As Julie admits in her video tour, 190 square feet isn’t a ton of space for someone to live in. But she’s made tiny living look easy in her East Village rental, particularly when you learn she also uses her small rental to flex her creative baking muscles, as well! A classically beautiful and feminine space, the restaurateur and baker’s home is lined with gold-framed art, a powder blue couch and a bold pink rug.

Editor’s note: This tour from last year deserves another look! I can’t believe how cozy and livable such a small space feels. It has good ideas that anyone can use, no matter their home’s square footage.

Although the space is certainly small, Julie loves the convenience of living near work in the East Village. With the time saved on her daily commute, she has time for her custom cake project side hustle, Shweetums.

My Style: Cozy and romantic

Inspiration: My mom’s work (she’s an interior designer) and Sofia Coppola’s NYC apartment — is that creepy?

Favorite Element: The high ceilings and big windows. It gives the illusion that the space is bigger than it really is.

Biggest Challenge: Baking! When I’m not working, I’m decorating cakes for friends and family but it can get tricky and all-consuming with limited counter and storage space. I end up with cake batter on the walls and trays of sugar flowers on my bed. When I finish a cake, my final challenge is always figuring out how to carry it down my building’s old rickety staircase.

What Friends Say: They’re shocked to see how much color is in my space. I don’t incorporate much color into my wardrobe (does taupe count?) so friends are always surprised to see elements like the over-dyed fuchsia rug and the blue couch.

Biggest Embarrassment: My AC unit and upright vacuum. Both totally worth it, but complete eyesores when not in use (…and currently hiding in the hallway for the sake of this photo shoot).

Proudest DIY: The two shelves outside of the bathroom door. They add needed storage and take up otherwise unusable space. They also create a mini “hallway” which helps to visually separate the kitchen from the bathroom.

Biggest Indulgence: Carrara marble countertop kitchen. It sits on top of a metal work table that I recovered from a closed down restaurant on Avenue A. Not only does it glam up a rusty piece of old furniture but it’s the perfect surface for rolling out pastry — especially since it stays nice and cool in the summer. Most days, it just serves as a pretty desk when I’m working from home.

Best Advice: Don’t spend all day at home. When I have a day off, it’s tempting to spend every minute of it holed up in my apartment but when I spend a few hours away, I find that I’m always so happy to come back into my little space and love it even more than before.

Dream Sources: Everything at ABC Carpet & Home

PAINT & COLORS
Accent wall – Farrow & Ball Cornforth White

LIVING ROOM
Blue velvet Chaise Lounge — West Elm (Outlet Store)
Iron back upholstered chair – Restoration Hardware
Sheepskin — IKEA
Overdyed Rug — NuLoom

BEDROOM
Belgian linen duvet cover – West Elm
Storage Bed – Ikea
Mirror Lamp, oversized – West Elm
Euro shams — Takashamaya
Bedside Shelves – Conrad Shop
Touch night light – Bed, Bath and Beyond

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