A “Dull and Lifeless” 450-Square-Foot NYC Studio Is Now Gorgeous and Playful

Adrienne Breaux
·7-min read
Teal and orange sofa in colorful studio apartment.
Lamp on entryway table with espresso maker on top.
Round ball shaped table lamp on dining table in studio apartment.
Paper lanterns hanging in window of blue painted studio apartment.
Teal and orange bird motif sofa in front of bed in studio apartment.
Blue and yellow bird motif fabric on sofa.
Television on credenza with canned doors in colorful living room.
Decorative items on coffee table.
Chinese figurines on shelf in studio apartment.
Asian figurines on shelf.
Yellow and blue/green crane motif wallpaper on focal bedroom wall with neatly made bed.
Neatly made bed in studio apartment.
Crane motif wallpaper in bedroom with neatly made bed.
Sonos speaker next to vase on yellow stool.
View of neatly made bed from clothing closet.
View into bathroom from closet.
Crane motif wallpaper in studio apartment.
Credenza beside apartment entryway.
Espresso maker on credenza outside of kitchen.
Crane motif wallpaper on walls just outside of small apartment kitchen.
Dinnerware on kitchen shelfs with condiments.
Closet doors outside of kitchen in NYC apartment.

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Studio Apartment

LOCATION: Sunnyside, Queens, New York

STYLE: Colorful, Maximalist

BEDROOMS: 0

SQUARE FEET: 450

Sin Ying Tracy Leung is a multidisciplinary designer from Hong Kong and creates “prints, spaces, products, branding, digital content, animations, marketing campaigns, art direction, illustrations, clothing, food, and Mahjong parties.” And three years ago, she purchased this 450-square-foot studio apartment in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens. Her partner, an architect, moved in a year later.

Book and other decorative items on living room coffee table.

“As my first home, I wanted it to reflect my vision,” she begins. “I took on many projects myself, from mixing my own paint colors and painting the walls to hanging wallpaper and installing fixtures. This space truly feels like my home away from home.”

Paper lamp shade on table for making coffee.

She describes the space before she purchased it as “old, dull, and lifeless.” But after implementing her vision, it’s now “colorful, playful, eclectic, and warm.” Turns out she creates beautiful homes, too!

Lucky cat on dresser surface with other decorative items.

“Given that this is a studio apartment, I aimed to create a visually unified space while still maintaining distinct areas for resting, working, and cooking,” she describes. “Additionally, we wanted to ensure there is ample room to store supplies for our hobbies — such as drawing, cooking, and sewing — without creating a cluttered environment.”

Paper floor lamp lit beside plant lined radiator in studio apartment.

While she didn’t alter the studio’s layout, she did take on all the interior decorating herself. “I created a custom green color for the walls using leftover paints from work and handled the furnishing as well. One of my proudest achievements was putting up the wallpaper myself, and I always make sure to mention it to my guests when they visit. Another favorite piece I created is a calligraphy sign, handcrafted by a Thai master during my travels there.”

Resources

Paper lanterns hanging in window of blue painted studio apartment.

PAINT & COLORS

  • Custom Forest Green Paint

Teal and orange bird motif sofa in front of bed in studio apartment.

LIVING ROOM

  • Minsmere TV Stand & Bookshelf — Target

  • Patched Portable Lamp — Panisa Objects

  • Ẹkáàbọ̀ Loveseat — Albany Park

  • Akari 3A Light Sculpture — Noguchi 

  • Ceramic Sculpture — @cindyclsy

  • Bird Wallpaper — York Wallcoverings

  • Raawii Strøm Jug — MoMA Design Store

  • Oval Coffee Table — Amazon

  • Wooden Calligraphy Sign — Hand Crafted from Thailand

Credenza beside apartment entryway.

DINING ROOM

  • Dining Table — Dumpster Find

  • Table Lamp — Vintage from Flea Market

  • African Fabric Table Runner — Flea Market

  • Plia Folding and Stacking Chairs — Vintage from Flea Market

Lamp on entryway table with espresso maker on top.

ENTRY & KITCHEN

  • OTTONI Electric Water Kettle — Bodum

  • Coffee Machine — Gaggia

  • HAY Matin Table Lamp — MoMA Design Store

  • Raawii Strøm Vase — MoMA Design Store

  • Delancey Light Blond 2-Door Cabinet — Home Depot

Crane motif wallpaper in bedroom with neatly made bed.

BEDROOM

  • Kartell Bio Componibili 3 Tier Storage — MoMA Design Store

  • Bamboo Side Table — IKEA

Crane mobil hanging in green painted bathroom.

BATHROOM

  • Bird Mobile — Havelské tržiště (Market in Prague)

Thanks!

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 Living Room Seating at Burrow to Determine the Best for Every Space and Need

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

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture

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