Tyler & Jules Can Make Your Bed Rock

updated Jun 3, 2019

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Name: Tyler Marcum & Julie Kotarides
Location: Astoria, Queens NYC
Size: 1,000 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

There’s a very good reason why so many people are interested in this pad. It’s thoroughly adorable and has always been — throughout all its transitions. Before the calmer gray, white, yellow, and blue palette entered the picture, the place was featured as a finalist in our Second Annual Fall Colors Contest as Tyler’s Color Fueling Station. You can also see how much the home has changed in this segment from Small Space, Big Style. Check out these links to get a sense of before and after.

We’ll follow up with Tyler and Jules in the future to see what new tricks (and dance moves) they pull out. But for now, the more sophisticated feeling is a change that I think is for the better. A bold, modern foundation supports quirky, personal, and colorful details scattered about. Now if only we could work on their taste in music…

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Tyler – rustic modern, Julie – shabby chic

Inspiration: Harmony. We wanted a place that would feel cozier yet still be able to keep up with our sometimes-neurotic lives.

Favorite Element: A weathered wood window frame that my father made into a mirror.

Biggest Challenge: Arranging the furniture in a way that feels comfortable. We have many obstacles (heater vents, heater poles, and vinyl flooring in the kitchen that won’t be going anywhere).

What Friends Say: They think we are apartment obsessed! Julie and I are always moving and changing the space.

Biggest Embarrassment: Our kitchen floor. We have looked at putting IKEA white wood paneling in the kitchen but with it being such a laborious task (and the fact that we are renting!) we decided against it.

Proudest DIY: The IKEA bookshelf-turned-bar has made it through our transition phase and still continues to be my favorite DIY.

Biggest Indulgence: Pillows and more pillows. I think we have around five designer pillows in our closet that we switch out from time to time. Because we do this so often, we have been buying covers and keeping the same cushion inserts. Places like CB2 sell just the pillow cover and this takes about $10 off the retail cost.

Best Advice: Don’t always go with your gut instinct. While I feel like this rings true to a lot of real life situations, I feel that sometimes a space needs time for you to adjust and vice-a-versa.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Resources: Apartment Therapy, Etsy, Design*Sponge, Anthropologie store windows, and the sights and sounds of New York City

Floors: hardwood, vinyl (came with apartment)

Entryway: framed picture from Z Gallerie, chandelier from IKEA

Kitchen: appliances (most came with apartment), dish accessories by DwellStudio for Target

Living Room: sofa from Macy’s, tealight chandelier from Illuminations, coffee table and bookshelf-turned-bar from IKEA, dining table from EQ3, bookshelf from West Elm

Ty’s Bedroom: desk, bed, and duvet from West Elm, sheets from EQ3, wallpaper from Graham & Brown, pillows from DwellStudio and Inhabit

Julie’s Bedroom: duvet cover from DwellStudio for Target, sheets from Martha Stewart, rug from Anthropologie, furniture from IKEA

Bathroom: shower curtain from Anthropologie

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Thanks Tyler and Jules!

Images: Annie Werbler

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