A 450-Square-Foot Shared NYC Studio Apartment Features Dark Walls, Good Art, and Lots of Plants

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Credit: Clarice C. Hanna

Name: Clarice C. Hanna, husband, and cat
Location: Upper East Side — New York, Manhattan
Type of home: Studio Apartment
Size: 450 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live with my husband Michael and cat, “Little Girl.” The apartment is in a pre-war building, which in my opinion is the best to decorate! Our home is really cozy and filled with all things old. Most of the art on the walls were either my grandparents or my dad’s watercolor paintings and they all have a special meaning to us.

Credit: Clarice C. Hanna

My husband and I have traveled to Spain and Portugal in the last two years and I’m obsessed with Spanish/Portuguese pottery. We’ve filled the kitchen walls with colorful hand-painted plates. We both have a love of antiques and I feel this reflects in our home.

Credit: Clarice C. Hanna

What is your favorite room and why? The living room. We have large square window panes, which makes the small space feel bigger. Also, this part of the apartment has the most light coming in and you can sit and enjoy all the plants.

Credit: Clarice C. Hanna

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Eclectic and a source of inspiration.

Credit: Clarice C. Hanna

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? With Coronavirus, we have not been able to travel. I’ve been surfing the internet lately to collect more Spanish plates to hang in my kitchen. My go to place is eBay! I also follow on Instagram #lebrillo, which translates to earthenware bowl. It’s really my latest source of inspiration. It’s filled with antique bowls/plates and the colors are so yummy!

Credit: Clarice C. Hanna

Any advice for creating a home you love? If you have a piece(s) that means a lot to you—like family heirlooms or photos—base your source of inspiration on that. I think that’s a great place to start. If you don’t find something, start the tradition of a family heirloom!

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.