A Small Shared Seattle Apartment Is Full of Green Plants and Smart Storage
Name: Angel Burford, my partner, Ben, and our cats
Location: Seattle, Washington
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 680 square feet
Years lived in: 8 months, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My partner Ben and I live in this 680-square-foot apartment, which sits less than half a mile from downtown Seattle. It’s our quiet little oasis in the hustle and bustle of a city that grows and changes everyday. As native Seattle-ites who have both lived in the city for over two decades (Ben for his whole life!), it’s an incredible joy and privilege to live in the heart of the city, enjoying all the everyday conveniences that the neighborhood brings.
While planning this space, I knew I wanted to create something space efficient, bright, plant-filled, and cozy—a place that would feel like home. We fell in love with this layout almost immediately when the leasing agent showed it to us. It’s technically an “open one-bedroom,” which are extremely common in Seattle as a compromise between a traditional one-bedroom and a studio. However, we actually prefer this specific layout over the traditional one-bedrooms in our building.
My favorite thing about this home are our South-facing windows that fill the living room with natural light during the day, even in the dead of winter. The traditional kitchen and roomy bedroom, complete with a huge walk-in closet and an actual door (not just a sliding one, either!), were huge selling points as well. The cherry on top must be the storage divider between the living room and bedroom, which is immensely useful for storing tools, camera equipment, old laptops, etc.!
Every piece in this home has been picked out with love and intention. As people who travel a lot both for work and for pleasure, it’s so nice being able to come home to a place that’s truly ours.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Modern, mid-century modern boho-lite
What is your favorite room and why? Our living room, by far. It’s where we spend the majority of our time, whether it’s relaxing, working from home, eating meals, or just spending quality time together. We’ve indulged in a stupidly large TV so that we can binge watch endless Bon Appetit YouTube videos. I love walking around this room with a coffee cup in hand, checking the moisture levels of my plants to see if they need a quick watering. From day to night, the view from our living room window transforms from a hazy view of the city to a sea of glittery lights from buildings in the distance. I just love it so much.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? It’s a plant—are you surprised? I went to a plant shop called Cultivate Propagate in the Queen Anne neighborhood last weekend and found a beautiful Hoya Carnosa Compacta, also known as a Hindu Rope plant. It’s currently hanging in the corner of our living room in a wall planter from West Elm.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t be scared to change your vibe, and don’t feel the need to stick to one interior design style!
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.