This Colorful 480-Square-Foot NYC Rental Uses Every Nook and Cranny

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Apartment

LOCATION: Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York

STYLE: Colorful, Eclectic, Maximalist

BEDROOMS: 1

SQUARE FEET: 480

When Abby Starobin first toured this 480-square-foot apartment in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood two years ago, it was during a crowded open house, and the last tenant’s stuff was still inside. She said it was hard to see just how bad of a shape this space was actually in.

“There were broken tiles, missing pipes, and it was filthy,” she writes, describing the home before she moved in as “decrepit, neglected, run-down, gross.” But the building’s 1918-era charm was evident, and she “decided to revive it to its former glory. Plus, I love a project.”

“I’ve moved almost every year since living in NYC, so I wanted a place I could put roots down. This is also my first solo apartment, so it was extra important to me to make it a place I loved. I live here with my bird (and design assistant), Lola!” Abby explains.

“I always say my apartment is a self-portrait. I’m a naturally creative person, and this apartment has truly been a canvas for me to express myself,” she continues. “Every detail is intentional and tells a story, like the framed photo of my late father who built solar-powered homes in the ’80s, or my DIY media console.”

“I love to experiment with color and pattern and combine looks that wouldn’t ordinarily ‘go.’ It’s an ongoing project and brings me so much joy. As a budding interior designer, I see spaces as opportunities to tell a story. This apartment has been my playground for exploring styles, refining my skills, and pushing boundaries — qualities I bring to every project I take on,” Abby, who is a designer and the founder of Symphony Lane, writes.

Resources

KITCHEN

• Floor — Amazon

• Wall — Stencil from Etsy (paint colors are Backdrop’s “Rose Quartz” and Clare’s “Pink Sky”)

• Window hangings — Vintage

• Art print — Society6

• Stools — Wayfair

• Curtain — Amazon

• Ceiling light — Target

• Backsplash — Amazon

• Cabinet hardware — Etsy

• Fruit basket — Target

LIVING ROOM

• Wall color — Backdrop’s “Rose Quartz”

• Sofa — IKEA with custom Bemz cover

• Rug — Etsy

• Tray — The Lacquer Company

• Tissue box — Etsy

• Yellow pillow — Target

• Patterned pillow — Vendor from Fort Greene Flea

• Lumbar pillow — Feng Sway

• Large round pillow — Urban Outfitters

• Small round pillow — West Elm

• Art from either Society 6 or Artfully Walls; middle right is framed business cards I got in France

• Ceiling light — IKEA

• Plant light — DIY

• Media console — IKEA DIY

• Floating shelves — Stooped from the street in Brooklyn!

• Display case — IKEA

• Bookends — Target

• Step ladder — Amazon

• Diptych — Society 6

• Flower vase watercolor — My mom painted in the ’80s

• Art in gold frame — Actually is a printout of “THE note” from Jersey Shore

• Large white vase — Vintage from FBM

• Faux pink palms — Amazon

• Vase with flowers — Amazon

• Striped vase — IKEA

• Candles — Handmade by me

BEDROOM

• Desk — Vintage from FBM

• Chair — Vintage from FBM

• Mirror — Dream Fishing Tackle

• Paint color — DecoArt furniture paint in “Refreshing”

• Vase — Vintage from FBM

• Sconces — West Elm, then painted

• Cake Stand — Mother of Junk

• Ceramic wall hanging — Vintage from FBM

• Necklace holder — Etsy

• Ceiling light — IKEA

Thanks, Abby!

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

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Further Reading

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need

I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)