A Renter Started With Only Three Furniture Pieces When She Moved into This Apartment
Name: Katie Voelz and fiancé, Kyler
Location: Atlantic Beach, Florida
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 713 square feet
Years lived in: 8 months, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: After graduating from college and getting engaged, Kyler and I rented a small apartment in Atlantic Beach, Florida, while we were looking for a home to purchase. I had just graduated with my interior design degree but had never been able to but my skills to use in a personal setting. The only things we started with were the large gold mirror above the sofa — which I bought at my first job working at an auction house — the blue velvet sofa my mom had gotten me a few years prior for college, and a mattress.
With a very tight budget, we either had to get creative and make what we wanted or we shopped from local antique and thrift stores! My dad and Kyler were not so pleased when I would bring them drawings and dimensions for a new project. Because the apartment is so small and we wanted to maximize the seating for when we entertained, I drew up designs and selected wood for the dining table and the coffee table. They aren’t the most skillful woodworkers, but I will treasure these pieces and the memories that came with the process forever. I added fringe to the sofa and sewed the curtains myself to save some money. Every item has a backstory of how it was discovered or made, and that is how I feel like everyone’s home should be.
My personality shines through every ounce of this apartment. I love classical and timeless elements such as the Greek key, gold leaf mirrors, velvet, natural materials, and column capitals. I tend to dress the same way I design. If I wouldn’t wear it, why would I want to live in it? I also try to understand colors, shapes, and proportions and how they play a part in my emotions. The color palette in this apartment relaxes me while also providing enough visual interest to stimulate my brain and not let my mind become too bored.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Classic, timeless, eclectic
What is your favorite room and why? The living room is definitely my favorite. A gold mirror and velvet tassel sofa… what’s not to love there?
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? We didn’t purchase a whole lot online, but I did find some really great pillows on Etsy!
Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t just buy something to fill a space. Be patient, and wait for the perfect thing. It will feel much more special if you stumble upon it or even make it yourself! Also, hone in on a style you love. Scroll through Pinterest, and pin all the things you love. I bet there will be a pattern!
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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