’m less than a 15-minute drive from my ‘office,’ Miami International Airport (I travel three times a month). Plus, there’s easy access to the city’s free Metromover and trolley. Best of all, I have a water view that won’t be obstructed by Miami’s constant construction. The unit was in pretty good shape when I bought it but there were some things I wanted to change before I moved in. Replacing the ceramic floor tile with LPV; repainting the walls, ceiling and trim; retiling the bathroom walls and floor; installing a kitchen backsplash; and wallpapering the powder room and closet was supposed to take three weeks. It ended up taking double that time, but it was worth it.”
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: My home is most definitely a reflection of my personality and taste. I’m a travel writer (the Caribbean is my beat), I’m also very visual, and I express myself via the clothes and colors I choose to wear. The same goes for my home, which I named The House Of Perpetual Sunshine (that’s my Wi-Fi network!), not only because the ceiling is sunshine yellow but because that’s exactly the warm, feel-good vibe I want to create for myself and my guests.
I always wear bright colors and my house is “dressed” the same, with pops of yellow (my favorite), red, and orange against neutral walls The loft’s ceiling is 22-feet high, so although it’s bright yellow it’s not jarring; you get the feeling of island sunshine rather than the glare! I also love rainbows, not just because of all the colors but because of what they mean to me: that after life’s storms there’s always joy to be found. During what has been a very challenging two years, rainbows have brought me comfort, either when I see them spontaneously appear or when I look at the ones I’ve bought for myself.
Inspiration: My home reflects my heritage and my work; it’s filled with Caribbean art and mementos from my travel. When I moved here from Jamaica 20 years ago, I shipped all my art (my first “serious” piece — a ceramic mask by the late Jamaican sculptor Gene Pearson — lives in my bedroom) and my king-size bed, handmade by Jamaican craftsmen. My collection, which now includes pieces from Cuba, Panama, and by my bestie, artist Pamela Jaccarino, is as colorful and personal to me as my clothes — of which I have a LOT!
My condo also reflects my eclectic taste, my interests, and my irreverence. Some of my favorite things are my vintage rotary telephone, a framed Jamaica Tourist Board advertising poster from the ‘70s, and a British Airways check-in counter sign I “liberated” from a Caribbean airport while it was being renovated! I’m an avid runner (I did the NY Marathon in 2013) and my “medal lamp” is a tangible reminder that when times are tough, I’m tougher.
Favorite Element: Of all the rooms in my condo I spend the least time in the powder room but the “joy per use” ratio is very high! I had a “surprise and delight” vision for it, that you should open the door and be unexpectedly wowed by what you see. The wallpaper, the sunshine yellow ceiling, the brushed gold faucets, and double gold mirrors all combine to do that, and I think it turned out really well. I also get a lot of joy just chilling in my living room and looking up at the yellow ceiling and the cloud-like paper pendants.
Biggest Challenge: Moving from a large two-bedroom (and its two closets) to a one-bedroom with a tiny closet was NOT easy for a clothes horse like me. I thought I’d purged before moving in, but once I got here I realized there was no way everything I had was going to fit. So I purged some more, had a closet system from The Container Store installed to make the most of the space, and installed the colorful bird wallpaper for a bit of fun. And now I have a strict “one in, one out” rule. For I love clothes and shoes, but I can’t live in clutter so I won’t let myself buy a new piece without getting rid of an old one.
Proudest DIY: I ADORE my rainbow staircase. I originally planned to paint the metal stairs and bannisters the same yellow as the ceiling, but there was an issue getting the paint in that hue. So I ended up leaving it the original black and applying a spectrum of adhesive decals on the risers instead. Now the stairs are a real focal point, and if you come to visit, you can’t leave without taking a photo on the stairs.
