This Gorgeous NYC Rental Apartment Was Once in a Pepper and Cardboard Factory

Four years ago Breanna Young; her husband, Jamal Williams; and their cat, Jade, lived in Long Island City, Queens. However, the couple wanted to move to Brooklyn to be closer to Jamal’s job. Dumbo was the first neighborhood Breanna visited, so they started their apartment search there. 

As luck would have it, Breanna and Jamal only looked online for about a month before deciding to make a first and only visit to an apartment. “I found this apartment on StreetEasy and fell in love with its unique industrial touches, including the large wooden beams throughout the space, the brick wall, the stainless steel countertops in the kitchen, and the large bathroom,” she says of the one-bedroom home. 

The apartment wasn’t only beautiful — it also had a cool history. After moving in, the landlord explained that the home was featured on Home Again with Bob Vila in the early 2000s. 

“We found out that this apartment used to be a pepper factory, a cardboard factory, and a residence at some point,” Breanna shares. “The building was originally built in the 1830s before the final renovation in 2003.” 

While renting the apartment, Breanna and Jamal have made some renter-friendly changes, like creating a “faux DIY limewash” wall in the dining and office area and also dramatically changing their bathroom in just two weeks. 

“Currently, our home is the culmination of four years of work, and we need renter-friendly solutions,” Breanna says. “As time has gone on, we’ve become more comfortable exploring outside of the box, painting a wall from time to time, and the idea of swapping things when we leave to get our security deposit back.”

• Living Room & Bedroom — Benjamin Moore White Primer
• Dining & Office — Benjamin Moore “Coastal Fog (976)” and “Old Prairie (2143-50)”
• Bathroom — Benjamin Moore “Hearthstone Brown (2109-20)”

• Shoe Cabinet — Wayfair
• Asymmetric Mirror — Amazon

• Arch Nomad Sofa Sectional — Burrow
• Kareen Coffee Table — Wayfair (Facebook Marketplace)
• Orla Tan Tufted Rug — Ruggable
• Tiered Bar Console — West Elm (Facebook Marketplace)
• Dark Orange Wine Glasses — Amazon
• Chira Bookcase — Wayfair
• Black Slipper Chair — Wayfair
• Record Player — Amazon
• Cute Small Pleated Lamp — Amazon
• Marble Vanity Box — West Elm
• Nesting Table with Solid Wood Legs — Wayfair
• Tall Burgundy Vase — Brooklyn Flea Market
• Lamp on Bar Cart — Gantri

• Dining Table — Homary
• Dining Chairs — Wayfair
• Head to Head 01 Art Print by Mae Studio — Paper Collective
• Paper Lamp — Amazon
• 5 Shelf Horizontal Bookcase — Target
• Charlene Polyester Upholstered Bench — Wayfair

• Green Peel-and-Stick Tile — Amazon
• Marble Tray with Scalloped Edge — Amazon
• Espresso Machine — Amazon
• Cats Print — Pstr Studio
• Wood Pedestal Soap Stand — Amazon
• Balance Print — Pstr Studio
• Vintage Gold Print — Amazon
• Black Coffee Spoons — Amazon
• Harvest Apples Still Life — Amazon
• Runner Rug — Amazon

• Selene Floor Mirror — Urban Outfitters
• Andes Acacia Wood Platform Queen Bed — CB2
• Curvilinear Mid-Century Sconce — West Elm (Facebook Marketplace)
• Oberlin 4-Drawer Black Leather — CB2 
• Ladder Shelf Wall Desk — West Elm (Facebook Marketplace)
• Laba Linen Silk Box Lumbar Pillow — Lulu & Georgia
• Pleated Lamp Shade — Amazon

• Bathroom Cabinet — IKEA
• FriHULT Wall Lamp, Brass — IKEA
• Wooden Legs — Amazon
• Cabinet Handles — Amazon
• Green Peel-and-Stick Tiles — Amazon
• Acacia Bath Tray — Amazon
• Artificial Plants — Amazon
• Cafe Curtains (for Sink Skirt) — Amazon
• Faucets — Amazon
• Bath Towels — Zara Home
• Cute Small Pleated Lamp — Amazon
• Landscape Canvas Wall Art — At Home
• Brown Tall Vase — Brooklyn Flea Market

Thanks, Breanna!

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

Share your style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form