Name: Tyler Marcum & Julie Kotarides
Location: Astoria, Queens NYC
Size: 1,000 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years
These digs have received a lot of attention — twice before on Apartment Therapy and also on HGTV. A spirited pair of actors and best friends live here and have seen the home evolve through many years. I shared a fun afternoon with consummate hosts Tyler and Jules drinking good wine and dancing to songs with questionable lyrics.
There's a very good reason why so many people are interested in this pad. It's thoroughly adorable and has always been — throughout all its transitions. Before the calmer gray, white, yellow, and blue palette entered the picture, the place was featured as a finalist in our Second Annual Fall Colors Contest as Tyler's Color Fueling Station. You can also see how much the home has changed in this segment from Small Space, Big Style. Check out these links to get a sense of before and after.
We'll follow up with Tyler and Jules in the future to see what new tricks (and dance moves) they pull out. But for now, the more sophisticated feeling is a change that I think is for the better. A bold, modern foundation supports quirky, personal, and colorful details scattered about. Now if only we could work on their taste in music…
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Tyler – rustic modern, Julie – shabby chic
Inspiration: Harmony. We wanted a place that would feel cozier yet still be able to keep up with our sometimes-neurotic lives.
Favorite Element: A weathered wood window frame that my father made into a mirror.
Biggest Challenge: Arranging the furniture in a way that feels comfortable. We have many obstacles (heater vents, heater poles, and vinyl flooring in the kitchen that won't be going anywhere).
What Friends Say: They think we are apartment obsessed! Julie and I are always moving and changing the space.
Biggest Embarrassment: Our kitchen floor. We have looked at putting IKEA white wood paneling in the kitchen but with it being such a laborious task (and the fact that we are renting!) we decided against it.
Proudest DIY: The IKEA bookshelf-turned-bar has made it through our transition phase and still continues to be my favorite DIY.
Biggest Indulgence: Pillows and more pillows. I think we have around five designer pillows in our closet that we switch out from time to time. Because we do this so often, we have been buying covers and keeping the same cushion inserts. Places like CB2 sell just the pillow cover and this takes about $10 off the retail cost.
Best Advice: Don’t always go with your gut instinct. While I feel like this rings true to a lot of real life situations, I feel that sometimes a space needs time for you to adjust and vice-a-versa.
Resources: Apartment Therapy, Etsy, Design*Sponge, Anthropologie store windows, and the sights and sounds of New York City
Floors: hardwood, vinyl (came with apartment)
Entryway: framed picture from Z Gallerie, chandelier from IKEA
Kitchen: appliances (most came with apartment), dish accessories by DwellStudio for Target
Living Room: sofa from Macy's, tealight chandelier from Illuminations, coffee table and bookshelf-turned-bar from IKEA, dining table from EQ3, bookshelf from West Elm
Ty's Bedroom: desk, bed, and duvet from West Elm, sheets from EQ3, wallpaper from Graham & Brown, pillows from DwellStudio and Inhabit
Julie's Bedroom: duvet cover from DwellStudio for Target, sheets from Martha Stewart, rug from Anthropologie, furniture from IKEA
Bathroom: shower curtain from Anthropologie
Thanks Tyler and Jules!
Images: Annie Werbler
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
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Good example of using "design for the masses" staples without looking like a showroom. These folks make me think: "hey I'd like to befriend those nutballs! They seem like a good time!"
Source question: Where is the wood counter in the kitchen from (the one with two drawers that the mixer sits on)?
I have that same beautiful, Ice Blue Kitchenaid Mixer. Loving the teals throughout your place.
looks like they've made the most of their small space amd most importantly enjoyed the process and living there!
llbillz, it looks like ikea:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80035920
i absolutely love the wall color in Jules' room. Does anyone know what color that is? I didn't see it mentioned in the article anywhere.
Nice use of a Jessica Hische dropcap =)
Where is the blue jar set above the knives from? Those are adorable!
One of my favorite tours ever! Maybe because I could easily see nearly everything in your apartment fitting quite nicely into my own place. ;) Great job, guys! You're as adorable as your home.
The blue jars are from Martha Stewart Macy's collection. And Jules' wall color is Benjamin Moore ...not sure on the color...Jules is gonna look through the closet to find the paint can for you.
