{INTERIORS} From House to Home
I've been in the process of turning my home into my dream space ever since I moved into my Brooklyn abode nearly 5 years ago. It's actually astounding that so much time has passed since I first started settling into these walls, but as it is, I've grown and changed as the space between my floor and ceilings have, too. Countless visitors, a new puppy, a middle-aged cat, the love of my life, and a colony of clothing have all walked through my doors - and with each new addition things get a little more cozy.
I've been on the never ending quest to make our home more and more personalized, reflective of the little family living here, and - as is consistent with all New York City apartments - efficient. By local standards, we've been blessed with a "large" space - tallying in at about 925 square feet, but that space goes fast when you combine the closets of two girls, a cat, and a pug puppy, (obviously, the latter two have overwhelming wardrobes to deal with). This summer, I made it my goal to give these walls a proper refresh... Continue!
It all started with a major closet purge. I mean bags upon bags upon bags of clothing that ended up on the racks of Buffalo Exchange and Crossroads and Beacon's Closet and donation bins and the 2nd annual Shop & Swap. Then came the task of actually turning the closet space I do have (a serious, serious NYC commodity) into a space that worked well. The default closet I moved in with had one long straight-across rack with one straight-across shelf above it. Spacious, yes - but far from maximizing on it's storage potential.
Not wanting to break the bank (I rather spend my cash on shoes, obviously) - I looked online for a system that I could install myself. I found one on Amazon for $60, and spent an entire Sunday (along with the purchase of a tube cutter and Ali's help, naturally), installing it into my closet - and it was well worth the time and energy. Now, I have a space dedicated to dresses, to shirts and jackets, and to skirts and pants - with ample shelving for handbags and shoes.
Next, and perhaps the biggest obstacle to redecorating, was finding a couch that was the right style, right proportions, and right price. I've always dreamed of having a seafoam green sofa, and have swooned over many-a-Jonathan-Adler piece only to be heartbroken by the steep price tag. I do think a couch is something worth investing in, but at the same time, with two pets, things can be a little unpredictable - so for now, I opted for a more budget-friendly, but still-stylish piece. When a couch I had been lusting over hit an all-time-low price on sale this summer, I took the plunge and ordered two - completely re-imagining the layout and configuration of my living room. It was a major lightbulb!
The L-shaped couch I used to have was now replaced by two colorful, comfortable, and utterly chic pieces - one that sits perfectly against the exposed brick, and the other, centered along a large living room window. It also hit me that I could anchor the windows with two, tall matching bookshelves - that both look elegant (symmetry, yay!) and maximize on vertical height and storage. The moment I realized I could "build up" within my apartment was a major win. I also repurposed existing end tables, one of which is a favorite - a tree-trunk-and-branches inspired piece from West Elm, and covered it with many coats of gold spray paint. I did a similar treatment with a simple, plain coffee table from Ikea! 
Because I work from home so often, the dining table is also my makeshift "office" - with artwork by Leigh Viner hanging overhead. A friendly back-and-forth (thank goodness for Etsy conversations!) and she was able to make custom, oversized prints of some of my favorites - perfect for the tall ceilings in our apartment. The frames were another easy buy from Amazon. (The rug on the table was a very temporary thing, as you can see if you keep scrolling down...)
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| Prints by Leigh Viner, Flamingo glass via Ikea, Blue Mason Jar via BrooklynFlea |
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| Bookshelf Art, from Left to Right: PriticApp Photo Collage, Chalkboard Globe from CatBird, Handmade piece by Miss B, A Girl A Style, Keep Calm and Carry On Poster, Custom Family Portrait by Betsey P, Miu Miu Girls Print by KrisAtomic. |
