A Plethora of Plants (and Custom Murphy Bed) Makes This 280-Square-Foot NYC Studio Feel Refreshingly Big

For Ilse Paanakker, plants and DIY projects are more than just creative decor decisions. They are also a way for her to encourage and sustain her own wellness. “By being efficient with my space and bringing in many, many plants, I’ve created a leafy and airy style that sets my own healthy habits up for success,” says Ilse. “Taking care of plants and DIYing is meditative for me, which is why you’ll see a lot of both throughout my space.” As the founder of Habit House, a wellness tech startup whose mission is to help people create healthy habits, having a space that rejuvenates sets her up to best help others build and achieve healthy habits. “Your home is the foundation for your healthy habits, take the time to make it a space that sets you up for success so you can live well,” she advises.

My Style:  Leafy, airy, and efficient.

Inspiration: Nature and its natural elements. 

Favorite Element: All the plants.

Biggest Challenge: Not buying more plants (there’s no more space!).

What Friends Say: It feels like a small indoor jungle where everything fits together well.

Biggest Embarrassment: Somehow I always end up picking a variation of the color purple for my accent wall(s). It’s been the case in the last four places I’ve lived.

Proudest DIY: The seven-foot wooden ladder that I hand built in my apartment. I bought 2x4s at Ace Hardware, carried them up my six flights of stairs, and sawed them right here in my space. I stained the ladder using some stain left over from my coffee table so it matched the wood I already had in my space. 

Biggest Indulgence: Plants from the Union Square Farmer’s Market!

Best Advice: Your home is the foundation for your healthy habits, take the time to make it a space that sets you up for success so you can live well. 

• Murphy Bed — Custom Design from Murphy Bed Express
• Ceramic art of lady and dog on wall — Abstract Artist Barbara Paanakker
• Ceramic Houses — KLM Dutch Houses
• Bedsheets — Brooklinen 

• Coffee Table — Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table from Etsy (can’t find link)
• Couch — Lazzoni Vetro Sleeper Sectional with Storage
• Rug — West Elm tweed rug (I can’t find it anymore)
• Pillows on couch:
  • Pillow on couch with quote: Love grows best pillow from PCB Home 
  • Black Pillows Came with couch
  • Tweed pillow: Crate and Barrel 
• Painting in Living Room — Abstract Artist Barbara Paanakker
• Plates on Coffee Table — Thrifted from Mother of Junk in Williamsburg
• Small blue chair — Found on the street
• Throw Blanket on Couch — Ugg (This was a present so I don’t have link)
• Wine Crate with books/magazines in it — Found on the street
• Bird of Paradise Plant — Brooklyn Plants
• Monstera Deliciosa — Union Square Farmer’s Market
• Wooden triangles on wall — Self-stained, triangles from Etsy
• Puppets — From Indonesia, purchased during a trip
• Blue vase on table — Greenwhich Pottery House sale

• Art on Ladder:
  • Small Painting on ladder — Abstract Artist Barbara Paanakker
  • Ceramic Face Plant Holder — Artist Femke Paanakker
• Body ceramic art on window sill — Artist Jeske Paanakker 
• Pharmacy Pots in window sill — Family antique
• Ladder — Self Made using 2×4’s and wood stain that matched coffee table
• Macramé plant hangers — Self woven, took a class by @meditativemacreme to learn

• Shelves in Kitchen — Self made using plywood found on street and pipe clamps
• Window Whiteboards — Old windows from my space, reused them   
• Bar Stools — Tabouret 24-inch Vintage Counter Stool 

• Shelves — Container Store, rectangle and triangle shelves (can’t find triangle one’s link on Container Store website)
• Towels — Frontgate

Thanks, Ilse!

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