Budget: I recently realized that I started shopping for this place almost 20 years ago! The items in question: A pair of beaded wall sconces from ABC Carpet and Home in New York City. Back in 2003, I’d just arrived in the U.S. from Jamaica, didn’t own a home, and had very little money but they just called to me! At $100 each (on sale!) they were pricey to me at the time, but I never got around to installing them in the four homes I lived in before here since they needed to be hardwired. When I was renovating this place, two decades later, the time was finally right to have them professionally installed. They make me happy every time I turn them on, and remind me of how far I’ve come since moving to the States.
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? I’ve turned a small doorless room on the upper level into my “cloffice.” I hang the (small!) overflow from my closet on one wall and use the rest of the space as my office and Zoom “studio” for my TV appearances. It doesn’t have any windows nor get any natural light, so I painted the ceiling sunshine yellow to make it feel brighter and installed a ceiling fan for a constant (albeit faux!) breeze.
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: I believe art makes a house a home, and that professional framing, though expensive, is always worth it. Look for art that speaks to you, and also consider framing personal memorabilia. Buy only things you adore — and be prepared to wait to find them! Wallpaper and bright colored paint can make great accents; you don’t have to paint or paper an entire room to get impact. Oh, and don’t forget the ceiling and interior doors (I painted the inside of my front door the same yellow as my ceiling.)
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? Everybody says it, but it’s true: Surround yourself with things you love — regardless of style or trends or anyone else’s opinion — and, somehow, they’ll all work together to create a home you’ll enjoy for years.
by Furnishly | Sep 29, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Name: Sophie, Marco, and daughter Misty
Location: South London, UK
Size: 980 square feet
Type of Home: 3 story Victorian terraced house
Years lived in: 4 years, owned
Sophie — part-time TV industry professional, wife, mom, and full time interiors-lover — runs her Instagram account (@towngirlcountrygirl) from her three-story Victorian terrace in South London. With her account, she hopes to inspire people by sharing “the processes of all the fun things I make and create around the place.” She also posts her interior projects on her blog, YouTube channel, and TikTok. The house itself, she says, “is so much more than just a place to live, and I am very grateful for my little sanctuary. I’ve had a real hate-to-love relationship with it here over the years, but I adore this space now and I’m so grateful for it and the healing attributes it’s brought to my life.”
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“My husband and I had always dreamed of doing a place up, and this is the first property we’ve owned. After renovating it together (mega DIY style) while I was pregnant, we both just really pushed ourselves to the limit, physically and mentally to get it ready before the baby came. We were on a small budget of a couple of thousand pounds and both working full time, so that added to some of the stresses in the preparation. We eventually moved in three weeks before my daughter was born, but after a bad time in hospital, I really quickly spiraled down into a pit of post-natal depression — which led me to truly despising living here.”
“These days though, I’ve flipped all of it on its head! A lot of that time and those feelings seem like a distant memory now that we’re four years down the line. When I started to feel better, I needed a creative outlet so I started my Instagram page and documented pouring my creative energy into the space. I’m a massive creative at heart — I trained in music, theatre, dance, and costume design at college, and I’ve worked in TV documentaries for the past decade — so styling up the house became my new passion project.”
“I saw the house as a blank canvas rather than a set of depressing rooms, and I’ve just run with it. I’m obsessed with being creative in here. But mainly, I’ve made it into a fun and inspiring space for us all to live in together. It’s constantly evolving and changing; I’ve always got new interior ideas in the pipeline. There’s always incense burning, music playing, and a fridge full of wine! It’s kind of my legacy that a home and being creative can really help you heal, and I’m very grateful to it!”
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: I would describe my style as extremely eclectic. I love patterns, I love pink, I love neons and houseplants. I’m definitely a maximalist, and I have a lot of stuff. It’s a mix of modern and very playful, set within a period property — which is an element I love. The house has a really fun vibe; it’s got really good energy!
Inspiration: I get my design inspiration from pretty much anywhere and everywhere! I’ll see things out and about in Soho, in shop-window displays, or from a theatre set or a music video I’ve seen. It’s all quite theatrical in here (note the pink tinsel and jellyfish hanging from the kitchen ceiling).
