by Furnishly | Jan 7, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
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Name: Emma Wells and two rescue dogs, Pippi and Meggie
Location: Portland, Oregon
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 550 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I moved to Portland a year ago. I was on the road having left a bad job and a bad relationship and closed a decade long chapter on a life in NYC. I was looking for somewhere fresh. I had never been to the Pacific Northwest before but I found this apartment on Zillow and had a great feeling about it. I had connections in the area already and decided to take a weekend trip to scope it out. After less than 24 hours in Portland I had signed this lease and called movers. A year later and I can confirm it was the greatest quick decision. I’ve created a lovely home for myself and my dogs here and on top of that now have a better job and an even better boyfriend.
I had never lived alone before and having my own space to decorate was a dream come true despite having less than my dream budget. A lot of my items were kindly donated by friends and relatives and then it was just a matter of finding the accessories to pull them all together. Pretty much every item has a story behind it. Some things are special because they’ve been in my family for generations. Others are special because I discovered them on an adventure (either one around the world or to HomeGoods with my best friend after boozy brunch).
This house is also home to Pippi and Meggie, my two rescue dogs. They are truly faithful companions; I’ve had them for six years during which they’ve moved many times with me. I can tell they especially love this place, too. This is our first time living on the first floor and they love to sit in the window and “commune loudly” with the passersby.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Warm, earthy, cozy, trinket-filled
What is your favorite room and why? My kitchen is easily my favorite room. Cooking is a hobby of mine and this was the first room I focused on when I moved in. It got a complete overhaul (within the bounds of my rental agreement). I spent an entire weekend covering the counter tops with contact paper, just to name one project. It also has great storage and it’s the only room I manage to keep organized.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The latest addition to my home was a gift my boyfriend, Scott. It’s a miniature hobbit hole that now lives nestles amongst my plant collection and makes me smile several times a day.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t rush it! And don’t aim for perfection. This space will forever be a work in progress. As I grow and my life and needs change my space will continue to evolve with me. If I felt it was perfect it would be hard to change things when I need to but every time I do add or subtract or just reorganize I feel the space is better than before.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
by Furnishly | Jan 4, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
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Name: Sophia E. Aguiñaga
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 900 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting
When Apartment Therapy first toured interior designer and artist Sophia E. Aguiñaga‘s Oakland rental apartment, her home’s design style was best described as “Wild Eclectic Glam,” and it featured seven wall paint colors across six rooms. When she realized she would be moving at the end of 2021, she took it as an opportunity to refresh the apartment before the move, paring down her stuff and experimenting with her style to give the apartment a minimal, organic new look. The mini makeover is a great reminder that anytime you want a new look or feel to your home, it’s within reach. Use Sophia’s refresh as inspiration for your own.
“I consider myself an interior nomad. I love moving. Like, a lot. I lived in 11 apartments in three years before I finally signed my first one-year lease,” begins Sophia. “Since I don’t move apartments as frequently anymore, I love changing up my decor — often and drastically. No, I don’t mean rearranging furniture, I mean selling everything, repainting, starting totally fresh. I love exploring how many unique ways I can express myself in one space, and I don’t ascribe to any one style. Rather, I believe all styles are within me and arise intuitively.”
“One thing I love about design, particularly in rentals, is the practice of building something up and then tearing it all down. It reminds me of the Tibetan Buddhist sand mandalas — the creation and destruction of unbelievably intricate mandalas made from colored sand. Once the mandala is complete, as a practice in impermanence and belief in the transitory nature of material life, the Buddhists will swipe every grain of sand away with a brush. Destroying the image it created and releasing the weeks and weeks of work that went into the process.”
“I’ve always loved this idea — building something up, admiring it, loving it deeply, then deconstructing or even destroying it as a means of release, a practice in letting go, remembering how everything we love and have built in our lives — from careers to relationships and anything material — are all impermanent. So what if you’ll only live in your rental for a year? Speaking from experience, a year of sanctuary is worth the effort and time.”
“The driver for this particular refresh was my plan to move at the end of 2021. I knew I’d have to paint all my walls back to white and I wanted to use it as an opportunity to build something entirely new in the space. I also wanted to pare down for the upcoming move — turns out eclectic maximalism doesn’t lend toward traveling light. So I re-homed almost everything I owned and used minimalism, ease, and traveling light as my guide. These concepts translated into a minimalist wabi sabi design rooted in earth tones. Chartreuse is my favorite color, so I kept that pop of color while drawing in rustic, woody, and earthy colors and textures everywhere else.”
