My first apartment was a pre-war studio in Astoria, Queens. Without getting too gushy about it, having my very own apartment for the first time had an incredible effect on me. It proved that I could take care of myself and it allowed me to create a restful, nurturing rock in the often challenging, mostly struggling daily life in beloved New York City.
I had mice, the occasional cockroach, laundry in a dark old basement 7 flights down, and very little space. The entire apartment was around 300 square feet, but for $825 a month in 2004, that was all the apartment I could afford.
And all I needed.
I was sold on the building's age and architectural details, the closeness to the subway (which I didn't realize you could hear from the window), the hardwood floors, the closet space, and the pretty tile in the bathroom.
I painted the front entrance a pale pink and hung pictures over the unsightly electrical box. I kept my bed on the floor (which freaked me out when there were mice) to keep the profile of the space low and open, and opted to use only two out of the three antique dressers in my collection.
In the pantry I kept kitchen items, books, and extra art — or cards I would collect from gallery shows. I placed a small vintage kitchen table just beyond my bed and was lucky to find a round antique sofa on a nearby street corner that fit in the kitchen to offer a seat for guests. It didn't matter that one leg was broken; I propped that side up on a stack of books.
I painted the long wall in the kitchen/living/dining/bedroom a pale yellow green, a milky stem green in the kitchen nook, and a pale turquoise blue in the bathroom. I still love the combination of turquoise, greens, yellows and pinks and use those colors throughout my house today.
It was a tiny space, sure, and completed on a shoestring budget but everything in it was and is special to me and makes me smile.
Do you remember your first apartment with fondness?
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I had a very similar apartment to yours, only in Malden, MA and a teeny bit bigger because the kitchen was a separate room. I also had the benefit of one huge long closet and three small foyer closers. Studios, though small, are indeed independence affirming! My favorite memories of that apartment include:
- The time a squirrel came in off the fire escape and helped himself to leftover fruit from the wine party I hosted the night before. He broke a glass, the jerk!
- Meeting a guy on jury duty who had lived in the same exact apartment a few years prior with his wife. Small world!
My first non-shared apartment was a coach house above the garage of a funeral parlor. It housed the usual vehicles---a hearse, the flower car, and a limo.
Funny, though, it didn't creep me out at all.
I just moved into a similar studio last Sunday. A 442 sq ft 1932 spanish colonial revival in Santa Ana, CA near the Artist District. It is my first place and I feel so independent!
What a lovely space! I tear up sometimes when I think about my 700 sq ft, 4th floor, Victorian walk-up. I'm so glad my first apartment had so much character, including raccoons living in the walls (!), gorgeous hardwood floors, amazingly high ceilings, dramatic archways, etc., etc. I'm so nostalgic for that place!
Someone left THAT couch on the curb? They're crazy! And you're lucky! Gorgeous.
My first apartment was in an 80's complex in Sacramento, CA, in the Pocket neighborhood. It had high ceilings and got lots of sun and I loved it at first sight. Sadly, I only lived there for three months before getting sent all over the place for work and only really being there on weekends. Shortly after my traveling stopped, I moved. *sigh* It is still a fond memory, though. I miss it.
So cute, Tanya!
Don't apologize -- you weren't anywhere near "gushy". You could have gone a little further with that thought. It's beautiful.
Your apartment is gorgeous, too. I've been working to achieve the same mood/style/look/feel -- I don't know what word to use -- and I am in awe of what you accomplished. Brava.
Sounds like you're no longer in that apartment. What does your current place look like?
Anyone else want AT to feature Ms. Lacourse's current home? I do!!!
Wonderful entry, Tanya! Not sure why it's so empowering to take a flawed space and make it all it can be. But it is!
My first solo apartment was a junior one-bedroom basement that I painted purple with white mouldings. I loved it -- even though I wish I'd had a couch like that one!
