House Tour: Laura’s Pared Down Perfection Relocates

Name: Laura
Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Size: 250sqft
Lived in: 5 months

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Laura is a professional organizer and it shows. We last visited her in her former shrine to utilitarian yet soothing living a couple of years ago. Since then, she was forced to relocate to a smaller home that was in much worse condition upon arrival. Laura did not despair. In fact, she took on the challenge with gusto. If she could make this formerly dirty closet sized studio a place in which she and others wanted to spend time, then no task is too large.

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Again, Laura makes use of her tried and true techniques–a vessel for everything and everything in its vessel. So, behind every curtain and every cabinet door is an appropriately sized box, drawer, basket, or bowl to hold anything from a vacuum to a paper clip. As soon as she finished using something, back it goes!

And again, I was floored by her ‘closet.’ Last time, I described it as stepping into the fantasy boutique where everything fit and looked beautiful on you. This time, Laura’s clothes and shoes are not behind a closed door but are as beautifully displayed and on view to all who have access to her bedroom.

Laura managed to create a one bedroom apartment out of her rental studio by hanging a simple curtain from floor to ceiling, dividing the room in half. This simple act creates an instant calm in what is now the living/dining/office area, and a sense of privacy in her dressing room/bedroom.

The apartment is cozy because of the gray flor carpet tiles Laura laid throughout the apartment. To me, the result is that the second you enter the space, you feel somehow well taken care of.

And, Laura achieves all of this with two cats!

AT Survey:

Style/Inspiration: Living better with less.

Favorite Element: Of the apartment itself, the size of the bathroom and the fact it has a window. Of what I’ve done, I love my dressing area 🙂

Biggest Challenge: The condition the apartment was in when I moved in! I had to scrub the place down – the inside of the kitchen cabinets were black. I painted everything including the doors and baseboards, I recaulked the kitchen and the entire bathroom…

What Friends Say: Can you help me with my apartment?

Biggest Embarrassment: The BQE is about 50 ft from my window so black soot comes pouring into the place even with the windows closed. And the noise.. it’s like hearing an orchestra warming up outside my window during rush hour.

Proudest DIY: Just getting this place ‘done’ with mostly stuff I already had. Though I would love to get a couple of cool, comfortable lounge chairs…

Biggest Indulgence: The carpet tiles by far but they really make the place… those faux marble tiles had to go!!

Best Advice: Trust your instincts

Dream Source: Aero, Conran Shop, Matter, Vitra, VW Home

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