A Not-Touched-Since-the-’80s Brooklyn Apartment Is Now Gorgeously Open Concept

Name: Lily Klein, husband, and chunky chihuahua mix
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Type of home: Co-op apartment
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 10 months, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My husband and I put an offer on our apartment five months before our wedding, knowing that it hadn’t been touched since the ’80s and was in need of a gut renovation.

We were in love with the space and with the Clinton Hill neighborhood so we decided to build our dream apartment during a supply chain/material shortage and while we finished planning our wedding. We turned a very closed-up ’80s style layout into an open concept apartment and it’s our favorite place!

We never really did much with our rented apartments since NYC landlords are a force to be reckoned with, so for our first home that we own we wanted to go all out. We chose funky tiles for the kitchen and bathroom and all-white appliances despite our love for red sauce. We weren’t really concerned with a cohesive design, just picking patterns and colors that we liked, but somehow it all works even in our small space!

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Wavy, imperfect, but somehow cohesive

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is definitely our bedroom because we have a king-sized bed (the secret to a happy relationship) and an almost full-wall projector set up, so it’s super cozy. But my favorite designed room is our kitchen. We have green-patterned floor tiles and white stone backsplash and it’s so nice to look at. Plus, it’s where our always-hungry chunky pup hangs out most waiting for snacks.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? We recently bought this bamboo lyocell sheet set from ettitude in “starlight blue stripes” and we’re in love. They’re so lush. In my opinion, creating a bed that you’re in love with is worth the money.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Do not rush it! I felt this intense need to fill every space and get every piece I loved right away, but it’s definitely a long road. Get inexpensive placeholder furniture! We couldn’t find dining room chairs that we were in love with within our budget, so we got cheap chairs from Target so we can wait to find the chairs that are “the ones.” We’re still looking for them.

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