Natasha's Happy, Coastal Space
Name: Natasha Husein
Website: https://www.natashahusein.com
Instagram: @natashahusein
Size: 750 square feet
Home type: Apartment
Location: Brooklyn, NY
What you're looking at:
My living room is my absolute favorite place in all of New York. During the pandemic it was a real sanctuary to help me escape from all that was going on (plus, great when you couldn't really go out anywhere). When I moved in, I knew I wanted to create a happy space that was reminiscent of the peaceful Caribbean islands, but without taking away from the beautiful apartment features, like the fireplace, molding, and beautiful hardwood floors. I accomplished that through light woods and neutral colors for furniture, blue pillows for accents, colorful and ocean-inspired abstract art, and lots of flowers and plants. (Image credit: Natasha Husein)My living room is my absolute favorite place in all of New York. During the pandemic it was a real sanctuary to help me escape from all that was going on (plus, great when you couldn't really go out anywhere). When I moved in, I knew I wanted to create a happy space that was reminiscent of the peaceful Caribbean islands, but without taking away from the beautiful apartment features, like the fireplace, molding, and beautiful hardwood floors. I accomplished that through light woods and neutral colors for furniture, blue pillows for accents, colorful and ocean-inspired abstract art, and lots of flowers and plants.
In my bedroom my goal was to create my very own tranquil beach cottage in the middle of Brooklyn so that I could wake up every day in a zen space. I used primarily neutral colors, accented with blues and teals, and brought in natural textures like jute, rattan, and mango wood to create my bungalow vibe. These colors and textures are also repeated throughout the apartment to help bring the entire look together. And I always have flowers on my dresser!
Years lived in: 1 year, rented
Household: Maddie, my cocker spaniel
Have any design professionals worked on this space? No
Do you currently live in your Small/Cool space full-time? Yes
Describe your space:
The beauty of this apartment is combining traditional prewar NYC architecture with a chic coastal feel. I grew up in the Cayman Islands, near the ocean, and the vibe and mood of being in a happy, relaxing environment have stayed with me through adulthood. I tried to create my “happy coastal bungalow” in the middle of Brooklyn with a color palette of mainly blues, whites, teals, and mixing it with a lot of rattan, jute, flowers, abstract art, and photos of the ocean. It’s not a traditional California coastal, nor is it totally beach bohemian. It’s sort of an eclectic mix, but it’s totally me.
Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?
I created a floating picture gallery where I can hang my favorite photos from my travels, postcards, hotel keys, and more. (I also am an amateur photographer, so seeing my photos in print every day is really nice!) I used Artifact Uprising to print my photos, and then cute tiny clothespins to pin my photos on the rope strings. This floating gallery sits above my desk so I get to look at my photos every day!
How do you make your small space work for you and feel bigger than it really is?
My FAVORITE storage solution is actually very simple and affordable, but also beautiful — baskets! And luckily for all of us, almost every home store has them in plenty of shapes, sizes, colors to choose from. You can use them to store shoes, blankets, magazines — almost anything small that needs to be tucked away. They look great, add texture to your space, and don't feel visually overwhelming like some of those bulky storage units. I must have at least eight baskets scattered around my apartment.
How does your home reflect you?
Everything about my apartment reflects who I am. I've been dreaming about having my own place for 10 years — it isn't easy to do in NYC! Weirdly, because of the deals during the pandemic, I was finally able to do it. As mentioned, I grew up near the ocean, and that has always played a huge role in my design aesthetic. I like traditional coastal, but wanted to infuse other happier colors, like hot pink, teal, and yellow through the artwork in the apartment. My dad is a painter and he painted me a beach scene, which I have on my bedroom gallery wall. It always reminds me of home.