Her current home, this 800-square-foot, one-bedroom find in the West Village, certainly gave her more room to stretch out and show off her impressive art and vintage furniture collection. When it came to designing this apartment, Alex was surprised by what ended up being the biggest challenge. Or rather, what wasn’t a challenge. “Combining my style with my boyfriend’s was initially what I thought would be the biggest challenge, but that turned out to be quite seamless,” she admits. “We share a lot of similar interests, one of which being art, so aesthetically we mesh well. We are also very opinionated so if one of us doesn’t like something, we’re not afraid to say it, which is SO helpful!”

Alex also made the small space stylish despite not owning it, getting clever with renter-friendly ideas, such as tweaking a Wayfair bench to look like a custom, built-in dining banquette, taking the doors off of a cabinet for an elevated storage look, and replacing light fixtures. She also made sure to maximize space wherever she could. “My boyfriend and I both work from home some days of the week, so we needed to create office areas. We set up a desk for him in the bedroom, and I have my desk in a nook by the entryway. In a small space, you need to use every square inch!” she writes.

Perhaps most importantly, Alex advises to “[l]et your space reflect your personality and make sure it is functional for what you need it to be. And if you want to hire a professional for advice and design, like Salon 21, we specialize in improving small spaces and sourcing on a budget.”

• Laurinda Spear Ripple bench — Reupholstered by Modern Love Furniture
• Pink desk lamp — Globe temple lamp
• Wallpaper — Target

• Breakfast nook bench — Wayfair (restained by Alex)
• Cushions made with Kelly Wearstler fabric “District”
• Cesca chair fabric — Etsy
• Cesca chairs — Etsy
• White organic shaped wall shelf — Urban Outfitters
• Candlesticks — AKMD Collection
• Checkered bowl — David Perry
• Table runner — Etsy
• Mirror — Anthropologie
• Burlwood drop-down cabinet — Etsy
• Checked backsplash — Stone Center Online

• Sofa — Mario Bellini 
• Coffee table — Chairish “1960s Mid Century Chrome, Glass & Wood Coffee Table”
• Gold side table — Milo Baughman
• White tile side table — Ikon København
• Iron bookshelf — ABC Carpet & Home sale
• Credenza — Anthropologie
• Samsung Frame TV
• Art lights — Home Depot
• Wassily chair — Home Union
• Mid-Century Modern 1950s Italian Bar 

• Milo Baughman burlwood headboard — Coming Soon
• Luigi Massoni Dilly Dally Vanity — Form Vintage
• Sconces — Vintage from Etsy
• Noguchi lantern
• Bedspread — Dusen and Dusen
• Ettore Sottsass Ultra Fragola Mirror

Thanks Alex!

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