I love the space. Would love to know what grey you used. It's delicious!
I don't get it. Why has this attracted so much attention? Because their space is cool? Or because they are actors who are hustling to make a dime?
Seems like just a normal space to me. I don't understand what's so remarkable about it!
Love ALL the paint colors.
Can you let me know color in kitchen and bathroom?
I am thinking of Arbor Vine by Freshaire for either but would still like options!
Cogey88.... I totally agree with you. If they were my friends and I walked into their place, i'd for sure think it was cute and all... but 3 times on AT & on HGTV ? Maybe i'm missing something, but it looks like a glorified CB2 add. Agian, lovely .... buuuut really ???
not once, but twice, this article mentioned their taste in music...yet never bothered to reveal what it is they ctually listen to. Big writing pet peeve :(
*actually (ooops )
i think they were on Small Space, Big Style before. Looks like they're changed a few things - like having a dining table!
what a waste to decorate it 3 times! This one is ok but I like the previous ones more.
I was looking at the photo tour and thinking how unbelievably the bones of this apartment looked like mine. Then I saw that they live in Astoria too! Many of the same issues, I found this apt very inspiring, would love to know the color of paint in Jules' room.
The song Jules and I were jamming out to was Bedrock, the paint color in the kitchen is Cornhusk from Behr, and the negative attitudes are from Cogey88 and KylieD
;)
abc123,
I think the song is Lil Wayne "Bed Rock" featuring Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga, Jae Millz & Lloyd.
I mean it's a Lil Wayne song; either you are into that type of thing or not. Naming a house tour after it, though, does not make much sense.
-Victoria
Anyway, I really like the corked beaker thing in the kitchen and I was wondering if I could know where y'all got that from.
I think the place looks great! It inspires me to redo my apartment.
Someone above said you guys are "actors hustling to make a dime". I didn't realize you make money by doing this? If that is the case maybe more people will post on here.
The spice rack in the kitchen was made from test tubes and a test tube rack. I wanted the one from Dean&Deluca but was unwilling to dish out the $150. Indigo Industries sells a kit to make your own at:
http://www.indigo.com/science-supplies/gph-science-supply/test-tube-rack-33770.html
Then I just printed label and stuck them on the cork stoppers!
Ty
To me this does not look at all like a CB2 or IKEA ad. Those ads are sterile - this place looks lived-in. I like how you have incorporated plenty of plants - especially snake plants that do well with low light - into the space. I was wondering if that CB2 lamp shown in your bedroom looks decent "in real life" and I am convinced from your photos that it does :)
Also propping the LACK shelf onto legs to make a credenza was a very cool idea. I think outfitting it with doors might make it a bit less cluttered. A lot of IKEA furniture would look a lot better just adding simple touches like legs, different hardware, etc.
I dunno - I think it's a great place, it looks fun and inviting. Though I must say that while I like the colorful "before," I really like the "after."
And thanks for posting where you got the test tube spice rack - really like that idea!
I love this place and am so glad we got to see the house tour. Love the colors, love the decor, love it all. I'd also like to know the paint colors -- especially the kitchen yellow and living room grey/brown.
Thanks for sharing!!
paint colors please!!! i desperately want that gray in the living room
I'm in love with those placemats! Does anyone know where they are from? Please?
wow, they drink wine! cool!
such a fun space! info on the paint colours, please!
Will have to get back to you on the paint colors! Check back tomorrow!
Cute place, great colors, adorable couple.
<3
The whole place looks like an Ikea walkthrough....
Where did you get the little drawers by the white desk? I am looking for something exactly like that! Any info would be great.
The black and white comforter set looks identical to the black and white shower curtains that I got at Target, that I am using a dining room curtains.
If so, great use of it!
So cute & cool! I loved your table accents, they had a bit of whimsey and the DIY bar great idea!
a cute starter rental - very trendy colors- safe decor .
I love this apartment! I could easily see myself decorating in a similar way. I love the paint color in Jules' bedroom, I can't wait to find out what it is!
i think this is great. as a fellow young person who does not make enough money to be able to purchase an apartment's worth of eames furniture, i can appreciate this post. good on you, Jules and Tyler (and AT) for featuring an accessible space that reflects a realistic budget.
