In cool and collected Bedford-Stuyvesant, British-Nigerian Oyin Antwi, a multi-talented twenty-something industrial engineer working and living in Brooklyn, styled her studio space in an organized and simple fashion, accented with homey touches and pops of personality in just the right spots.

Currently she works as a Senior Operations Analyst at Gabriel & Co. (@gabrielandco), but also has experience in the fashion, home decor, and fine jewelry industries, which she explores through a family side-business with her siblings at Via Asha Design (@viaashadesign), an online interior design consultancy.

After recently marrying her college sweetheart, Oyin excitedly reports she’s collaborating with her new husband on Digital Park and their “goal to launch apps in the creative space that [I] truly believe will fill needs in today’s society.” She’s also collaborating on a new home… Oyin has said goodbye to her studio space to move into a different place with her husband.

My Style: I would describe my personal style as “classic.” So although I chose the challenge to incorporate four interior design styles in my studio apartment (classic-glam bedroom area, mid-century modern living room area, industrial kitchen/dining, and coastal bathroom), I kept the major furniture pieces in each space traditional and neutral for a relaxing touch, while accessorizing with design elements that pop, to strike a conversation at every turn.

Inspiration: Nature! I am constantly inspired and in awe of how neutrals and pops of color can live and flourish harmoniously through each season.

Favorite Element: The nine-foot double entry doors; they just scream classic Brooklyn brownstone! I previously lived in a newly renovated modern-style brownstone apartment and wanted a change when it was time to move. I was looking for more of a traditional space that spoke for itself through its character, and these doors sold this apartment for me!

Biggest Challenge: The apartment was a completely blank canvas (previously the home owner’s “man cave”) with an open-space concept filled with awkward nooks. Though it really challenged my design skills, it allowed me to showcase the fact that one does not have to feel limited to one style when decorating. I overcame this challenge by incorporating the consistency of a “greige” base palette in each part of the studio through furniture pieces like my dining chairs and couch, then brought out the key factors of each design style I chose with accessories that embodied each theme.

What Friends Say: Well, 75 percent of them when they first enter say “OMG, your apartment is SO Brooklyn!”, then proceed to ask me if I will design theirs, and the other 25 percent usually stand in one corner to really appreciate the details in every nook, then proceed to ask me how I managed to squeeze every possible function a person would need in such little square footage.

Biggest Embarrassment: Definitely my whole TV/mounting situation. I successfully mounted all shelving and artwork in my apartment myself and got so confident until… the TV stand. From buying the wrong wall mount to patching up holes I drilled incorrectly, in the end, I’m just happy my TV hasn’t fallen yet. Next time, a handyman it is!

Proudest DIY: Definitely my “glam-nook!” I’ve always loved open-space concepts but wanted each corner of my studio to feel fully functional. So with limited closet space, I created a nook for prepping each day using IKEA floating shelves, a vintage necklace stand I found thrifting in Brooklyn, an office supply caddy I repurposed to hold my makeup, and an old Prada box to display my eyewear.

Biggest Indulgence: The custom artwork I commissioned from Jade Purple Brown. She has a talent for evoking emotions through color, and I knew she would fulfill my desire to pay an ode to Pantone’s then-2017 Color of the Year, “Greenery.” I wanted one artwork that would be centered in the space to help me feel renewed each day with serene and energetic greens, neutral earth tones, and graphic lines.

Best Advice: Plan each space before you commit! One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in the past is trying to decorate an entire apartment simultaneously, which only ended up wasting time and money with having to return items until I got it right. In this apartment, I learned from this by taking one area at a time: I started with my bedroom area, finished that, moved on to my living room area, finished that, etc. This allowed me to fully complete each space to my desire and gave me that sense of accomplishment to move on to the next space.

Dream Sources: HomeGoods; I calculated that in decorating my entire apartment, I spent a total of 42 hours in there within a span of six weeks. I’m obsessed.

PAINT & COLORS
Saybrook Sage by Benjamin Moore

ENTRY
Avington Console Table — Target
Table Lamp – HomeGoods
Vase – HomeGoods
Wooden Key Tray – HomeGoods
Wooden Wall Mirror – Century 21 Stores
Agate Bookend — HomeGoods
Canvas Storage Bins – Century 21 Stores

LIVING ROOM
Chloe Velvet Tufted Couch – Macys
Cilla Mid-Century Coffee Table – Hayneedle
Geometric Decor Tray – HomeGoods
Geometric Accent Pieces – HomeGoods
Glass Disc and Marble Accent Piece – West Elm
Custom Painting – by Jade Purple Brown
Soy Candles – Domus
Moroccan Shag Rug – Rugs USA
Wireleg Arm Chair – Wayfair
Greige Feather Pillows – HomeGoods
The Goddess Accent Pillow — Modish Décor Pillows
Ladder Desk – Wayfair
Plants – Home Depot
Organizer Cube – Michaels

DINING ROOM
Square Glass-Top Dining Table – IKEA
Slope-Arm Dining Chairs – Target
Leather Storage Ottoman – Target
Mounted Wine-Glass Rack – DIY
Dining Table Decor Accents – HomeGoods
Wall Clock – HomeGoods

KITCHEN
Lack Floating Wall Shelves – IKEA
Clear Glassware – HomeGoods
Gunter Kitchen Wall Accent – Wayfair
Stainless Steel Trash Can – Target

BEDROOM
Molly Thermal Curtain Panels – Wayfair
Storage Platform Bed – Wayfair
Tribeca Quilt Set – Bed Bath & Beyond
Floor Mirror – Thrifted
Floating Wall Shelves – IKEA
Window Nook Faux Fur Rug – Century 21 Stores
Accent Pillows – HomeGoods
Malm Nightstand – IKEA
Nightstand Decor Accents – HomeGoods
Baroque Wall Mirror – Bed Bath & Beyond
Wall Frames – HomeGoods
Throw Basket – HomeGoods

BATHROOM
Vintage Decor Tray – Thrifted
Coral Decor Accent — HomeGoods
Storage Baskets – HomeGoods
Wall Art – HomeGoods
Laundry Hamper – HomeGoods
Soap Dispenser Coordinates – Target
Shower Curtain – Kassatex New York
Bathroom Floor Rug – Target

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