“A Place for Everything” in an Upper West Side Pre-War Apartment
“A Place for Everything” in an Upper West Side Pre-War Apartment
Name: Emily DeRosa and Matthew Pugliese
Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 years

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Emily and Matt’s pre-war apartment building (built in 1925) is located on a quiet block on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The couple has resided in their 800-square-foot apartment for two-and-a-half years, and during this time, have filled it with treasures from their travels and art made by dear friends.
Emily works in an art gallery and Matt is a physical therapist. Although they don’t have as much closet space as they would like, their one-bedroom apartment is quite spacious by NYC standards. Their kitchen is a separate room (as opposed to the ubiquitous NYC galley kitchen) with space for a small table and chairs; Matt loves to cook and uses the kitchen often. Their rear-facing apartment building doesn’t get as much sun as they wish, but Emily and Matt have turned their one-bedroom into a beautiful and calming retreat.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Minimal and comfortable.
Inspiration: We are both shoppers. We like to browse around at furniture and consignment stores or flea markets both in NYC and while we are traveling to get ideas.
Favorite Element: The high ceilings in our pre-war building. Also the foyer. It’s nice to have a little extra space when you walk in.
Biggest Challenge: Light. I wish we had more natural light, but we are on the back of the building facing north. And storage – but doesn’t everyone in NYC say that?
What Friends Say: That it is clean and smells good. Usually because they are coming over to eat dinner that Matt is cooking.
Biggest Embarrassment: Our bathroom. It could use an update.
Proudest DIY: Admittedly, we’re not big DIY’ers so I would have to say Matt’s photos, which are hanging throughout the apartment.
Biggest Indulgence: Getting our art and posters framed.
Best Advice: In a small apartment, I find it helpful to try to find a place for everything. It helps make it feel less cluttered.
Dream Sources: Amber Interiors Shoppe, unique finds from flea markets or consignment stores.
Resources:
ENTRY
Console Table — West Elm (similar)
Gold vases — Consignment shop, NYC
Woven bowl — gift from Africa
Photograph over the console table — Matt Pugliese
Poster — Christopher Wool, free from a show at Gagosian in London
LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM
Dining Table and Benches — West Elm
Ceramic vases on dining table — Nemadji Pottery (from flea market in NYC)
Gold lamp — West Elm
Print next to dining table — Ed Ruscha poster from an exhibit at Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland
Bar — CB2
Record player — Amazon (Audio Electrica)
Art above record player — purple work on the right was won at Lucky Draw auction at Sculpture Center (artist unknown); black drawings were found at a flea market in Basel, Switzerland
Coffee table — West Elm
Accessories on coffee table — Le Labo candle, HAY trays, wooden bowl (gift)
Chair — West Elm
TV Console — West Elm
Couch — Crate and Barrel
Pillows — Etsy
Rug — One Kings Lane
Leather Moroccan pouf — Etsy
Silver Lamp — Ikea
Artwork above couch — Original piece from an art fair in Mexico City
Moroccan table — Gilt
Artwork above Moroccan table — Henri Broyard
Bookshelves — Ikea
Wood carvings — Emily’s grandfather
Ceramic shot glass — Adam Silverman
Shark — from drink in New Orleans
Straw basket — Street Fair in NYC
BEDROOM
Dresser — Pottery Barn with Anthropologie knobs
Artwork above dresser — Artist from Northport, NY
Mirror Side table — Gilt
Bedding — The Company Story
Pillows — ABC Home & Carpet
Photo above bed — Matt Pugliese
Artwork next to window/mirror — Alex Goldberg
Standing mirror — Ikea
Chair — Amazon (faux Eames)
Bench — Jonathan Adler
Photos — Photographer from Rochester, NY
Thanks, Emily and Matt!
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