A Renter Decorated Her Apartment in Rich Brown Colors Without Making It Feel Dark

The prewar building is around 102 years old and located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, which Alea describes as filled with lots of trees. The apartment itself was in good shape when they moved in, but had much of its original wood painted over. Alea described it as a “white box.”

Alea says she leaned into the home’s beautiful architecture, enhancing the built-in beauty with a mix of paint and some renter-friendly elements. As an artist, creative, writer, and astrologer, she wanted to “create a Zen space that felt welcoming but still upscale and elegant.”

The layout is one of Alea’s favorite things about the apartment, explaining that it flows well, especially for a rental. “I used to live in a railroad apartment in Brooklyn and HATED it (that apartment was actually featured here before years ago!),” Alea admits.

Decorating this apartment wasn’t just about visual elements for them, though. “I have sensory issues so it was quite important that nothing felt too busy or bothersome to my nervous system or artistic preferences,” Alea explains.

“I love biophillic design,” Alea writes. “Seeing elements that are natural in nature like wood, marble, linen, florals, etc. was helpful in a lot of the design choices I made. It makes me feel really calm, and even guests have mentioned how they feel sleepy after hanging out for a while,” she jokes.

While Alea and her daughter haven’t been in the rental very long — and she still has more plans of what she would like to do to the place — Alea feels they “have settled in beautifully.” And I agree!

• Table shelf — Secondhand vintage
• Storage cubbies and art — HomeGoods
• Vanity mirror — Athena Calderone x Crate and Barrel

• Couch, Japanese screen, wooden divider, fireplace, large mirror, coffee table, black candleholder, and mushroom lamp — All Facebook Marketplace or secondhand
• Chrome candle sconces — Stoff and Nagel
• Sitting chairs — Wayfair/HomeGoods
• Bubble lamp — West Elm
• Large rug and blanket — HomeGoods
• Runner rugs — Rug Outlet
• Pendant light — CB2 X Goop collab
• Bookshelf — Target
• Painting — Original
• Dresser — Secondhand vintage
• Lamps, bench, vase, and pedestal side table — HomeGoods
• Marble plinth — Etsy
• Marble table — Carly Kushnie via Lulu and Georgia
• Dining chairs — Amazon
• Jeweled mirror — Facebook Marketplace (I actually changed its orientation and added tassels with my tools so it would fit there)
• Candles — Sanctuaire Life

• Flooring — Amazon
• Flooring — Amazon
• Chandelier — Amazon
• Ceiling Medallion — Amazon
• Countertop — Amazon

• Bunk bed — Amazon (although I wouldn’t recommend it; I’m going to have to get her a new one)
• Rug — Rugs Direct
• Desk, bookshelf, kitchen, soft wall decor — Secondhand or Facebook Marketplace
• Striped curtains and canopy amazon, valanced curtains — Anthropologie

• Lacquer room divider, footstool, and the pendant light (Oi Soi Oi) — Facebook Marketplace
• Rug — Royal weave rugs on Etsy. I love the rug for its corner cuts that felt really Art Deco and matched the art really well.
• Lamps and large art piece — HomeGoods
• Nightstands and bedding — Target
• Large mirrored room divider, art, lamp — Facebook Marketplace and secondhand
• Dresser — Wayfair

• Paint color — “Death by Chocolate” by Behr
• Desk — Sourced from our local nelson Atkin museum
• Rug, room divider, the Balinese masks, tassel — Secondhand or FBMP
• Light fixture — Athena Calderone x Crate and Barrel
• Mirror — Target
• Wooden chairs — Amazon

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