West Village

This $5500-a-month West Village rental apartment of herbalist and floral designer Emily Swarts is only 550 square feet, but feels a lot larger, thanks to it being spread across three floors.

"Every corner of the apartment has something tucked under or inside it to reduce clutter and free up visual space," Sarah shares.

Actor Charles Busch believes a home is a visual autobiography. And his NYC apartment's style is best summed up as: 19th century Parisian bordello mixed with the Golden Age Hollywood.

There’s not a TV in sight, a Murphy bed turns the living room into a guest room, there’s a skylight over the bathtub, and the kitchen is basically a bar.

The apartment needed a gut renovation.

The renter even teaches yoga classes in the living room.

The top floor is bright and airy, while the downstairs is perfect for a good night’s rest.

Alex Bass is more than just an art collector, she's the founder of Salon 21, an art advisory and design firm. And the small home she shares with her boyfriend not only shows off her art curating skills, but also plenty of renter-friendly ideas.

"From DIY to beach finds, there are so many budget-friendly ways to make your space somewhere you're excited to be," explains Kelsey. Some of her favorite budget hacks in her rental apartment include: framing matchbooks for art, hacked IKEA console, custom desk, and more.

Caroline Danehy, Chief Brand Officer and co-founder of sustainable clothing and lifestyle brand, Fair Harbor, accomplished a dream when she found this 500-square-foot, one-bedroom walk-up apartment in an old building with history and charm.

During the pandemic, Brian left his apartment with a rotating cast of roommates and gave himself time to find his perfect home. When this loft in the West Village went up, he knew he had to have it. He has since converted the small space into a plant filled oasis.

The only thing that came in Julie Gordon's rental studio apartment was a small stove, fridge, and three cabinets. But after some major TLC, a few great peel and stick finds, and lots of patience, she's turned this shoebox-sized into a cozy, beautiful, and organized home.

This tiny 350-square-foot studio loft with laid-back vibes and tons of windows sits on the top of a tall building, glistening in the sky.

Architect Samantha Stein and her fiancé moved from a studio apartment to a slightly larger apartment in the middle of a pandemic (and while on a budget) but the result is quite dreamy despite the challenges.

It's pretty amazing how clean, modern, and lovely this small Manhattan apartment is, especially for two adults and two teenagers.

Her home's style is: "Lightly haunted royalty."

Name: Carly Berlin Location: West Village, NYC Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Part home, part professional art studio, Carly’s long and narrow West Village apartment is outfitted minimally but filled with warmth and personality. Carly has a gift for seeing the beauty in the smallest of details, and her ability to set up her home from that perspective means she’s made a million small but successful decisions.

Name: Caroline Z Hurley Location: West Village, NYC Size: 420 square feet Years lived in: 13 years Caroline Z Hurley has lived in her apartment for 13 years, but has known the space even longer. Both of her sisters each lived in the apartment before her, and at one point, Caroline shared the 420-square-foot studio with one of them! Originally, the apartment was just an open studio with a half-wall separating the bedroom area.

Name: Thomas Dobrowolski and Ben Ezrick Location: West Village, New York Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When you only have 400 square feet to work with, every inch of your home has to be considered during a remodel. Not just for aesthetics, but for also for function. Which is precisely what Thomas and Ben did with their West Village home when they set about renovating the small space: There are sleek, smart, built-in storage solutions in every room of the apartment.

Name: Alex Fitzgerald Location: West Village — New York, NY Size: 420 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned The trick to studios is how to make the most of the space you’re given. For Alex, a studio apartment previously owned by an architect obsessed with built-ins has proved both a boon and a challenge.

Name: Melina Peterson Location: West Village — New York, NY Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting When Melina found her tiny West Village studio, she knew she’d have to get creative. Even though small apartments are fairly standard in the Manhattan real estate game, Melina’s space is particularly narrow. And up four flights of stairs.

