A Renter Describes Her 423-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio’s Style as ‘Preschool Chic’

published Aug 16, 2023

A Renter Describes Her 423-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio’s Style as ‘Preschool Chic’

published Aug 16, 2023
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Bedrooms
Square feet

423

Sq ft

423

Gina Fuchs grew up in New York City, and admits that “winning” the housing lottery had been her dream for many years. And she finally won with this space, a 423-square-foot Brooklyn studio apartment she moved into the day after Thanksgiving 2021. 

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“I had been living in another studio before on the Upper East Side; it was adorable and actually a bit bigger than this one, but full of house centipedes, which I didn’t love,” Fuchs explains. “I actually signed the lease for this apartment without seeing it (I saw a few other studios in the building), but ended up in this one and I couldn’t be happier. When I first saw it with no furniture, I panicked; I wasn’t even sure my full-sized bed alone would fit, but once I started filling it out I found it’s been the perfect size for me and I am so grateful to be here.”

Fuchs works in marketing at a non-profit during the day, but in her free time she takes on interior design projects and writes a newsletter called two-one-two interiors, where she covers the “best reasonably priced home-goods, interior design tips, and places to shop (that aren’t Amazon).” On TikTok, she continues to chat about home goods, but also showcases her cooking, too. 

As you can imagine, this home goods lover and self-proclaimed “Professional Chair Enthusiast” didn’t let living in a small studio apartment get in the way of creating a space that is reflective of who she is. 

“I’d like to define my personal home style as preschool chic,” Fuchs begins. “I love decorating, am very drawn to colors, and like to keep things that mean a lot to me. I’m surrounded by artwork made by my brother, tchotchkes my mom passed down to me, books from my grandparents, dried flowers from my boyfriend, photos of my father and me, and gifts from friends. I’m proud to display things that I care about all in one place.” 

“There are a few things in the space that pay homage to my city and my roots (unfortunately one of those things is Cuomo’s Pandemic Poster, which feels like an all too recent historical relic so I keep it up),” she continues. “My mom has the most beautiful home and she has definitely impacted my taste more than anything. A lot of stuff in my apartment has made its way directly from her apartment uptown to me.”

Resources

LIVING ROOM

  • Neva sofa in cotton linen Pacific pearl — Sixpenny
  • Butter pillow — Etsy
  • Three other pillows — from mom
  • Pazel coffee table — Home Depot
  • Poppin Stow 3-drawer file cabinet — MoMA Design Store
  • Neon tube LED — HAY
  • Story bookcase — Design Within Reach
  • MARKERAD chair — Virgil Abloh x IKEA 
  • Gilda rug — Tarta Gelatina
  • Two-way side table — MoMA Design Store
  • Exclusive tan two-tone Fonz candle — SSENSE
  • Little Stranger rug — Cold Picnic
  • West Elm Gemini five-drawer dresser — Kaiyo 
  • Virgil Abloh off-white Moet box — Stolen from the garbage of my old job
  • Circular mirror — Dobbin St. Co-op 
  • KARISMATISK collection room divider — IKEA

DINING ROOM

  • KYRRE stools — IKEA
  • Cesca dining chairs — Etsy
  • Giancarlo Piretti Plia folding chairs — Facebook Marketplace
  • SIMRISHAMN table lamp — IKEA
  • Smiley catchall — Kenn Fuchs
  • Poodle ceramic candle holder — Lola Katan
  • Custom fake cake — Pretty Shitty Cakes
  • Abstract 34 — Sharece Studios
  • Menu from Lady Bird Johnson’s Train — Framed by Framebridge
  • Premiere, 1957 by Stuart Davis — LACMA Custom Prints 
  • The Advantages Of Being A Woman Artist Tea Towel — Coming Soon (framed at Framebridge)
  • Ornate mirror — found on the street 
  • Frame T.V. — Samsung 

KITCHEN

BEDROOM

BATHROOM

  • Lookin’ Good showerhead — Sproos! 
  • Iconic Chairs shower curtain — Curves by Sean Brown
  • Waffle towels — Onsen
  • Organizing glasses — T.J. Maxx
  • Bathmat — Tekla 

Thanks Gina!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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