Brooklyn

Kate and her husband loved this small unit's natural light, original details (like molding and inlaid hardwood floors), and location, despite not having been updated in many years. "We knew we wanted to keep as much of the original charm as we could, while also updating it to bring in natural elements and modernize the space."

It was small, the kitchen was basically nonexistent, and the bathroom wasn't pretty, but Irene Shamas saw the potential in this studio unit. She worked with Luki Anderson of Studio Officina and EDR Construction to transform this small one-room apartment into a space that can be a living room, dining room, bedroom, office, and more.

"I filled my home with objects I made, and furniture I gave a second life to (i.e., with paint)," writes Kira. "I worked hard to create a curated environment with a lot of personality on a budget."

After losing her mom, grandfather, and aunt fairly close to one another, Ruthie used her apartment as a space where she could honor and remember them with photos and knickknacks that bring happy memories.

Dotun's Crown Heights apartment is filled with bright yellows and oranges that bring the space to life. Inspired by Early West African graphic design and pop art, Dotun believes in bringing in pieces from your travels to make a space your own.

Nina Haines, founder of the Sapphic book club Sapph-Lit, painted cabinets purple, installed marble contact paper to countertops, added a squiggle-shaped painted accent, and more in her Brooklyn rental. “There are colors and patterns and kitschy touches everywhere. My friend once commented that it looks like Lizzie McGuire threw up everywhere," she says.

Kayla works in HR at Apartment Therapy and has turned her home into her sanctuary. Working with a small space and budget, she used the color palette of her neighborhood to bring to life her gorgeous bohemian home.

At first, designer Linda Cava only meant to replace her 10-year-old bedframe. But then she swapped out a bedside table to fit the new bed's style, next decided to trade the old sofa for a larger sectional... and then a mix of paint updates, vintage furniture elements, and more made her small home feel completely refreshed.

Journalist Jessica Bennett and her partner Sam did a gut renovation on this Brooklyn loft, updating the kitchen, bathrooms, and building custom furniture for many of the rooms.

This is Shatina's first time living alone and the first time getting to do whatever she wanted "creativity wise and to truly create an oasis of peace and comfort."

Brianna Holt, a freelance journalist, took this plain condo and transformed it with a Parisian Modern-inspired aesthetic, fully remodeling the kitchen, renovating the bathroom, installing built-in shelves, and adding new doors and crown molding throughout.

Jenn and her partner are both artists who wanted to turn their home into a funky combination of their two aesthetics. Through pops of color, gorgeous floating shelves, and tons of house plants, they have achieved their dream home.

The first time Maggie and Jesse saw this apartment, they knew it was theirs. Noise levels made them back out of the first lease, but months later the home was available and the noise had been resolved — the rest is history.

Lauren brought her love for the '60s and '70s into her Brooklyn apartment through color, using orange as the main hue. The small studio features an orange mirror and couch and lots of cute retro decor elements to complete the look.

When it comes to the Brooklyn apartment of experiential designer Briana Guin, it’s clear that specific shades were chosen for her home from the beginning, down to the smallest details.

Visual artist and designer⁠ Meagan Jain and her partner, Nikolas, fell in love with the skylights and the south-facing windows of this Brooklyn rental apartment. They also loved the amount of space; there is enough room for her art studio and more.

Textile designer and freelance interior stylist Anna Brettschneider shares this 800-square-foot Park Slope rental apartment with her fiancé, Garrett Albury. Together they co-author the weekly newsletter, coolstuff.nyc.

Tay is a set designer, builder, and DJ, and describes herself as an “audacious welder of dreamscapes,” like the colorful apartment she rents in Brooklyn.

"My favorite color is pink, which is also very evident in not just my apartment but anything I design at work too. If I can work the color pink into a project or my home, I will absolutely do it," says Briana Guin, who shares this 635-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn with two roommates.

The moment sisters Farah and Vanessa walked into this studio apartment, they knew it was the one and put in an offer the same day! "It was the perfect space with a little balcony."

Astead W. Herndon thinks you should always invest in a good couch. His is a gorgeous pink one... a bold color suggestion made by a Hinge date!