A Small, Tidy Philadelphia Apartment Is a Minimalist’s Paradise

Name: Crystal Folkes and I live with my pup, Ginger. She is a 5-year-old ball of love and energy. She keeps me company as I work from home.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 678 square feet
Years lived in: 17 months, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I’m a product designer by day with a passion for interior design. Before I moved into this apartment I always went with the safe black and white minimalism look. I used this apartment to challenge myself creatively. I wanted to use more bold colors like red and blue in a way that didn’t overwhelm the space, in a way that still felt soft and minimal.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the living/kitchen. It’s open concept so I can see both areas. I have a lot of my favorite things in there. I also feel I did a great job with the space I was given. I needed a dining table and found this perfect IKEA island that works so well with the space. Often people think it came with the apartment. I’m obsessed with my wall art in this room and how I was able to carry my pops of colors throughout the space. Also I did a few custom one-of-a-kind pieces in here. I never thought of myself as a DIY person but I am pretty proud of how it turned out. Also I purchased a TV stand I like from Target but felt it was too tall for my space and the couch I already owned. So I purchased furniture legs off Amazon and replaced the existing legs and voila! A custom TV stand!

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Minimal

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? Belmar Woven TV Stand Natural Oak and Antrader 4pcs 4-inch Height Legs. I found my coffee table from Facebook Marketplace. The circle shape and glass top works perfectly because my space is small so it doesn’t feel like a big block of furniture. A similar one can be found on Amazon. My kitchen island is a perfect piece because it works with my kitchen cabinets without being matchy-matchy. It’s also works as extra storage and my dining area. I am also obsessed with my stool for the island, another Facebook Marketplace purchase. They are a beautiful shade of blue Article counter stool that match my painting behind it.

Any advice for creating a home you love? I love a space that has decorative pieces that are specific to a person. To create a home you love I feel it needs to embody your personality and the things that get you up in the morning. It should be unmistakably yours.

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