Name: Mark Fugarino
Location: Larchmont, New York

I am a graphic designer living in the NYC area. I moved from San Diego in 2000. Hard to believe I was living in a one-thousand-square-foot apartment for $550 a month — what a deal! Even if it was a light run down, at least it was really close to downtown.

Eight years ago my heart was set on purchasing an apartment. I knew I couldn't afford a closet in NYC, so I decided on Westchester. I looked at a few different neighborhoods here, but the main need was to be near to a train station so travel into the city would be easy.

Of course at the time, the market was hot; not so much these days. I looked at thirty-five apartments. A couple offers were met with multiple-bids I lost out to. Finally I found a place in Larchmont. The village was charming, and with a French school here some mornings at the train station gave the impression of living in a Parisian 'burb. Anyway, the apartment had much of my wish list checked. The condition of the apartment was not so hot. It had good bones though. But, I looked past the hideously stained blue shag carpet and the chipped paint.

I was willing to put in the sweat equity. I spent endless hours stripping the paint off of all the radiator covers and the door frames. New baseboards. Wood blinds throughout since I hate curtains of any kind. Fresh paint top-to-bottom. And the blue shag carpet — gone.

I almost fell completely into the mid-century trap. I love it. But it dawned on me after seeing so many photos of homes head-to-toe "themed" mid-century that it would be better just using key pieces. I like other styles as well: ultra-modern and even antiques. So I'm in the mix. Completely eclectic; which really can evolve over time without becoming dated. That's the goal, at least.

Thanks Mark!

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