I’m so excited for today’s post as I finally get to share with you guys a tour of my new apartment in Brooklyn Heights!

This tiny studio has found a real place in my heart. Not only is it my first time living alone but this new borough has also brought me a slice of serenity I never knew while living in Manhattan.

When looking for apartments I was short on time but I knew the most important things to me were (1) location, (2) natural light and (3) a dishwasher. I wanted multiple train options to make getting into Manhattan easy and less stressful and I wanted a location that felt like an actual neighborhood. That landed me in Brooklyn Heights and I couldn’t love it more.

The new place, like all places, came with compromise. It is small, it is dated and I currently don’t have air conditioning due to the old windows. But even with those downsides, I feel really happy with the way everything came together. It’s a cozy nook perfect for one person and I truly love waking up here and coming home to it each time I leave.

I knew I wanted to separate the space somehow and while I loved the idea of that famed Ikea bookshelf I’ve seen in studio tours before, spatially it wasn’t practical. I needed more space for clothes so decided to use a garment rack as a room divider of sorts and hung all my jackets, blazers and sweatshirts on it.

I had to get really creative and very specific when it came to making everything fit. I measured and re-measured pieces before I moved in so I knew how to arrange them upon move-in day. I meticulously planned storage solutions and designed the space to be as functional as possible given everything would be in one room. (I’m going to do a separate post on how I tackled all of this but it’s safe to say that I breathed a huge sigh of relief when all my furniture and belongings managed to fit!)

Instead of having a small dining table, I chose to prioritize my desk given I work from home. I absolutely love how this spot came together and I, at long last, finally have a gallery wall!

One of the biggest changes I made was swapping out my couch and headboard to be gray. I wanted the room to be full of neutrals and needed to ensure nothing competed with each other since everything would be in one room vs. two. By tying in the color scheme from both the bedroom and living area, the space looks more cohesive rather than haphazard. The reflective surfaces throughout also create the illusion of more space.

I have a few more items I’d like to add – mostly art on the wall next to my bed (or above my bed…TBD!) and then perhaps some additional small decorative pillows for the loveseat but other than that I am so pleased with how everything came together! More than any other apartment I’ve lived in I thought very carefully about the design choices I was making.

These marble nesting tables are probably my favorite part of the living area. They are functional and easily moved out of the way to make more space. Plus the marble top makes for a beautiful photo backdrop ;). I found this gorgeous pink candle at a local shop in my neighborhood called Regular Visitors. It smells absolutely amazing (it’s peony scented!)

This tray was a Target find several years ago and I still love it. It displays nearly all of my favorite perfumes.

While my bathroom in this place is a downgrade from my last apartment, I can’t tell you how much I love having a bathtub again!

Having these two mirrored chests side by side was one of my most handy storage solutions carried over from my last place. They store small bags, watches, sunglasses and atop them I have room for a bit of merchandising and storage for jewelry and lip colors.

The kitchen is a bit of an eyesore but I manage to make it work. I’m lucky to have a great storage closet tucked to the left where I can keep various small appliances, cookbooks, platters, etc. And having a dishwasher can be tough to find in some NYC apartments but it was a must for me. I’m also very grateful that it is separated in a little alcove. A lot of studio apartments I’ve seen the kitchen is part of the main room and that doesn’t appeal to me.

The aforementioned old windows…I have a love / hate relationship with them as I adore all the natural light they let in but they make getting air conditioning a real challenge. I throw them open most days though and let the apartment be flooded with light and a beautiful breeze.

A touch of Colorado in my Brooklyn apartment. This antler was shed near my parents’ property in the mountains and I love it as a topper to some of my favorite coffee table books.

The sunlight in my apartment is no doubt my favorite part. I love waking up with it streaming in and it feels like a commodity as so many New York places are dark due to surrounding buildings or limited windows. The light gives me life every day and on stormy summer days I’ve loved having the lightening outside and the rain coming down. (The Midwesterner in me loves summer storms!)

Hope you guys enjoyed getting a peek into my new place! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out and keep an eye out for the small spaces post I’ve got planned, too.

Living Area Furniture:

Raymour & Flanigan Headboard // Raymour & Flanigan Loveseat // Lulu & Georgia Pillow // Desk Chair // Raymour + Flanigan Mirrored Cabinet

Living Area Decorative:

Crystal Lamp // Raymour & Flanigan Mirrored Tray // Kate Spade Coffee Table Book // Tory Burch Coffee Table Book // Paris Print // SS Print Shop Framed Prints // All In Good Taste Book // In The Company of Women Book // The New Paris Book // Insider Brooklyn Book // Ghost Rose Candle // Odeme Paeonia Candle

Bedroom Area Furniture:

Raymour & Flanigan Headboard // Mirrored Accent Chests (2 side by side)

Bedroom Area Decorative:

 Brooklinen Bedding (the best!) // Tassel Shams // Faux Cowhide Rug // Jewelry Drawers // Chanel Book (Set of 3) // Lipstick Organizer (#lifesaver) // Sheepskin Rug // Jonathan Adler Alpaca Throw // The Little Dictionary of Fashion Book // The Fashion Insiders Guide – Paris Book //

p.s. my old bedroom and everything you need to know about moving to New York.

[Bekka Palmer Photography]

Many thanks to Raymour & Flanigan for their partnership once again! While product was provided, all opinions are 100% my own and I couldn’t love the pieces more.