Love the place. How cute is Tyler>
some good ideas here but can't say i love it. highlight for sure are the paint colors - bravo! would like to disassemble the 3 little blocks with the 3 little candles above the bed, not a good look.
I love the shower curtain! Where did you guys get it?
Am obsessed with the deep turquoise of the bedroom mixed with black and white bedding--just the inspiration I need. Thanks!
This is a true reflection of a home! it is warm and cosy...but i must agree with mellow yelloe design those blocks must go! otherwise the rest of the house is perfect for two and just reflects the perfect colours and is very inspiring! well done folks!
I like the mirror on the dining area, I love the way it looks on the grey wall with the dining table. Where did you get it?
I am also loving that turquoise bedroom and the carpet and the black and white bedding etc...
Love your place! And yes, Tyler is a cutie :)
ooh and i love the shelf-turned-bar ikea hack. any tips on how to recreate?
It's sweet decorated. I really love the amount of color in the walls. I think you should think again about changing the kitchen floor :)
Beautiful interiors! The bedroom walls are the same color as our living room - one of my all-time-favorites!
New, cooler colors suit the place much better I think! Even though it is obvious that you guys are having fun playing with colors and styles, this apartment looks like a HOME, and that is what is most charming about it. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, please tell me, where did the white metal headboard/footboard come from?
LOVE it!! questions - where did you get the spice rack - test tubes? What color is the kitchen paint? Jules's BR paint? The dining room paint? Just amazing.
Is the apartment 1000 SF or 500? It says that it's 500 on the episode of Small Space Big Style. Here it says it's 1000. Which does make a difference because 1000 really isn't that small.
Gorgeous colors, but I especially love the teal color in Jules' bedroom and the bright yellow in the kitchen.
I am LOVING this apartment. Beautiful, cute, cozy. Love it. Awesome job.
i think it's a cute place for the size and i'm sure they're on a budget. i do like ty's bedding though. it looks very put together, but not a "set".
Beautiful rooms, another request for paint colors!
Another request for the paint color in Jules room! Please!
Love it!
Hey all! Thanks for the comments!! I will check Benjamin Moore today and get back to you all on what the exact paint colors are! Those of you who commented that it is decoration on a budget, you were absolutely right! Point is, you can still have a fun, cozy place that makes you happy to come home to, without spending a fortune (you gotta save the coins during this economy!) With that being said haha, the bed frame is from IKEA.
the turquoise color in jules' room is benjamin moore BLUE SPA.
Dear Tyler and Jules, where did you get your blue canisters? I need blue or red ones. All I have are white ones, snore.
The canisters are part of the Marta Stewart Collection at Macys!
i'm wondering the same as bemyescape... looking at this place there's no way it can be 500 sqft. my space is just under 500 and there is no way i'd ever have a bedroom the size of one of theirs, let alone two, and still fit two couches in.
while i think the new arrangement and colours are great, definitely a more sophisticated look and likely more in tune with them now vs then (i think the episode was filmed in '05?), it's very misleading of small space big style to say it was 500 sqft.
boring...
I know I asked about the bedframe already, but I just wanted to clarify. I was asking about the bedframe that appears to be metal, the one on the bed with the black and white linens. Is that from Ikea? Also, what size is the bed? I have a queen and am looking for a vintagey looking bedframe that won't break the bank, and I am not having much success.
Thanks!
Clean and CUTE! Try Stick & Go tiles.. if you've lived there for 5 years, you'll be there at least another... they're cheap, available at Home Depot or order online and look/clean-up great.
I would love to know where the white bedside table with the plant on it is from. Thanks!
Hey, I have that same bird and grapefruit sugar bowl! Love it. Cute place, too :)
yuck. I cannot believe how many people love this. Maybe because it's COMPLETELY accessible...in a bad way. Hate the white on white on white furniture, overly simple color scheme, and beyond basic and big box EVERYTHING. Where's the gorgeous mix of vintage, thrift, hand-me-down, and curbside (with a little Barcelona chair here and there) AT is known for? Also, get out of the photo, actors. Maybe I shouldn't have watched the HGTV clip before viewing the house tour. Baaad taste in my mouth. I know it's just my opinion but...yuck.
Someone is realllly sipping on the hatorade. Yikes!
