A Brooklyn Rental Masters the Art of Blending Vintage Furnishings for a High-End Look

Name: Molly Robbins
Location: Bushwick — Brooklyn, New York
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 800 square feet
Time lived in: 2 months in current apt, 2 years in apartment building, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: This is a such a gem of an apartment in Bushwick! I originally lived in a studio across the hall and managed to swipe into this two-bed at an affordable rate in October. Now that I work from home, it was very important for me to have a separation of work life and home life in my apartment. I’ve thoroughly frequented all of the great antique shops in the neighborhood and have found some great anchoring pieces like a mid-century modern lamp, dainty vases, Lucite nesting side tables, and a statement marble coffee table that anchors the room. In addition to the antiques, the room is balanced with furniture from Room & Board, inherited items, IKEA, West Elm, and CB2.

There is no one color theme or style, which I love. I wanted to pick pieces based on what makes me happy and items that I think are timeless. I hate when rooms are all from a single store or collection. I knew the more textures involved, the easier it would be to incorporate different design styles. I didn’t want too boho, or too mid-century. I just wanted my style!

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Textural finds of old and new

What is your favorite room and why? Definitely the living room. In my studio, I could only fit a loveseat but really not much else. It was so fun to start from square one and use this room as my stay-at-home project! I frequently visited antique stores for inspiration and quick finds while also researching bigger pieces of furniture like my couch and chair from stores like Room & Board. There’s also so much wall space, so it was fun to try to find large scale art pieces to complete the room. I’ve never been a plant mom, but the greenery and light in this room also make me so happy and relaxed.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last two pieces I found for my home was this bar cart I found at a flea market while on a road trip to Portland, Maine. And this AWESOME Picasso print I found at another antique shop!

Any advice for creating a home you love? I am no expert, but I really tried to not get bogged down by one style. I focused on texture and a mixture of different colors and wood stains to allow for flexibility in decor.

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

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