Accent Walls in This NYC Apartment Saved It from Being a “Stark White Shoebox”

“There are a lot of un-sexy reasons we liked this apartment, which is probably the case with many people in NYC who don’t have an unlimited budget,” Kate admits. She even described the initial apartment as being “basically a stark white shoebox. Literally everything was white. Dated ugly kitchen and bathroom.” 

However, the bareness (or, more romantically, the blank canvas-ness) of the original apartment was what drew Kate in. She wanted to make her mark on the space, but thought it’d be difficult if, for example, the kitchen had already been modernized. There were other bonuses, though, like the natural light streaming throughout the home and the extra space provided by two bedrooms. 

What was a blank canvas is now a home full of color and texture — namely, the peel-and-stick wallpaper on the living room’s accent wall, the fringe chairs from Target, and the vintage-inspired temporary floor tiles in the kitchen. I had the chance to visit Kate’s home and, upon arrival, it was as if I left the bustling city below and entered a cozy, storied, and quiet cocoon in the sky.

• Coffee Table — Bed Bath & Beyond
• Sofa — Joybird
• Rug — Rugs USA
• Art — Desanio
• Curtains — Amazon
• Pillows — Amazon
• Pillow — Amazon
• Wallpaper — Amazon
• Bookshelf — Nathan James
• Chair — Target

• Backsplash — Amazon
• Cabinet Pulls — Amazon
• Floor Tiles — Amazon
• Basket — Amazon

• Bed — Crate&Barrel
• Basket — Target
• Nightstand — Wayfair
• Sheets — Amazon
• Wallpaper — Target

• Shower Curtain — West Elm
• Bath Mat — West Elm

Thanks, Kate!

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

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