Tamar’s Smart, Stylish Studio Apartment

Name: Tamar Levine
Location: Chelsea, New York City
Size: 270 square feet
Years lived in: 4

While Tamar’s address has stayed the same, the decor has changed a few times. The challenge of keeping a one room apartment clean and functional, yet still uniquely styled is one she loves to tackle. But adding a fresh set of eyes to the process was a perfect formula with the most rewarding results. While working with her friend, Jenny Kaplan (whom you may remember from Chris & Jenny’s Collective Elegance) in designing and photographing for her website An Aesthetic Pursuit, they turned to her apartment for a revamp.

“We had so much fun working through this process together, putting a fresh spin on the pieces I owned and cherished for a perfectly complete space, says Tamar. “The bones were there and the collaboration brought it all to life.”

She also has started her own line of modern linens for babies. “Olive + Bird is a business I began with my close friend, Christina, after we decided we needed to indulge our artistic sides. Having both come from careers with creative backgrounds (and growing up in the same type of environment) we knew we needed to channel this passion into a project of our own. And thus Olive + Bird was born, offering linens for the modern babe. It is about bridging the essential pieces that babies need with the beautiful touches we all want to inject in our lives. There is that innocence and excitement in children that we love and want to capture in our product.”

My Style: Girly meets Mid-Century

Inspiration: Blogs, Pinterest and friends.

Favorite Element: Besides the amazing light I get in here, I love to travel and have gathered some exciting pieces from around the world. When looking around I have such great memories from those trips, all right here in my home.

Biggest Challenge: Fitting my life in one room. I run half of my business, Olive + Bird, in my apartment so storage for both fabrics and my personal belongings had to be worked carefully.

What Friends Say: My place is warm & comfortable and easy to hang out in. It never feels like we are squeezed in a small apartment. The layout makes it the perfect spot to have a few friends over… and everyone can have their own seat which is always a feat in a studio in New York City.

Biggest Embarrassment: My kitchen. I love to cook and most of the time I feel very restricted with the tiny space. Though behind the scenes my step stool doubles as a great spot to place dishes on and I have made some really creative makeshift countertops whilst prepping meals.

Proudest DIY: My bar/office/dining room cabinet (did I mention how multi-functional it is?) I found this piece of furniture and, though it wasn’t initially my style, I knew it was too practical to pass up. It has cabinet storage underneath and the top rolls out for leaf inserts which can seat 7 (if I were ever able to fit 7 people in here!). Inside my apartment, I spent two weeks stripping, sanding, priming, painting and sealing it. It was such a rewarding project in the end and can safely say that it is my style. I’m so much happier with the color and now I know I can strip furniture!

Biggest Indulgence: I would say my bathroom renovation. I worked with my building to get a very needed update and was able to design and choose the bathroom tiles and elements. It is my very mini spa.

And next would be artwork and framing. I have some amazing pieces from my friend, Jenna Snyder Phillips, which bring just the right amount of character to my room without overpowering it. My advice is to invest in pieces you love as they will reflect just that in your space… and people often tend to see them first.

Best Advice: Take your time picking pieces to furnish and decorate your home. I won’t lie when I say I have bought things on a whim and sold them soon after! Now I really make sure I am passionate about something before I buy it.

Dream Sources: I love Etsy, Ebay and local flea markets for vintage furniture & accessories. West Elm has some great pieces to work with and if given the option I could live in ABC Home.

LIVING ROOM

Thanks, Tamar!

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