A “Dull and Lifeless” 450-Square-Foot NYC Studio Transformed into the Most Gorgeous, Playful Home

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media

published Nov 11, 2024

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About this tour

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Home Type

Studio Apartment

Location

Sunnyside, Queens, New York

Style

Colorful

Maximalist

Bedrooms

0

Square feet

450

Sq ft

450

Sin Ying Tracy Leung is a multidisciplinary designer from Hong Kong and creates “prints, spaces, products, branding, digital content, animations, marketing campaigns, art direction, illustrations, clothing, food, and Mahjong parties.” And three years ago, she purchased this 450-square-foot studio apartment in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens. Her partner, an architect, moved in a year later.

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Credit: Sin Ying Tracy Leung

The portable lamp is from Panisa Object.

“As my first home, I wanted it to reflect my vision,” she begins. “I took on many projects myself, from mixing my own paint colors and painting the walls to hanging wallpaper and installing fixtures. This space truly feels like my home away from home.”

Credit: Sin Ying Tracy Leung

She describes the space before she purchased it as “old, dull, and lifeless.” But after implementing her vision, it’s now “colorful, playful, eclectic, and warm.” Turns out she creates beautiful homes, too!

Credit: Sin Ying Tracy Leung

The living room has a shelf that "holds small objects I’ve collected and created over the years. They are organized by theme, with the top tier showcasing Japanese-inspired items, the second tier displaying colorful geometric shapes, and a selection of beautiful yet quirky faces next to it."

“Given that this is a studio apartment, I aimed to create a visually unified space while still maintaining distinct areas for resting, working, and cooking,” she describes. “Additionally, we wanted to ensure there is ample room to store supplies for our hobbies — such as drawing, cooking, and sewing — without creating a cluttered environment.”

Credit: Sin Ying Tracy Leung

Tracy "practiced calligraphy to have a craftsman create a custom carved wooden sign," she writes.

While she didn’t alter the studio’s layout, she did take on all the interior decorating herself. “I created a custom green color for the walls using leftover paints from work and handled the furnishing as well. One of my proudest achievements was putting up the wallpaper myself, and I always make sure to mention it to my guests when they visit. Another favorite piece I created is a calligraphy sign, handcrafted by a Thai master during my travels there.”