“What I ended up with was a marriage of modern and rustic shapes expressed in earth tones and eclectic textures. Reminiscent of a walk through a meadow filled with trees and tall, bright grass, the space is both grounding and enlivening at the same time.”
This house tour’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
Adrienne Breaux
House Tour Editor
Adrienne loves architecture, design, cats, science fiction and watching Star Trek. In the past 10 years she’s called home: a van, a former downtown store in small town Texas and a studio apartment rumored to have once been owned by Willie Nelson.
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by Furnishly | Dec 19, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
Sticking firmly in the camp of optimism, a rental apartment is a shot at creative expression. Sure, you can’t always paint the walls, change the fixtures, remove the tiles, or even choose the next door neighbors, but what’s artistry if not pushing forth a vision anyway? With the right mindset and perhaps a few workarounds, it is possible to turn even the saddest state of an apartment into a cozy retreat. Just ask the renters we featured in the past year.
As they approached the fixed details of greasy ovens, dirty grout, blank walls, and cramped spaces, they didn’t try to get their deposits back. Instead, they considered solutions that not only rectified the problem, but also made it so their home felt like a comfortable mirror of their personalities. Our favorite rental stories of 2021 should be a glass-half-full showcase of budget-friendly and approachable DIYs that push the limits of what an apartment can be. Even if a rental isn’t forever, that doesn’t mean it never has to reflect your style — and it’s totally possible to build something beautiful while still following a landlord’s rules.
Read on to see how these six renters leaned into creative expression to make their apartments feel more like homes.
A Kitchen Is Modernized With Some Much-Needed Elbow Grease
Most renters rarely feel the need to put much energy into a complete overhaul, particularly right after signing a lease. But that wasn’t the case for Alyssa Murphy, who moved into this apartment quickly and then had to contend with its sparse and crumbling kitchen. She’d never painted anything before in her life, but she covered the cabinets and walls in Benjamin Moore’s “Super White,” and added gold hardware. She also used peel-and-stick prints for the backsplash, floors, and countertops, transitioning this kitchen from “yuck!” to “yes please!” with her bare hands.
Dirty Bathroom Tiles Get a Second Chance in a Newly Stylish Bathroom
When architect and interior designer Valentina Stincone first saw the state of her rental bathroom, she knew the previous renters hadn’t spent much time cleaning it. Not only was the grout black, but the walls were stained, too — gross. She decided to embrace the bold orange tiles, opting to meticulously clean them and see what other design accessories she could incorporate into their palette. Over one weekend and for less than $100, Valentina also painted the walls and added decals, making for a bathroom that looks like a jewel box during her tenure.
A Bland Entryway Is Painted Black for a Dramatic First Impression
Liz Brown has been slowly updating the rental she shares with her partner for years, but hadn’t gotten around to her apartment’s entryway until she realized it was more of a storage room than anything else. She knew its bare white walls were also making a bland first impression on guests, so she did a (rather controversial) upgrade and painted an accent wall black. With white and gold accents and a floor-length mirror, the entryway’s dramatic feel is far from boring.
A Dark Laundry Room Gets a New Layout for Much-Needed Light
MaCenna Lee couldn’t figure out what to do about the state of her laundry room for quite some time, which is why it remained an overpacked “dungeon” long after she finished projects on the rest of her home. After giving some thought, and getting approval from her landlord, she figured out how to remove a cabinet so that her washer and dryer could sit side-by-side. That opened the room up to a window, and cream-colored walls made the space feel even brighter. New cabinets and modern accessories completed the project, and now it’s anything but a design sore spot in her house.
A Sparse Second Bedroom Becomes a Serene At-Home Office
Emily Neal lives in an old apartment with limited storage, and she sought to build a simple desk with cabinets on each side. She and her boyfriend decided they could probably do it for under $500, and focused on a wall in a sparse second bedroom as their canvas. She built the system with discounted IKEA PAX parts and plywood, and used MDF boards with arched cutouts to make them appear as though they reached the ceiling. Once a coat of sage green paint covered it all, gold accessories were installed for more layers of sophistication. Now the space is functional and charming, and Emily can use it however she’d like.