My mum is an artist, so I’ve always grown up in fairly quirky, artistic surroundings. She would let me paint my room differently all the time as a kid, and I can remember her constantly doing our house up, painting and adding new furniture or art. She’d always style interesting things; I remember she had a beautiful traditional sari as her bed throw that she’d bought in Camden market, and I always thought that was really different and cool. I’m grateful to have been exposed to that way of styling things when it comes to interiors; I love anything out of the ordinary and there not being too many rules when it comes to the aesthetics. Our house growing up mainly always had a really cool little party vibe and I try and recreate that in this house for my family.
I’ll also get a lot of inspo from people’s content on Instagram where I think, “Oh, I can put my own spin on that.” Sounds kinda bad too, but I’m constantly feeding my late night online shopping addiction, trawling for cool and different furnishings and homewares. When I start thinking about decorating a new space, I’ll buy one core piece like a cushion or a certain design of vinyl/wallpaper and riff off of that for the rest of the room.
Music always complements my creativity; I associate different albums and artists to different rooms I’ve done up in the house; Snoh Aalegra is the kitchen, Kendrick Lamar is Misty’s Room, the abstract dining room is Anderson .Paak. I find music is the core thing that really helps me to create the feel and vibe of a room, which is so important to me on top of just how it looks.
Favorite Element: I’ve got a few favorites, but my most recent thing has to be what I call the ‘Rihanna Rudeboy dining area’ i.e, the black and white mural I painted freehand — I got the inspo from her music video. It’s quite funny; I noticed in the footage of me painting it, I paced around the room for about five minutes before I went in with the black paintbrush. I really had to psych myself up, but once I started with the first stroke I just went for it and this was a one-shot design that came out of my head in that moment. It’s also Keith Haring inspired reflecting his monochromatic style and I also took inspiration from our favorite artist/Surf movie producer Thomas Campbell. I’ve added in a pew that I painted black (scored free from a local church in my mum and dad’s village). And then I gathered together all the other elements — vintage cinema chairs, neon sign, houseplants, OSB table, and the disco ball skateboard that I made myself. If you see the mood board I created initially for the space I think I nailed the aesthetic I wanted! I can’t wait to host a dinner party with all our friends here. It’s truly bonkers and I love it!
Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge with this project was just trying to redecorate a small space that’s situated slap bang in the middle of the house, that is in constant use, whilst trying to hold down a job working from home and look after a three-year-old! It took me a fair few weeks to get it all finished but it was worth it in the end! Shout out to my husband for only mildly losing his mind a few times!
Proudest DIY: My proudest DIY has to be my ‘All Eyes On You’ kitchen cupboards and the front door. The design of the eye vinyl I applied was something I had commissioned from a brilliant female run independent company in the UK called Get Kooky. I spoke to Lauren, the owner — asking if they could design me a product with eyes and sent her some inspo pics (eyes are a strong common theme around the house) and this is the final design that they came up with! It was so popular that they’ve made it available on their website and I love seeing it in other people’s homes too! I first had it printed in pink to cover the open cupboard in the kitchen, but then they dropped a range of clear window vinyl so I added it to my front door and the glass in the second cupboard in the kitchen, which complements the pink.
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? Because the house is small but also open plan, I’ve had to divide it up into definitive areas downstairs, everywhere has a purpose! The entryway is where we keep our shoes, coats go under the stairs, then there’s the living area and the dining area. There’s also not a huge amount of storage so we’ve built a window seat that doubles up as a toy box. Misty has her own mini play area where she eats but also uses as a creative space for painting and crafts. Most things in the house are multifunctional, and when you don’t have loads of space it’s fun to try and think up out of the box to keep things aesthetic yet functional.
What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? I love my pink velvet armchair! I bought it for myself as a 30th birthday present when I was feeling pretty low and it’s a cool reminder to stay positive! It was also one of the first proper grown up things I’ve bought; I feel like a boss sitting in it now! I also absolutely ADORE my Balinese parasol that lives in the garden. I can see it from the kitchen and it reminds me of the many times we’ve visited the island. I’m also so proud my Disco Ball Skateboard that I made; I just think it’s one of the coolest pieces of art I’ve got.