What is the color in the living/ dinning room?
THREE THINGS would SAVE this apartment from looking (as Skylark1992 puts it) "like Urban Outfitter and IKEA catalogs exploded on their walls":
1. MORE SOPHISTICATED & ADVENTUROUS TEXTILES & PATTERNS. The bedding, upholstery & shower curtain represent the MOST GENERIC & YES, JUVENILE PATTERNS we see at K-MART, WalMart, Target, et al. Skylark is too generous in suggesting this apartment represents an Urban Outfitter aesthetic. UO carries wonderful textiles which would IMPROVE this interior. However, I wouldn't stop at UO ... Rather, I would recommend getting more adventurous with authentic VINTAGE textiles: Consider some crocheted pieces, maybe a boldly textured afghan, or a wild quilt.
2. MORE VINTAGE (or NEW & ADVENTUROUS) PIECES IN GENERAL!!! The green glass candle holders above the bed shed much light on this apartment's problem: Jules & Tyler have a fantastic eye for color & arrangement -- and they're true to their aesthetic, but their choices lack adventure & sophistication. Shame on you for emphasizing those boring little green glass candle holders! You could have done much better, and you KNOW it. Also, in a space where the Favorite Element is a "weathered wood window frame ... made into a mirror", the photo frames should show more originality. Again, looks like we stopped by Target really fast to pick up some frames ...
3. If "Shabby Chic" lacks a grunge heart, it FAILS every time. Jules & Tyler need to GET OVER THEIR BIGGEST EMBARRASSMENT & celebrate their funky kitchen floor. We knew this was a rental; you didn't have to apologize for it. Instead, why don't you sell those boring dining chairs at a good consignment place &/or trade them in for a glam set of vynil-upholstered kitchenette chairs, with maybe a Spirit of '76 pattern on them? And don't accuse me of suggesting that you go all retro.
You're very talented & you've arranged everything beautifully. Very successful use of bold colors. You do NOT lack sophistication. The apartment does NOT look juvenile.
The trouble is that BOLD COLORS ALONE DO NOT SHOW ORIGINALITY OR ADVENTURE. Rather, bold colors have a way of requiring originality & adventure from the patterns & furnishings they highlight.
I really appreciate all of the positive comments!! To the people writing negative posts: Alexette...that was a pretty offensive posting. I would love to see what your apt looks like...I'm sure it would put a bad taste in my mouth, as well. We are actors, and I'm certainly not going to apologize for our personality and livelyhood. None the less, we decorate for ourselves...not to "prove" anything to any of you. If you find it generic, or juvenile (Coarsetalk), then I'm proud to call it that. I love my home, I love the colors we chose. We are not looking to be the most impressive, or most creative, or most vintage-chic (or retro-chic blah). Beyond all, we are NOT looking for suggestions on how to change the place we love. I apologize that you thought we were open to your suggestions. Your place must just be the most retro chic ever. Congratulations.
Julie, all I want to know is where the while bedside table I really need for my apartment is from! Thanks.
Hey Sherriann! I will ask Tyler, it's the one in his bedroom, yes?
I also want to clarify one last thing. We were asked to pose in the pictures. It's not something we asked to do to for exposure or anything, whatever that means. When we did the HGTV episode 5 years ago, they fed us most of the things to say and really wanted us to emphasize what our profession was. We went along with what they wanted. It was by no means any kind of 'break' on our minds. We just love to decorate for fun and entertain our friends...it has nothing to do with singing and dancing on stage in a musical. We were fresh out of school and simply excited to share our space. Further more, there is no pay involved, with HGTV or AT. As far as the comments about our age...I think you should be able to have fun and express yourself whether you are in your mid-twenties or 80. Live a little, and enjoy life!
Hi Julie, yes the ones in Tyler's bedroom...thanks!
Skylark1992-
I really appreciate your recent posting! I loved reading that you painted your Dad's sitting room in Blue Spa! You are spot on, it is calming but definitely stimulates my creativity as well. And of course, I loved learning that Bella's room in Twilight was decorated with Blue Spa. Loved the books, hated the movie, LOVE that her bedroom was Blue Spa.
I hope you are having a happy holiday as well! I really appreciated your sweet words.
Take care,
Jules