A Bland Bedroom Get a Faux Headboard Full of Personality
Nicole Ellsworth had a typical rental bedroom problem: four white walls with zero personality. It became even harder to ignore once she started working from home, so Nicole decided to take one wall into her own hands. With $85 worth of materials, she created a faux headboard using wood slats, which she then coordinated with two matching sconces. She hung a photo at the center of the headboard, and suddenly, the entire room was full of charisma.
by Furnishly | Dec 15, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
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Name: Julie Gordon
Location: West Village, New York City
Size: 300 square feet
Type of Home: Studio Apartment
Years lived in: 2 years, renting
I found my little abode on Craigslist and moved in on March 16, 2020, so I think it goes without saying that I had… a lot of time on my hands to sit and ponder about what to do with the space during lockdown. It’s a cute little family owned walk-up building in the West Village, making it the most communal and comfortable of any apartment I’ve ever lived in. My landlady and her family have owned the building for many years and raised multiple generations in it, which as a single twenty-something woman at the time, gave me a huge sense of comfort in living alone for the first time.
I was provided a completely blank slate, literally. The only thing that came in my apartment was the small stove, fridge, and three cabinets. That’s it. While some may have found this overwhelming, I found it gave me the freedom to completely customize the space and make it what I wanted it to be, within the extreme square footage limitations, of course. I often joke that I live in a doll house, as everything in here is miniature compared to a normal, non-NYC (downtown, specifically) sized apartment. Yet, that is ironically what I love most about it and what’s made it feel most like my own. This is by far my favorite of the four Manhattan apartments/neighborhoods I’ve lived in, even despite the fact that it doesn’t have a real bathroom door (originally came with an unpainted, wooden slatted accordion closet door, which you can imagine, was not going to fly), nor any closets. But after some major TLC, a few great peel and stick finds, and lots of patience, I’m finally feeling the space is complete… for now.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Cozy and minimal
Inspiration: I first found myself drawn to Nordic interior style and neutral colors, but didn’t want the space to feel too washed out, so I made sure to bring in liveliness with greenery, fresh flowers, a statement wall in the kitchen, and prints throughout that add a pop of personality. Though, I’d be remiss not to mention the inspiration behind the neutral, cozy tones was mostly drawn from Nancy Meyers movies (“Something’s Gotta Give” and “The Holiday”) and the idea for my floor length curtains separating the sleeping area came from none other than my lord and savior, Carrie Bradshaw.
Favorite Element: Each area (I say “area” as “room” is clearly not a reality here) has its own reason to be adored, though it’s a toss up between my work space and living space. I’ve grown to adore my work space, thankfully, given it’s where I’ve spent most of my time since March 2020, as it is simplistic enough not to overwhelm me during the work day, yet includes some of my favorite pieces from my home (the “I love you, but I love me more” Sex and the City-inspired print, specifically). However, I have a major soft spot for my living space. I ended up creating a cozy, tranquil area that helped bring some much needed calmness to counteract 2020/2021 stress, which actually feels pretty open despite its lack of square footage.
Biggest Challenge: I’d say my little studio is the ultimate double whammy: no storage AND no space. The biggest challenge here has been figuring out how to neatly and optimally incorporate storage in a space that offers little to no chance for concealment. This forced me to think outside the box. Need a place to store clothes but a wardrobe would be too bulky? Clothing rack showcasing your favorite hanging pieces. Need to hide your suitcases and out-of-season clothes but don’t have a closet to put them in? Bed risers (yes, the ones from your college dorm). Finding where you can add storage without making it obvious is every New Yorker’s biggest hurdle, well, at least for those of us who live in shoeboxes.
Proudest DIY: Without a single shadow of a doubt: the kitchen. This space caused me a good bit of grief when I first moved in, as it had absolutely no counter/work space and limited storage. It took me until my second year here to finally take the plunge and incorporate elements to make it more usable and enjoyable to be in. The space originally came with a single sink counter that was bordered with an extremely outdated, brown laminate countertop and an unfinished multicolored, square tiled backsplash on only the wall above the stove. I covered both walls with a clean, white, chevron peel and stick tile backsplash and covered the counter (as well as the island I bought when I first moved in) with a white, glossy marble contact paper for about $16 on Amazon. Lastly, I tied the space together by adding an adhesive wallpaper to create a statement wall and create a bit of separation to the space, as well as floating shelves with rechargeable overhead lights and a microwave rack (life changing). It is now not only completely functional, aside from the fact that I use my oven to store my pots and pans because #nostorage, but also enjoyable to be in, which were my ultimate goals in working on the space. Also just have to give a major shoutout to my boyfriend who was my lone handyman in every project in this apartment!