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: Use record sleeve album covers as wall art and decor. I’ve got so many of my parents’ old vinyls and I just place them up on a shelf as art! The cool thing is you can switch them out all the time and you can pick them up from charity shops/thrift stores for super cheap.
What are your favorite places to shop for home décor that can only be found in your country?
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? My holy trinity for creating a good vibe is: neon pink, house plants, and a disco ball! And If you’re constrained by budget buying these three pieces and adding them in can really spruce up your space for not too much money!
A neon light always adds a modern and colorful vibe. You can buy them really cheaply online in lots of different shapes or you create your own like I did in the kitchen and bedroom. Plants add some natural life to a room. I was a plant serial killer for so long, but who knew doing the bare minimum and just watering them does really keep them alive. Place a disco ball to a sunny spot, it doesn’t need to be a massive one to create an effect either! They’re just so pretty — you won’t be disappointed! Also get some music on!!! I’ve got a print that says ‘Music is the answer to your problems’ and I really agree with the statement!
by Furnishly | Sep 28, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Name: Courtney Geist
Location: Manhattan — New York, New York
Size: 330 square feet
Type of Home: Studio apartment
Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting
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I am a fashion accessories designer in NYC. I currently design cosmetic bags and have previously designed belts, hats, gloves, scarves, bedding, and sleepwear. Outside of work I love to draw, thrift, and DIY. I often share my DIYs and prints on Instagram and Redbubble.
I found my apartment at the height of the pandemic and completely lucked out. As soon as I saw the checkerboard flooring and abundant natural light, I knew it was the spot for me. The location is also perfectly situated between friends, my office, and Trader Joe’s! I spend time in my apartment drawing, attempting to cook, making espresso martinis, and DIYing.
Inspiration for the decor began with the checkerboard flooring. Having studied textile design in college, I love to infuse patterns wherever I can. In areas of gathering like the kitchen and living room, I layered more black and white patterns. In areas of rest such as the bathroom and bedroom, I chose tonal white patterns and textural pieces for a calmer look. Ultimately, I wanted to make my space feel like an oasis in the middle of New York.
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My Style: My style is always changing. As a creative, I am influenced by what I find fresh or unique. These days I am most inspired by Scandinavian and mid-century modern aesthetics. When decorating my apartment, the goal was to mesh multiple looks, so I never tire of my space.
Inspiration: I grew up watching more HGTV than I should admit. As a kid, I dreamt of DIYing and decorating my own space. These days I don’t have as much time to binge watch HGTV, but I love to keep up with Architectural Digest Open Door, Alexandra Gater, Lone Fox Home, and Apartment Therapy articles, of course. Working as a designer also provides ample inspiration as I am always on the hunt for the latest trends. Aesthetics often transcend product categories and something like a sweater will inspire a design for a pillow.
Favorite Element: It is impossible to choose just one element! I love the view from my windows, the checkerboard floors, the amazing ceiling height, and so much more. The view is especially wonderful. It has the perfect vignette of buildings that I must draw one of these days.
Biggest Challenge: New York’s cost of living threw quite the wrench in my design plans. I had to get creative when furnishing and decorating the space on a budget. Many pieces were thrifted, given to me by friends, DIYed, or were literally found on the curb. New Yorkers get rid of so much furniture and decor in great condition. At the beginning of every month, my walk to work is littered with amazing pieces that simply need a fresh coat of paint.
Proudest DIY: A majority of my artwork is DIYed, but my proudest DIY is my rattan cabinet. I found this cabinet while walking home and didn’t even blink — it was coming home with me. I gave it a fresh coat of paint, switched out the hardware, and added rattan to the glass using E-6000 glue.
Biggest Indulgence: The best investment for my small space was a bed with storage. I was adamant about finding a unique upholstered style, and Wayfair had just the piece. The four drawers under the bed are a lifesaver for my seasonal clothing and ever-growing fabric collection.
