Name: Ida
Location: Harlem / Sugar Hill - NYC
I consider my home to be inspirational — an organized reflection of what I love to look at! My apartment is the parlor room in a brownstone (a studio) which is already beyond charming on it's own.
I am a big lover of vintage/old things, so I had some pieces I loved, but really hadn't found a home for them yet. Once I moved into this apartment, I decided to surround myself with only things I really felt happy about having. I got rid of anything I didn't use often or need.
This new direction also meant having good furniture — the stuff with character and sturdiness. I re-purposed some pieces I already had by painting and refinishing some things in different ways. I repainted a nice wooden desk that the previous owners of my mom's home left there. I also added an assortment of knobs to it which gave it more character. I had an old trunk that was green and gold and ugly. I painted it white and covered it with pennies — I was inspired by the Penny Tile Floor at the Standard Hotel.
I also had a lot of art I wanted to frame/show/look at often so I made a point to hang it and buy frames. I also frequented the flea markets in the area to get good, unique furniture. I found the Upper West Side Flea Market to be my favorite place to go. I got a great piece that I use as a bookshelf. I also scored a cute settee at the Hell's Kitchen flea market.
It's fun, it's me, I enjoy my place and I hope others would too!
Thanks Ida!
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Nice fireplace...LUCKY!
Very nice! Great choice in paint color. Everything is so light and airy looking. And that moulding is insane. This kind of apartment is exactly what I want when I move back to NY this spring.
It's so pretty...I love the way the bed and settee are angled. Is there a kitchenette in this studio? I find them so awkward. I would love to see how Ida would treat one.
Can you please tell me what paint you used- that pretty blue gray? Thanks! Gorgeous!
The fireplace is gorgeous! Very pretty place. I would like to see more. I feel very sad and pouty that there isn't a picture of the trunk. It sounds fabulous! Like Mavesse, I would also like to see the kitchenette if there is one. Pretty please show more. Thanks! (I live in a large studio apartment and I love seeing how others arrange them.)
I too would like to see more of this home!
old classic romantique... love it!
I've totally fallen for your fireplace- utterly unfair. That first image is fantastic- it's crisp but comfortable, and I love the antique accents.
I too need to know the name of that paint color! You have made yourself a fabulous home, thank you for sharing.
Kitchen?
Sooo girly and romantic... Love it!
Lovely. You have a nice eye for color.
Cute! Good work!!
Yes! please please tell us the paint color! it's what i've been looking for for years and can never quite get right! what is it?!
i too would like to see the kitchen and the bathroom of this gorgeous space!
Good looking but would also like to see kitchen and bath and how they play into the layout. I'm not that fond of these close-ups of accessories but more interested in the overall look. I love the repurposed furniture ideas.
ITS own, not it's own.
wow, amazing place!!1
Where are the kitchen pictures??
i want a parlor! How high are your ceilings? i love the two-tone paint job too.
Gorgeous! Can you tell me where you got the lamp by your bed and the paint color?
dreeeamy!!
You're so blessed to have this place!! I love it. Sooo pretty!!
Simply lovely!
AMAZING!!! I'd love to see more (ie: kitchen, bath)
more please..!!
I absolutely love this!
beautiful...but must agree with the others, more pictures please!!!
I'm thinking of moving into a tiny studio with a similar floorplan. I was unsure until I saw this post. I'm sold!!! Beautiful!
Simply gorgeous. I am moving to New York and looking for a studio apartment. I've been feeling a little down about knowing I will lose a lot of space. (Chicago apartments are bigger...and cheaper) But this is encouraging to see how you can take a small space and yet its homey and beautiful. I love it! This is going in my inspirational folder!
Love how cozy it is and well thought out. I might paint the doors a glossy black to counteract all the blue (nice as that blue is!)
LOVE LOVE - i'm with all the other Paint Fans -- what color is it? it's just gorgeous. more please!
1st; I love the style, but seriously; I think it's time for a "the Emporer has no clothes" moment NYers. Why are people renting out rooms (and this looks like the front sitting room) in someone's brownstone for exhorbitant amounts of money when there are places to live in the other boroughs? I mean, I see no room to even walk around this place and is there a shared kitchen (and bathroom come to think of it) because I don't recall that these rooms have kitchens or are even plumbed out for kitchens. Granted, you would have a little longer train ride to Manhatten, but really?
Definately interested in a overview shot and the kitchen!!
One of my most favorites ever. :) This is the half thunk image that I have in my mind and can never grasp, and now it's here in front of me. So warm and dreamy. A lovely little cocoon.
Can you please share bed linens source and paint source?