My first apartment all on my own was a little studio around 400 sf or so. The building was built on a hill, and the entrance to my place was kind of down in a basement looking area with no natural light, but I had a large window and a patio that opened onto a grassy area on the other side of the hill, so the unit itself was filled with lots of light. The layout of that entry always made my mom nervous, but it never bothered me. Maybe it was just because I was young and stupid, but I still have fond memories.
my first non-shared apartment was an extra large studio in Long Beach, CA right on Ocean Blvd!. It was in a Spanish building for $700 a month and it was packed with charm and tons of light. I painted the living space a warm apricot--after several other attempts in red and lavendar-- and paired it with sage green and mustard yellow. It was my little beach haven and I loved it!! I moved away for work four years later and I remembering crying when I moved out knowing that I would never have an apartment like this one. It was my first love! For years, i have bounced around from apartment to apartment looking for the same kind of feeling, but have yet to feel that homey feeling again. Fingers crossed that I can create that again!
I've just entered the realm of "first non-shared apartments" a couple of weeks ago and I love it! Thought it was nice having roommates for the sake of company, I love that I don't have to consult anyone about decorating or arranging furniture. It's totally my space. By the way, love your couch!
Nice to see apartments like these that don't look "staged". This is how majority of mortal people like us live -- clutter, clash of styles, ho-hum furnitures.
It's beautiful and well put together! I do agree that it doesn't look staged, just loverly!
OMG, I am insanely jealous of mjs7640! I would have killed to have such an awesome first apartment! (pun intended)
My first place was a 620 sq ft duplex for $395/month. It was awesome and the perfect amount of space for me. It had a laundry room with tons of storage. It had tons of windows so I always had the perfect amount of light. I also had a carport so I never had to scrape ice! I had decor that made sense and a super kitschy bathroom. It was so perfect for me. Then I met my future husband and he moved me to the ghetto, another ghetto, and finally the suburbs. I've never loved another place quite like I loved that first one.
I don't get it. In a 300 sq ft apt they still manage to include a tub. Why is it that I could only find older/non-new development 1 bedroom apts in central florida with stalls?
Personal complaints aside, this apartment is beautiful. I would be nostalgic for it too. My first apartment by myself was nothing special. It was a huge 600+ sq ft 1 bedroom apt in a crappy apt complex. I'm still in the same apt complex (different apartment), but learning to work with the plainness.
Yeah...I'm 34 and have two kids, and your first apartment was way better than the setup I have going on now.
LOL. I'm not as design-inclined as the rest of AT's readers, it seems. Sheesh, I have a lot of work to do.
This is a lovely, lovely post.
My first me-only apartment was a little ugly cinderblock apartment on the ground floor of a medium sized set of apartments. It was in the corner of the L shaped block, so it was dark and damp for all but a few hours of the afternoon, there was no private outside, and I wasn't allowed to change the depressing white paint or the ugly grey carpet. And I loved it. I had a shiny green vinyl couch that someone had donated, and a crochety twin tub washing machine, and my teeny sinle bed just fitted in the smaller bedroom. But it had ceiling height bookshelves in the bigger bedroom, and a breakfast bar to die for, and it was MINE. All for me. I lined up my collection of coloured glass things along the cramped kitchen window, and they glowed as the sun set. And it was (right on the edge of) a really lovely posh neighbourhood, so there were parks and cafes everywhere.
MAN. Memory lane. I can still smell it, if I think about it (that's not creepy, right?).
I also have insanely fond memories of my next apartment that I had to myself, that was a lot nicer. But there's just something about that first space of your own. I remember being so pleased when I got the keys. And then developing my single-person's fear of getting locked out. Luckily the land agent was right accross the road!
What a beautiful place, and what a beautiful job you did on it. No wonder you were sad to leave - but going on these pictures I'd say your current place is amazing too.
I can see every ounce of love you put into this. Thanks for a really nice post. It brought back memories of so many firsts--first apt. in the city (mine was Chicago), first job in the city... it was all so exciting!
Flensted mobile in the pantry? Stylish!!! ;)
My very first apartment was a two room efficiency - had a shower in the bedroom, but the lou was shared and down the hall. I believe the rent was $135/month in Socorro, NM in 1986 or so. The first apartment I thought of decorating was in grad school. It was a garden level apartment with nice light in the kitchen and knotty pine in the living room. It was pretty bare bones. The bedroom was a cave - good for sleeping in!
I had some killer parties in that pad.