Name: Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton and Adam Fulton and dog Rocky Location: West Village — New York, NY Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton knows about self-care and spaces where you can relax. She’s the founder and CEO of Chillhouse, a nail salon/spa/cafe that’s “a destination for modern self-care” on the Lower East Side.

Name: Leo + Jordan Miller + Alexander Lynch Location: West Village — Detroit, Michigan Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, renting Jordan is an Ohio native who moved to Detroit on a whim in the summer of 2016 because of her love for the state of Michigan, particularly its lakes. Al grew up in a small town in the Upper Peninsula called Norway.

Name: Michelle Lin Greenip Location: West Village, New York Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Rented Out the window, there’s a tumble of rooftops and a church steeple or two. Inside, a palette plucked from Ladurée, lavender fields, Hermés boxes and champagne labels, with a bit of gilding for good measure. While it’s one part atelier, including an artist’s garret of sorts, it’s the West Village, not the Left Bank.

Name: Jessica Bowers – founder of West Village Life Location: West Village, NYC Size: 1 Bedroom/1 Bath Years lived in: Under 1 year; Rent Nestled on a charming street in the West Village, lives Jessica, founder and author of the popular Instagram @WestVillageLife, an account that shares the many charms of this historic neighborhood with its nearly 30K followers. It’s no surprise that her eye for detail and style extends into her personal space as well as her photography.

Name: Jennifer Pade Location: West Village, New York, New York Size: 325 square feet Years lived in: 17 years You may know Jennifer’s apartment from her Renovation Diary, where we chronicled the transformation of her tiny kitchen from a crumbling disaster to a sleek, modern space. After all the dust settled, Jennifer graciously invited us back to get a look at the rest of her space.

Name: Ashley Clauss, of CLAUSS & CO., a communications consultancy specializing in brand strategy, public relations and event production. Location: West Village; New York, New York Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Rented Diligent editing and an honest desire to be surrounded in her apartment only by things she loves has served Ashley Clauss very well.

Name: Kate McKeon Location: West Village; New York, New York Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Welcome to Kate’s light-filled, colorful home in New York’s West Village. This small-ish apartment is home to Kate and her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Lady, and also serves as her office (she works from home).

Name: Brett & Betsy Leonhardt (and Suze and Lola the bulldogs) Location: West Village; New York, New York Size: 515 square feet Years lived in: 2 We’re continually impressed by the ingenuity of apartment dwellers who manage to fit a huge variety of functions into a very small space. Case in point: Brett and Betsy’s West Village apartment, whose main room multitasks as a living room, dining room, workspace, and kitchen, all without sacrificing style.

Name: Sam Location: West Village; New York City Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 1 Year; Rented Keeping her home clear of clutter and displaying only the things she loves gives Sam’s 300-square-foot home in the West Village a spacious feel. Meanwhile, light from the many windows, pops of color, and the warm, neutral tones of her decor go a long way towards making it feel welcoming, comfortable, and soothing.

Name: Stephanie Michaan Location: West Village NYC Size: 1,495 square feet Years lived in: Owned 6 years Though Stephanie has owned this apartment in New York’s West Village for six years, she says it feels brand new thanks to a recent redesign she gave the home. White walls maximize the beautiful bright natural light that pours in from big windows. Sparse furnishings are kept interesting by choosing good designs in rich materials.

Name: Katie O’Connor Location: West Village, New York City Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 2 years Katie and her husband have lived in their West Village one-bedroom for the past two years. With an enviable corner unit, the living room is wall-to-wall windows, giving them incredible views of the city and sunsets. Situated right next to the southern entrance to the High Line, they also have a great people-watching spot.

Name: Ashley Miles and Sam Miles and their two daughters Location: West Village, New York Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting Ashley’s 1800s carriage house in the West Village is as steeped in history as it is style; photographer Diane Arbus and her two daughters were once residents. Now, Ashley—the Executive Vice President of Sales & Brand Partnerships at Refinery29—and her husband Sam (college sweethearts from Ole Miss!