“The listing only had two grainy photos, but the huge windows and space were exactly what I was looking for. I didn’t even see it in person before signing the lease and moving across the country,” she explains of the 1650-square-foot studio apartment she’s been renting with with her fiancé, Henry, and their cat, Cleo.

“I was absolutely shocked at the size the first time I walked in; it’s just one huge room!” Alex continues. “I’m an artist and small business owner and my last apartment was so cramped; seeing all the space in here had my head spinning with possibilities. Having the room to spread out all my projects and just go for it has been incredibly liberating creatively. It used to be a shoe factory before it was converted to apartments, and I love all the exposed beams and pipes and how simple the design is; like a big blank box for me to fill up however I want.”

Despite being excited about the potential of the size of the apartment, she was at first a bit intimated by the condition of the apartment when they first moved in, as she describes the space as a “completely empty, all-gray, kinda crusty box. The weather was really dark and rainy the first few days and in my heart I was worried I’d put too much faith in my vision of this place, but then the sun came out and lit the whole place up and I’ve been obsessed ever since. The natural light and huge sun beams that stretch across the whole room are the best part of my day.”

While she claims to not have done any major renovations “beyond what a normal renter would do,” what she’s done — like painting murals, hanging some wallpaper, and installing peel-and-stick tiles in the kitchen — has created an incredibly vibrant space.

“I’ve definitely added my own little sparkle to the place,” she admits. “I love color, all the colors, and I love blending all my own personal influences. I grew up in the late ’90s and early 2000s and there’s a very obvious Lisa Frank and Y2K vibe, but I also love the ’60s and all things retro. I love history and art and and books and it’s fun juxtaposing a huge Greek mythology painting with a hot pink plastic blow-up chair and a lava lamp.”

“It’s been a lifelong dream to live in an art museum and I feel like I’m creating my own, my way,” she continues. “When people ask me the name of the aesthetic or style, I don’t know what to say because I don’t feel like there’s one specific one I’m looking to recreate, but I’ve been calling it Psychedelic Rococo and someone on TikTok called it Bubblegum Renaissance (which I love).”

• Entry Room — Behr “Bliss Blue”

• Pink Sofa — FB Marketplace
• Purple Couch — FB Marketplace
• End Table — FB Marketplace
• Cakes — Handmade 
• Ruffle Pillows — Handmade
• Arch Mirror — Wayfair “Greta Wood Flat Mirror”
• Pink Rugs (2) —  Amazon
• Coffee Table — Amazon
• Flower Lamps — Handmade

• Table — FB Marketplace
• Chairs — FB Marketplace
• Chandelier — Handmade
• Sideboard — Amazon
• Rug — Amazon

• Bed Frame — Amazon
• Green Rugs (2) — Amazon
• Bookshelf, Side Table, and Vanity — FB Marketplace
• Paintings — The Birth of Venus by Eduard Steinbrück, Cupid and Psyche by William-Adolph’s Bouguereau, The Dance of the Nymphs by Èdouard Bisson

• Wallpaper — Spoonflower

Thanks, Alex!

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

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