The settee is a GREAT addition to your quaint apartment. So glad we could help!! We are so excited to be a small part of your home that we even blogged about it, http://fleaspeech.typepad.com/fleaspeech/2010/02/hkfm-find-on-apartment-therapy-new-york.html. Hope to see you again soon.
please fill us in on that paint color!
I am so jealous of that stunning fireplace. And I love the Hell's Kitchen flea market, too!
SO inspirational to see a small place somehow not seem so small with the petit vintage couch and things layed out how they are. Lovely!
Thanks for the lovely comments!
The paint color is gray. I cannot take credit for it though. The color was on the walls when I moved in. It's a cool gray with a slight blue tone to it. It's not a heavy amount of gray, think around 35 % black. I hope this helps, I tried to describe it without having a swatch!
There is a kitchen and bathroom in the apt, separate from the living space. I'll gladly share, more photos may be on the way.
An image of the penny trunk should be on it's way as well.
The ceiling is ~12 ft high
The lamp by the bed is from ikea
Barometer floor/reading lamp-nickel plated finish
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10148713
The bed linens are nothing special-all basic. A white bed skirt from ikea and a khaki colored duvet cover, over a down comforter. I went neutral with all the bed linens. Nothing matches, but I think it works because of all the neutral tones.
beautiful room, soft and comfortable looking. I just love the settee.
I have the same color pale blue grey in one of my rooms. Those that were asking about the color check on BM-Gray Cashmere I will tell you the swatch looks NOTHING like the actual color. I was looking for a soft grey and thinking this would be a soft grey to my surprise its a very pale blue gray it looked so beautiful I went with it.
we have to see more of this home!!! Please!!
the room itself might have great bones--and kudos to the owner for not removing the details--but it would help if we knew more about flow & function, including support areas & a floorplan! with the furniture drawn in place. many chopped-up brownstones exist, in every borough, but subsequent remodelings/remuddlings vary. as for the design? not seeing much.
I have a tiny Sugar Hill studio with a fireplace as well. The lack of wall space for storage units, and the lack of closet space is frustrating (I grew up in a 1600 square foot Harlem apt). Where do you stash away your winter clothes during the summer? Where do you keep your cleaning supplies? shoes? boots? I'm also an artist, and so I have my art supplies in two big plastic bins. I absolutely despise looking at these plastic bins every day, but I can't dispose of the bins. people suggest moving, but I need to stay close to family
love that settee, it looks perfect for a studio especially coupled with those poufs!
@aisha1908
Storage: I have one closet in the entire unit, but there was definitely a need for more storage. I have a wardrobe from ikea it has coats and shoes in there and more:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90154559
I use under bed storage for out of season clothes. I also have some space above by kitchen cabinets that I use for art supplies random stuff. Cleaning supplies are under the kitchen sink...except the broom is in my closet :-o!
May be put your art supplies is something that isn't see-thru, like wicker baskets or nice cloth ones. Then throw them onto a bookshelf or above some cabinets. That way it looks intentional and you don't have to see all the stuff in it!
The key for me is putting stuff in it's designated place keeping neat.
Lovely! I really like the satchel with the candles on it in the fireplace. So creative. I would love to see a photo of the penny-covered trunk you mentioned.
I love this place. Very inspirational for those of us who have small spaces, but lack the creativity shown here. I love your statement "I decided to surround myself with only things I really felt happy about having. I got rid of anything I didn't use often or need." This will present a huge challenge for me when I move into a smaller space, but I would love to embrace the idea.
Love the front room -- Makes me want to take a nap... then wake up & stare outside for while...
@aisha1908 and @IdaW
The Basket Lady has great baskets to help you store all your stuff, while also looking nice in the room. Checkout their storage basket selection and everything else http://www.basketlady.com/
I love this place! Where did you get those lovely ottomans?
Very pretty!
additional photos now?
I LOVE THIS APT. IT HAS MY NAME ALL OVER IT. LOVE THE CHARMING ARCHITECHTUAL DESIGN, THE BEDRM/SITTING ROOM IS LOVELY, ...CAN I MOVE IN WITH YOU??
that's architectual...
Better late than never with this comment? I also live in a studio in "Upstate Manhattan" (near the Cloisters - Ft. Tryon Park) and rented a very small storage unit at Manhattan Mini Storage (I'm sure there are others out there, too --I'm not a shill for them!) for stuff I don't need all the time but am not willing to part with. Simple - less expensive than renting a bigger apartment. As for living in outer boroughs? They are no longer any less expensive - believe me, I have looked. Unless you're willing to go WAY out in outer boroughs, commute over an hour or live in scary neighborhoods (mine is full of "excitement" so it's all relative), there are not a lot of bargains out there. And, if you are lucky enough to get a beautiful space like this one, who needs space? Quality, not quantity for me, please.
So romantic...Lovely.
i love the eritrea poster. very romantic space!