A 529-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio Was Dated — Now It Feels Like a Desert-Inspired Retreat

“We decided we might be interested in buying a studio because, believe it or not, the mortgage rates were seeming more affordable than renting at the time,” Jordan begins. “We put together a ‘must-have’ list — laundry in building, affordability, historical charm, etc. This apartment was the first one we saw; it certainly wasn’t ‘love at first sight.’”

That feeling only intensified during the couple’s final walkthrough, when Jordan noticed something she hadn’t spotted before: a “hideous beige intercom.”

“I thought, oh god, no, now I own this unusable, hideous beige intercom. But of course, those feelings subsided quickly once we got into the space and made it our own — and once my dad, who is very handy, removed the intercom,” Jordan assures.

Before attempting to tackle updating the studio apartment, located in a building from around 1938, they heard from many people that the process would both take longer and cost more than they were expecting. “[B]oth turned out to be true,” Jordan admits.

Although the small space came with many charming architectural features, like arched doorways, parquet floors, and built-in shelves, Jordan says the entire unit needed some love. “[T]here were years of paint caked on the windowsills and radiators, a kitchen that was functional but not really our style, a stove that didn’t actually fit in its space, one doorway that was square vs. arched, etc.”

The couple completely redid the kitchen, using a contractor they hired through Block to help them finish the space, which now features a stunning Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble countertop and backsplash.

“We learned a lot throughout — like the process of purchasing a slab from a stone yard; what an education! I have some notes! But in the end, we’re glad it turned out how it did, even if we spent thousands more than we were expecting on a really beautiful piece of marble,” Jordan writes.

The color inspiration for the apartment’s palette came from a special landscape: Jordan travels “to and throughout the Southwest every year with my mom, and it’s become a place of real happiness for me, so I have a lot of things I’ve collected over time from that part of the world. I want it to feel like we’re in the desert while still ensuring it makes sense in NYC.” 

• Walls — Benjamin Moore “Simply White”
• Doors, Kitchen Cabinets — Magnolia “Blanched”
• Bathroom Walls — Benjamin Moore 

• Desk — Poly & Bark
• Chair — Stickley, Walnut Grove

• Sofa — Sixpenny

• Kitchen Ceiling Lights — Anthropologie
• Banquette Pillows — Amazon
• Kilim Pillows — Etsy
• Glasses — Dartbrook Rustic Goods
• Pitcher — Eastfork
• Marble — Calacatta Macchia Vecchia
• Table — Design Within Reach
• Chairs — Article

• Shower Curtain — Schoolhouse 
• Stump — Dartbrook Rustic Goods 
• Mirror — West Elm 

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