Everyone Told Him Not to Put His Bed in the Middle of This 300-Square-Foot Studio — He Did It Anyway

Cullen Ormond
Cullen OrmondHouse Tours Editor
Cullen Ormond is a writer based in New York City. When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up with a book (always open for recommendations, too!) or pushing her rescue pug, Peanut, in a stroller. In her dream apartment, there’ll be a conversation pit and lots of framed,…read more
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Bedrooms
Square feet

300

Sq ft

300

After going through a breakup, Zach Mauer needed another place for he and his cat, Bentley, to live. That place would eventually be a 300-square-foot studio apartment in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. It was affordable, had so much potential, and was unlisted (he found it through someone on Craigslist), so he immediately applied. 

Credit: Kiritin

“I love my neighbors, and since my unit is in the back of the building, it’s incredibly quiet and peaceful,” Zach says of the rental apartment he’s lived in for 10 months. “This is my first time living in Chelsea, and I’m so happy (and grateful) to be able to call it home.” 

Credit: Kiritin

Although when he first toured the apartment he said it looked “boring, white, and plain,” that wouldn’t be the case for long. While he hasn’t done any major renovations, he added a gorgeous terracotta-colored peel-and-stick tile to his kitchen backsplash, painted an accent wall using Benjamin Moore’s “Yellow Green,” and created the most unique canopy installation above his bed. 

Credit: Kiritin

Zach now considers his place “warm, cozy, cluttered,” and his favorite feature is looking out the expansive window on the accent wall that frames a lush, green tree. This space is unapologetically Zach, and he’s following his own rules when designing. 

Credit: Kiritin

“I wanted this space to function as a place of rest and relaxation, which is why I put the couch over by the window, and made the bed the anchor for the apartment,” he shares. 

Resources

Credit: Kiritin

PAINT & COLORS

Credit: Kiritin

KITCHEN

Thanks, Zach!

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