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? My space is very long, as it is a railway-style home. The hallway was especially daunting to decorate. Over the years, I have accumulated several postcards from trips, exhibits, and restaurants. I decided to mount magnetic strips in the hallway to showcase my postcard collection.
What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? I love my thrifted items. The scavenger hunt of thrifting is thrilling, especially when I find something I have never seen before. Adding unconventional pieces to my space brings me joy every time I see them. My latest find is a set of four quirky espresso mugs.
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: I tried to make every piece of furniture I was purchasing new have two or more purposes. For example, my ottoman is also my accessories storage. My kitchen island houses three small appliances. My desk doubles as a WFH desk and an area large enough to cut and sew fabric. If a piece I wanted to buy brand new did not fit that description, I would look for a better alternative.
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? Invest time or money into your artwork! Your rented apartment may not last forever, but you can take your artwork with you to the next place. Buy some artwork from friends. DIY something simple. Print out pictures of you and your loved ones! Adding to your walls makes a space so much more personal.
by Furnishly | Sep 27, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
Name: Courtney and John Achilli
Location: Jersey Shore, Central New Jersey
Size: 3,500 square feet
Type of Home: Single-story cottage
Years Lived In: 7 years, owned
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In 2014, we purchased a cottage called Content. The original architect and owner, Charles Leland, was from a long lineage of hoteliers and began construction on the property in 1882. Mr. Leland named his quiet refuge “Content” (pronounced: /kənˈtent/) meaning (adj): in a state of peaceful happiness. He was artistic and inscribed cups, dishware, and signage with “Content” (original merch!). The house is rich in lore and steeped in scandal:
After a four-year search of unique properties on the Jersey Shore, we previewed the cottage — which sat vacant for several years — and finally acquired it through a bank-owned, foreclosure auction. The cottage was sold “as is,” and had been looted of all metal and copper pipes, had no running water or heating system, and exposed electrical wires, but maintained nearly all of the historic, architectural details. There was also a resident family of raccoons entering and exiting through an unsealed chimney. During the first visit with our realtor, despite all the obvious neglect, we instantly knew that we wanted to own it. One step into the pad-locked, broken front door, we looked at each other and said with disbelief, “This is it.”
As newlyweds and first-time homeowners, it took us nearly six months to come up with a restoration plan. We lived with Courtney’s parents during this time, saving money and working on the property in the evening, after our full-time jobs and on the weekend. Luckily, we are both extremely handy and completed nearly all of the renovation projects ourselves — with the help of necessary professionals along the way. John is a self-taught woodworker and Jack of all trades, and I (Courtney) am a design enthusiast. We honed our individual skills to bring Content back to its former glory and feel honored to be the current stewards of this incredible property. We could not imagine keeping Content to ourselves.
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My Style: Modern Americana with Vintage Vibes. The cottage embodies a quirky, modern Americana design blend of mid-century, vintage, and original historic details. We have nine-foot exposed wood beam ceilings in a variety of wood and colors, wide-plank pine floors, 10 custom brick fireplaces, and over 50 original lead glass windows in multiple designs.
Inspiration: I (Courtney) absolutely love vintage pieces, thrift store sifting, flea market finds, and roadside treasures. There is no shame in my roadside game! Aside from the mattresses and linens, nearly all of the furnishings within Content are secondhand.
I also love mixing different design styles and tying them all together with a primary color palette, adding interest through art and decor inspired by folk culture, nature, and nostalgia. I love how each room is individually designed with its own style and attitude, but I strived to create a cohesive feel throughout the house. Each room feels like part of the complete story we are telling about the house through design.
Favorite Element: Our favorite element is the center courtyard, which is very unique to the area. Based on an 1884 New York Times article written about Content, we learned the design was inspired by Leland’s travels to Central America and Cuba, and his admiration for the hacienda style home.
