Christine Han, a Korean-American recipe developer and food blogger who founded the blog Dear Saturdays, says she and her partner were on the hunt for more space when they found this 1000-square-foot Williamsburg rental. “I was previously living in a one-bedroom apartment, and as my lease was coming to an end last year, I felt a tug to consider looking for a home with more space to help separate work vs. living since I anticipated spending more time at home with work becoming fully remote,” she writes.

“I wasn’t able to see the apartment in person before signing the lease, but I was drawn to its unique pre-war characteristics and saw that it had tons of potential. I loved that the apartment was a lofted space with high ceilings, exposed brick, big windows that filled the space with natural light, an open kitchen, and of course, a home office,” Christine explains. “It also fell right into my budget and checked off all of my boxes, so I pulled all the stops possible to secure it. The rental market was super competitive at the time since a ton of  people were moving back into the city so I dug for the direct phone number of the broker and sent over an email and a cover letter (as you would for a job) introducing myself and my rental/credit history. Luckily, I was selected!”

But while the apartment had a lot of elements in the “pros” column, there were a few cons -like mismatched IKEA cabinets, stained countertops, a dirty oven, and a broken sink — and the couple had to get creative to tackle a budget renovation, which Kitchn featured in a Renovation Diary post. The entire kitchen budget was impressively small (it all only cost about $2100) but the star of the entire space may just be the creative solution the couple came up with for the kitchen’s backsplash — a one-of-a-kind mosaic tile pattern that only cost them $137).

My Style: I’d say something like “Rustic Eclectic” sounds right to me?

Inspiration: I used to work in Paris and opted to stay in Airbnbs instead of using corporate housing. I was inspired by how the homes I stayed in told a rich story about the host’s character, unique personality, and style without saying a word or meeting them in person. I used the apartments I stayed in as a reference point for how I hoped to set up my apartment.

I also love shopping at consignment stores, flea markets, and Facebook Marketplace so whenever I find unique statement pieces, I use them as a focal point and build the space around it.

Favorite Element: I love that the big windows and tall ceilings fill the apartment with a gorgeous light in the morning. Whenever I wake up in the morning, I’m always in awe of it… it’s definitely serotonin-inducing.

Biggest Challenge: The building is over a century old, and because of that, there’s been challenges with the older fixtures and worn floors in the apartment. For dated fixtures like the window, toilet, sink, and original oven, I first asked the landlord to replace them. So far, they’ve changed out the windows — which is a score! For other things like the floors, I rolled up my sleeves and did a deep cleaning and ended up covering the floors with rugs and mats.

Proudest DIY: Hands down, renovating the kitchen — more details in the Kitchn story!

Biggest Indulgence: The sofa. I usually purchase everything second hand or discounted, but I had the hardest time picking out the right sofa and it was taking forever. I ended up splurging on the sofa out of mental exhaustion and for that, I think it was worth it to pay the full price.

Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? The kitchen doubles as a home kitchen and space to experiment/develop recipes for my blog.

What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? Kitchen:

• I love the dual oven range from KitchenAid that I scored on Facebook Marketplace. I can test two baking recipes at once, and the stovetop burners have multiple sizes that give more flexibility when cooking.
• I use these neat anti-fatigue foam mats from House of Noa that come in different patterns and colors ⁠— also great for covering up old floors.

Dishware:

• KwangJuYo ⁠— tableware made using traditional Korean pottery techniques

Cleaning:

• The Laundress scented vinegar & Santal 33 laundry detergent
• The Bissel Powerfresh steam mop for deep cleaning floors
• Method’s Yuzu dish soap ⁠— it’s effective and the scent is divine

Scents:

• I love Apotheke, a Brooklyn based candle company ⁠— specifically their charcoal reed diffuser. It’s a luxurious woody scent that I use year-round and associate it with the scent of my homes in Brooklyn.

Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have:

• Instead of storage containers and cabinets in the kitchen, I use a floating shelf, racks, and a pegboard to display my favorite spices, ingredients, cookware. It can look cluttered really quick, so it’s helpful to be deliberate on the essentials and Marie Kondo the rest.
• Yamazaki Home also has aesthetic racks for stacking and storing dishware ⁠— they’ve been a lifesaver for maximizing limited cabinet space

Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice?

• Find a theme, memory, or experience that is personal to you and use it as a starting point to draw references/inspiration from. Pinterest’s algorithm is great at suggesting adjacent references to build up a mood board.
• Facebook Marketplace for saving money and buying secondhand
• Visit consignment shops and open markets in new cities / countries

• Kitchen Cabinets — Valspar “Cactus Shadow”

• Marble Console — @evocativegoods
• Shoe Rack — @getopenspaces
• Wood bench — @jimmytafels
• Rug — @avidaportuguesa
• White Storage Rack — IKEA

• Omni Rug — Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
• Aristocrat Lamp — CB2
• Wood Bench — @jimmytafels
• Cue Arm Chair — CB2
• Hand Chair — Kingston Consignments

• Chapman Dining Table — Pottery Barn
• Hex Tall Cement Pedestal Table — CB2
• Astrid Capiz Chandelier — Pottery Barn
• Chairs — Facebook Marketplace

• Double Oven Range — KitchenAid
• Spice Jars — Amazon
• Glass Jars — Food52
• Brabantia Bo Waste Bin — West Elm
• Nama Standing Mats — House of Noa
• Steel and Wood Plate Holder — Yamazaki Home

Thanks Christine!

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

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