A Small Boston Studio Apartment’s Got Great Bones

published Dec 12, 2017
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(Image credit: Erin Krespan)

“In the past, I’ve lived in one-bedroom apartments, so I was a bit nervous about how to set up a studio so that it felt more like a home and less like one giant bedroom,” writes Maeve Stier, the Boston-based blogger behind Chic Now.

Name: Maeve Stier and dog Weaver
Location: Back Bay — Boston, Massachusetts
Size: 515 square feet
Years live in: 6 months, renting

(Image credit: Erin Krespan)

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I tried to create different “spaces” within the apartment, like a work area in front of the bay windows and a cozy living room area by the fireplace. In order to keep things feeling cohesive, I kept my color scheme mostly black, white, and grey, but I’ve included a romantic blush-colored detail here or there — in art, in pillowcases, even in a corner chair. Weaver’s favorite spot in the apartment (and where she spends most of her time) is in her dog bed underneath the windows, where she likes to sit and watch the city go by.


“It’s a simple space, but it feels very personal.”


(Image credit: Erin Krespan)

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? My oversized mirror. I’d been searching for an eight-to-ten-foot mirror (that wouldn’t break the bank) for months, even before I moved into this apartment. One morning, while out shopping, I was in a clothing store that was closing and selling all of their furniture and fixtures. This mirror, which they had used in the fitting room, was one of the pieces they were selling. I ended up getting a great deal and just had to hire a moving company for an hour to bring the mirror into my apartment. You never know where you’ll find a great piece of furniture!

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I would have more storage space! My apartment is an old parlor room that’s been converted into a studio, so I really only have my closet and a cabinet in the bathroom for storage. Because of that, I’ve had to get creative with utilizing the cabinets and shelving in my kitchen!

(Image credit: Erin Krespan)

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite space in the apartment is in the far corner, where I’ve placed an oversized floor mirror behind a blush-upholstered chair. The mirror reflects the light from the windows and makes the apartment appear larger, and the chair is an irreplaceable family piece that used to belong to my grandmother. It’s a simple space, but it feels very personal.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Really make it your own. The influence of my Scandinavian roots mean that I like to keep my decor fairly minimal, but the things that you will find around my apartment are almost always meaningful. From coffee table books written by the women that inspired me to start blogging to little souvenirs I’ve brought back from travels, it feels like you could pick up pretty much anything in my apartment and there’s some sort of personal story behind it.

Thanks, Maeve!


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