New Yorkers Ditched Traditional Furniture and Built a Living Room Under the Bed
Actor and songwriter Jerusha Cavazos Brooks, who has a huge artistic portfolio, and husband Ian Cavazos Brooks, who is one of the humblest makers I’ve ever met, aren’t strangers to small living. In fact, studio apartments are all the couple has ever shared, which has made them extra communicative and practical.
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Six months ago, when looking for a new place to rent, Jerusha and Ian fell in love with a building near the East River in Brooklyn. While browsing a rental website, they discovered an available unit — they applied immediately. But after not hearing back by the next day, they decided to move the needle.
“The next day, we showed up at the building and tried to find anyone who could help us get a tour,” Jerusha explains. “As luck would have it, there was an open house for a different unit happening that day. We met the [agent] hosting it, who then connected us with the agent for the studio. Things moved pretty quickly from there.”
The AHA moment came when the original broker showed them around the first unit they toured and boasted about the $11,000 designer-made lofted bed in the space. Jersusha and Ian quietly looked at each other and smiled. They knew, from their former apartment, that they could do it for around $600.
What makes the couple’s studio apartment so livable is the king-size lofted bed, which stands 8-feet tall and has a couch and dining area underneath (plus it acts as storage). It features a table that moves up and down to serve as either a dining or coffee table, and string lights that make it feel so cozy. The best part? Ian built it all himself, even some parts in the apartment itself.
Another bonus of the apartment? The airy balcony. “Having outdoor space in the city does wonders for mental health and gives us a real sense of separate areas to relax and spend time in,” Jersusha says.
While the couple has done so much to their apartment, Jerusha admits that designing it will always be an ongoing adventure — and they’re excited about it.
Resources
LIVING ROOM
- Sofa — Custom-built, Home Depot for the wood.
- Pillow — FERN in London
DINING ROOM
- Custom build – The Home Depot for the wood
BEDROOM
- Custom build — The Home Depot for the wood
Thanks, Jerusha and Ian!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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