More recently, we have had visitors say the courtyard reminds them of their own family’s homes in Korea and Turkey, which share a similar layout. As unique as the courtyard is to New Jersey, it has a way of being culturally unifying, not to mention a great place to share a cocktail with new friends!
Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge within Content is positioning furniture aesthetically and functionally around so many architectural elements. Each room has a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, two-interior doors (the house originally connected railroad style), an exterior courtyard door, and at least four double-hung windows. We are constantly tweaking and moving furniture around. It’s refreshing and a nuisance at the same time, but never boring. It’s also a great way for me to justify thrifting new pieces and redecorating on a regular basis.
Proudest DIY: We recently re-renovated a space within Content. Originally, the camp room was used from time to time for friends and family. After several years of underuse, we decided to rethink the functionality of the space and designed the room into a deluxe suite experience for guests; creating an en suite private living room, seating area, and breakfast bar.
We are most proud of this DIY because we allowed ourselves to envision an already aesthetically pleasing space differently. We allowed ourselves to reimagine the use and function of a space that was otherwise undervalued, and were able to provide guests with an elevated experience.
I love that we were able to reuse many of the existing furniture pieces and decor, in a new way, keeping the cost of the project primarily to the build of the new breakfast bar.
Biggest Indulgence: Energy efficiency was by far the most significant investment. Content was originally built as a one-season, summer cottage, so aside from the decorative fireplaces, heat or the ability to contain heat, was not a concern.
We took the time to perform a home energy audit with a professional to determine the energy consumption and then identify energy efficiency measures. From that, we qualified for a 10-year, zero interest loan from our local energy provider. With this loan we were able to insulate the attic, purchase tankless hot water heaters, plus install a new heat and air conditioning system. We also opted to install mini splits, in the guest suites, that can be individually controlled or turned off completely when not in use.
This past spring, we repaired and replaced over 30 storm windows. Though a huge financial investment, making Content more energy efficient has saved us lots of money year after year.
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? Content is not only a home, it is an opportunity for us to support our family and the community through creativity, relaxation, and celebration. Content was the inspiration for us both to leave our full-time careers in pursuit of small business ownership. Through Content we have partnered with several third-party sharing platforms to create our hospitality brand, Content + Co.
In addition to the cottage being our primary residence, we also share the property as a guest house for visitors of the Jersey Shore. Due to the unique layout of the house, we have three private guest suites that are accessible from the courtyard, much like a motel, plus communal living spaces that everyone can enjoy. The entire property is also available as a vacation rental for larger groups.
As well as overnight accommodations, we also rent outfitted camper vans for travelers. Though the camper vans are a different format to the house, we love bringing functional design and hospitality together through unique short-term rentals.
What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? Our favorite product category has to be lighting. The house did not have lighting fixtures, or wiring for lighting, at all. We purchased and installed all of the lighting fixtures during phase one of the renovation. This was a tedious but extremely rewarding experience as lighting plays a huge role in the overall aesthetic of each room.
In terms of a favorite product, we absolutely love our ice maker! We bought a used counter depth ice maker on FB Marketplace (for a third of the price) from a smoothie shop that was closing down. We essentially designed the laundry room around it, knowing well before we started renovation that the ice maker would have a prominent place within the layout.
It seems like such a frivolous purchase but we all know how slowly refrigerator and freezer ice machines replenish, so this has been a huge upgrade for entertaining and a wonderful amenity for summertime guests filling coolers and heading to the beach.
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: As a shared home, used by ourselves and guests, nearly every room is on display and purposeful. There is a very blurred line between our personal and commercial space. Perhaps in a way, this discourages clutter, but is a constant task. We jokingly refer to the daily upkeep of these spaces as “show ready.” During a recent conversation with a friend, she shuddered at the thought of someone showing up to her home unannounced.
Our biggest advice to others using their home for commercial endeavors, is carve out a private space just for you. Even in a shared space, maintain a private area just for you. Content is not always perfect! We have ongoing projects, mail to go through, and laundry that piles up but we allow ourselves a “back of house” area to live freely within our home, without having to keep up appearances.
