A Smallish, Cozy Brooklyn Rental Plays with Color

Name: Stacey O’Brien
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Type of home: Limestone Row apartment
Size: Approximately 800 square feet
Time lived in: 4 months, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: [This is] my first apartment by myself after a divorce. I have talented family members who make a lot of artsy things, as do I, so there is a really personalized and unique feel to some of the elements. There are also a lot of small details that really shape the nooks and crannies. I have a love for Mexican art, so there are lots of sugar skulls, color, and a Frida Kahlo tapestry centerpiece.

I am also an English teacher, so my book display acts as an art piece. There is plenty of beautiful light coming from the classic, tall, brownstone bay windows. The lofty ceiling makes it feel open and airy. The kitchen was the one area that seemed dingy. I painted and added baskets, new hardware, and a faux marble countertop to round out that room to fit with the rest of the apartment. The color story is really what I love most, from the emerald green couch to colorful floor pillows, to the Society6 credenza.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Homemade art, boho, mid-century

I am an English teacher and lover of fashion. I have books and book cover art. I have an open closet with clothes hanging, organized by color. There is also a Gucci-themed shower curtain with some Chanel art to reflect my passion for fashion without it being obvious or tacky. I also dabble in art and have things that I or my family have made. It is a highly personalized space.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the living room because of the large windows and natural light. It is a large space that has become a favorite spot for friends and family to hang out in. Two couches, floor pillows… candles and a nice-sized TV.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I decorated with… during the height of the pandemic I did a lot of walking near the water under the Verrazano bridge. One day during low tide I saw two beautifully sun-bleached pieces of drift wood that I asked a friend to go back and grab for me later that day. I had been unsure what to do with it all this time. I finally turned them into shelves… of photos that I decoupaged that are leaning on the driftwood shelves. The couple of people who have seen it thus far love it!

Any advice for creating a home you love? Start with a statement piece that is special to you and that you love. My Frida Kahlo tapestry was my inspiration for a couple of reasons. The art has Kahlo dressed in a Daft Punk shirt, and I think I have both boho and modern elements. It also created a color story of pinks and greens that I followed throughout the apartment. It stemmed from her and really grew from that tapestry.

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

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