Biggest Indulgence: Nothing in my place is very expensive, as most are IKEA/Target pieces I’ve had since I first moved here five years ago or are secondhand finds. However, I’d say my favorite “new” piece was my acrylic console that I placed under my TV in the living space. It was a little pricey for me given it’s pretty small, about $250 from Amazon, but completely worth it as the transparent acrylic allows the space to look much less congested and is small enough to leave walking space between the coffee table and couch. It also provides the perfect amount of space to incorporate decor that adds to the room but does not cause clutter.
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? Given that the max amount of storage provided when I moved in was three small cabinets, I have no shame in admitting that I keep my blow dryer next to my blender and extra paper towels in one of my kitchen cabinets. Gotta make the most with what you’ve got, right? However, I would say my high ceilings and indented walls worked to my benefit in helping segment out the areas and offer a bit more uniqueness than your standard boxy, flat-walled apartments.
What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? Some of my favorite things I’ve added to my space are some of the most random. One of my proudest is my sofa that was a Facebook marketplace find for $200 (originally $650) that originally I wasn’t even looking for and just stumbled upon. It ended up fitting perfectly against the wall, down to the millimeter, and helped brighten the space after replacing a chunky, dark brown leather hand-me-down loveseat I originally had. Another favorite but random addition is my adhesive lights I put under my cabinets and shelves in the kitchen. I am someone who absolutely hates overhead ceiling lights, so having a cozy yet useful lighting solution in the kitchen has been amazing — don’t sleep on adhesive cabinet lights!
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: Transparently, I’ve had a “Tiny Studios” board on my Pinterest created since before I even moved to NYC, knowing that it was my goal to have my own space in the city when I was able to, so I came in having my expectations leveled on what I’d actually be able to have in my apartment (for example, I knew my couch would really be a loveseat and I wouldn’t have room for any sort of dining table). I’d say my biggest tip is knowing how to prioritize what you want in your home. When you have limited space to work with, it forces you to truly think about what you want and what you don’t need. For me, it was going piece by piece and slowly filling up the space so that you don’t end up with pieces that may overpower the area or cause clutter rather than complement it. Be slow and strategic in the way you fill your small space, you’ll be happy you did!
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? You know and spend more time in your space than anyone else, so trust your gut! Before I moved in, someone told me not to put up curtains because it would make the room feel smaller and cramped. I knew it was the approach I wanted to take and in the end, it allowed me to create separation between the spaces and actually made it feel bigger to me!
Also, find storage wherever you can! I have every hidden crevice of my apartment filled to the brim for storage: behind my full length mirror, inside my coffee table, under my bed and couch, inside my stove. If you got it, use it!
Lastly, pull inspiration from places or people that make you feel most content in your space. For me, that was pulling from movies/shows that bring me joy and content from creators that allowed me to see how I could incorporate their ideas into my space. Shoutout to Apartment Therapy for being a hub of creators for me to get some of those ideas from!
This house tour’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
by Furnishly | Dec 10, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
Name: Kristina Eicholzer
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Almost nothing in my home was bought brand new.
Whether it’s thrifted, a beloved hand-me-down, or a free find on the side of the road, every piece has its own story.
Collecting pieces for your home over time is the best way to make it feel like you. And what better way to collect slowly than to have some fun finding secondhand items and in turn becoming a part of their story?
What is your favorite room and why? My living room is the best place to catch the morning sun. I’ll sit in there for hours on weekend mornings, sipping coffee, listening to music. And when the sun goes down, the candles come on, and it’s the coziest place for a glass of wine.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Cozy, Collected, Layered, and Bright
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The Van Gogh sunflowers framed poster above my desk — $5 well spent at the thrift store. It brings me so much joy to look at. Plus, it’s a great place to stick mementos and cards instead of using a bulletin board.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t rush — don’t just order the trendy thing online to fill the space. Take your time creating a space you love with things that you love so every corner brings you joy.
Also — lamp light simply cannot be beat, so dim those overheads, and stock up on outlet remotes to make lamp-o’clock that much easier.
This house tour’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