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? Our best decorating advice is to allow your home to be a true reflection of you. Your home is the safest space to be creative. Ultimately, you want to be inspired by your home for years to come, so decorating with colors, textures, and resources available to you will make the space feel authentically “you.”
Thanks Courtney and John!
by Furnishly | Sep 26, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Name: Sarah Jackson, Gregory Jackson, and Rex
Location: Roosevelt Island, Manhattan, NY
Size: 650 square feet
Type of Home: Studio Apartment
Years lived in: 1 year, renting
My partner Greg and I have moved five times together since we met in 2016. When we move from Miami, Florida to New York City for Greg’s career opportunity in January 2021, it was quite the culture (and weather) shift. We were placed in corporate housing our first 10 months here and were eager to find our own home. When the time came to begin looking, we knew two things: We wanted to stay in Manhattan, and we knew our budget.
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We both remembered visiting Roosevelt Island the previous summer to attend their annual viewing of the Macy’s Fireworks display and had fallen in love, so logically it’s the first place we looked. We walked into our current home within the first day of touring buildings and signed the lease that afternoon. It has been our home since, with no plans to leave. After six years, we finally feel like this apartment is home and has given us the stability we have craved for so long.
Living in NYC is already a unique experience on its own, but being resident on an island with a population of 14,000 really elevates that to another level. Roosevelt Island is most known for the tram that connects us to the Upper East Side and runs parallel to the Queensboro Bridge, as well as our yearly cherry blossom blooms. But to us, the island is a community.
Some of the unique features in our apartment that sealed the deal for us include an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, an in-unit washer/dryer (which is a big deal in NYC), a galley kitchen, and a gas stove. We love every aspect about this home, and often discuss how we wouldn’t change a thing. Although it has been a shift, going from a traditional one-bedroom apartment to our alcove studio space, it has allowed me to think through the space with more intention.
This is the smallest apartment we have lived in to date, but it is by far our favorite, and although some people lovingly refer to NYC apartments as “shoeboxes,” as long as it has this view, in this city, surrounded by these people, I will gladly take our shoebox any day.
I am currently a PhD candidate studying Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Florida International University. I actually started developing a love for interior design and home projects during my graduate program as a way to ignite my more creative side, whereas my work as a researcher can sometimes be restricting in that area. Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, I have worked remotely and have been conducting most of my academic work and research projects from home, which allowed me to really reevaluate my space and the emotions and mood I wanted it to evoke. Because I am in the apartment for the most part of my days, I really wanted to be sure to create a space that I felt comfortable in and set for success.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Transitional mixed with eclectic. I love the combination of a more traditional style mixed with more modern, bold, eye-catching pieces, color schemes, and textures that really ignite the space. I think it can be tricky sometimes to find that perfect blend of it all, but I think I was able to strike that balance by intentionally creating visual interest throughout the space in many different forms, whether it be a giant brass quaalude pill (yes, you read that right), a Kit Cat clock, exotic plants, and so on.
Inspiration: Nature and bringing the outdoors in. It’s funny because neither my partner or I really identify as “outdoorsy” or “granola” (as the kids say), but we have discovered that having those earth tones throughout the space is such a great way to make it feel full of life during the harsh NYC winters. Outside of vitamin D supplements, I think a home full of plants is one of the best ways to combat the seasonal gloom.
Favorite Element: My bookcase is, by far, my favorite element in the space. It was actually an IKEA hack that I DIY-ed after a few months of intense searching for a bookcase that not only perfectly fit the space, but was also the color I wanted. Because of its massive size in comparison to other pieces, getting the correct color to ground my color scheme in the apartment was critical, so I use the bookcase as a sort of “color anchor” for the space.
So, when you can’t buy it, you build it. Simply put, it’s constructed with five of the classic Billy bookcases, with custom doors, hardware, and trim to give it a more refined, elevated look. The bookcase serves as not only much need functional storage in an NYC apartment, but also a great way to display little artifacts from our life story and marriage. It represents a celebration of us and our journey as a couple, ranging with sentimental objects from our engagement in Cuba, elopement in Vegas, European travels together, and more, all within an earth-toned color scheme.
Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge in this apartment has been taking an open space and defining it clearly. Our apartment is called a “studio alcove” which, by NYC standards, means that it is basically is a one bedroom without the fourth wall, in order to create a more open space. Without clearly defined spaces though, it can seem to be an overwhelming task of how to make the spaces defined and naturally flow into one another.
One of the solutions I used to combat this problem was my squared-off rug lines. The implicit lines that rugs can create on the floor are a great way to define where an area ends and another begins. It is only luck, though, that checkered rugs are trending right now and are able to add that extra bit of softness to what otherwise could be a hard line.
Proudest DIY: Although I adore my bookcase, I think my proudest DIY would be my fringed, brass floor lamp. The lamp was one of the first things we bought for the apartment, strictly because we needed a light source before our furniture got delivered and we could properly plan out the space. In fact, I intended to get a new one once I really nailed down the apartment’s aesthetic, but I loved the shade of brass this lamp base had so I thought of ways that I could make it work for the space.
I decided my main issue was the lamp’s shade and how I could make it have more visual interest that its current plain, stark white appearance. I decided to use this as an opportunity to add another texture to the corner where it resides. I found a custom fringe seller on Etsy and purchased six feet of 12-inch long fringe in a warmer, ivory color. I hot glued the fringe around the inside, top rim of the lamp shade, which resulted in a custom lamp shade that could not only belong in a 70s lounge, but also pass as Cousin It’s cousin.
Budget: The apartment resides on Roosevelt Island, a hidden gem within the NYC neighborhood map, and is relatively a steal. Our current rent is approximately $2,900 per month, although it will be increasing to $3,000 per month this upcoming October.
The budget for this project was $30,000 which is steep for a space this small, but only because we started with a blank canvas. When we moved from our larger apartment in Miami, most of our current furniture was too large and bulky to use in our new space. I am a huge supporter of furniture sustainability, so we used a company called Kaiyo to sell our old furniture pieces that wouldn’t work, that way they were not wasted and were able to find new life in other homes, while also helping fund our new pieces — a true win, win.
An object I absolutely splurged on is our custom Conde Nast print of the October 11, 2022 cover of The New Yorker. The print costs approximately $500, including framing, but the price was not even a factor when you realize the sentimental value. Living in NYC has been an aspiration of mine since I was a little girl with big city dreams. Picture Reese Witherspoon in “Sweet Home Alabama.” So, this print is the issue released the week our first Manhattan lease started, it represents a dream realized and a fresh start in a new city and oddly enough depicts differing aspects of what makes NYC, NYC. It’s just really lucky that it happens to be such a perfect fit for the space.
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? Our apartment is unique, from a NYC perspective, as it actually has not one, not two, but three different closets. One of these closets is meant to be a linen closet, but instead we use it as a functional dresser of sorts. We do keep linens there, sure — on one shelf. But the rest of the closet is used to store items like socks, undies, accessories, really anything that you would usually find in a dresser in someone’s room. There was really just no logical space for a dresser to make sense in the main living area, so using closet solutions from The Container Store really made all the difference to convert that closet’s function.
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: I have two pieces of advice that I would give to anyone looking to maximize their small space.
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? I think the best decorating advice I could give to anyone, and would love to give to my past self, is to slow down. Our society values a quickness in all aspects of our lives, but when it comes to furnishing and decorating your home you should be intentional and take the time to find pieces that not only mean something to your, but also work for your lifestyle. Your home is a space that you should invest in, not just monetarily, but also emotionally. Let the aesthetic find you, not the other way around. I promise you, the more time you invest in a slow decoration process, including finding pieces that bring you joy, work for your lifestyle, and hold value in your heart, the happier and more whole you will feel with the space when its completed. Embrace the progress as it comes and let the YOU shine through your space.
