HOUSE TOUR | A Charming 400 sq ft Studio Apartment in New York City
TLDRClaudia Williams, a freelance writer and content creator, gives a tour of her charming 400 sq ft studio apartment in Brooklyn, New York. After a challenging search and a two-month trip to England, she found her dream apartment with original architectural details and natural light. Claudia shares her love for historical fiction, antiques, and the personal touches she's added to make the space feel like home, including DIY projects, flea market finds, and family heirlooms. She emphasizes the coziness and functionality of her studio, which she has filled with a curated collection of items that reflect her travels, interests, and personality.
Takeaways
- 🏡 Claudia Williams, a freelance writer and content creator, shares her 400 sq ft studio apartment in Brooklyn, New York, which she considers her dream home.
- 🛋️ The apartment features a charming layout with a living space that includes DIY bookshelves, a collection of books, and terracotta pictures that add character.
- 🐱 Claudia's cat, Stanley, enjoys the apartment, especially the original shutters that open and close, which is part of Claudia's morning ritual with him.
- 🎨 Claudia has adorned her home with a mix of antique and secondhand items, many of which were found at flea markets, antique stores, or gifted by family members.
- 🌟 A standout feature of the apartment is the original pier mirror that stretches to the ceiling, adding a sense of grandeur and practicality to the space.
- 🛏️ The bedroom area is defined by an antique room divider found on a road trip, which also serves as a place to hang clothes.
- 🧺 Claudia enjoys collecting and displaying miniature milk creamers, which are both functional and decorative in her kitchen.
- 🍽️ The kitchen, though small, is made cozy and functional with the use of a rolling skirted table for additional counter space and storage.
- 🖼️ Artwork is a significant part of Claudia's home decor, with pieces displayed throughout the apartment, even in the kitchen backsplash.
- 🕯️ Claudia has a penchant for candles and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere with soft lighting rather than harsh overhead lights.
- 🌿 The apartment is filled with plants, adding to the natural and serene ambiance, and Claudia takes care to choose items that have a story or hold sentimental value.
Q & A
Who is the host of the house tour in this video?
-The host of the house tour is Claudia Williams.
Where is Claudia's studio apartment located?
-Claudia's studio apartment is located in Brooklyn, New York.
How long has Claudia been living in Brooklyn?
-Claudia has been living in Brooklyn for 4 years.
What did Claudia do when her lease was up in September?
-When her lease was up, Claudia put her stuff in storage and traveled to England for two months.
Who helped Claudia find her current apartment?
-Claudia hired a broker named Naomi Steinberg to help her find her current apartment.
What feature of the apartment immediately caught Claudia's attention?
-The original pier mirror in the apartment immediately caught Claudia's attention.
How did Claudia manage to afford and secure this apartment?
-Claudia raised her budget by $100 and found the apartment, which was rent-stabilized and included utilities.
What is Claudia's favorite part of her apartment?
-Claudia's favorite part of her apartment is the bookshelf in the living space, which she made for about $120.
What unique feature does Claudia's apartment have that makes it special to her?
-The apartment has 12-foot ceilings, original shutters, and a historic pier mirror which make it special to her.
What type of content does Claudia create as a freelance writer and content creator?
-Claudia creates content focused on historical homes, interiors, and slow living. She also writes stories for Architectural Digest.
Outlines
🏡 Introduction to Claudia's Studio Apartment Journey
Claudia Williams, a freelance writer and content creator, introduces her studio apartment in Brooklyn, New York. She shares her experience of living in Brooklyn for four years with roommates before deciding to live alone. The search for an apartment during a difficult time of the year led to many challenges and rejections due to her single income as a freelancer. After traveling and staying with friends, she returned to New York and eventually found her dream apartment, which she describes as a place with architectural charm and natural light, making all the stress worthwhile.
📚 Bookshelf Delight and Travel Mementos
Claudia's pride and joy is her bookshelf, which she built for an affordable cost. The bookshelf is filled with historical fiction and spy novels, as well as books purchased during her travels in England. She also has a collection of terracotta pictures and other art pieces from her travels, including a matchbook collection from various restaurants in New York. Claudia's bookshelf represents her love for storytelling and her personal style, which she considers a true reflection of her identity.
🌞 Morning Rituals and Treasured Possessions
Claudia describes her morning ritual with her cat, Stanley, which involves opening the original shutters of her apartment. She also mentions her family's antique chair, a new Indian block printed pillow, and her favorite chandeliers from Pooky, an English brand. The chandeliers are made with Morris and Co linen fabric, which adds a warm glow to the room. Claudia's apartment is filled with items that have a story and sentimental value, including a matchbook with her dad's collection and a scandalous phone number.
🧘♀️ Studio Living and Personal Space
Claudia discusses her love for living in a studio apartment, emphasizing the coziness and intimacy it provides. She explains how she has tailored her lifestyle to fit the space and appreciates being able to see all her belongings at once. Despite the small size, she has never encountered any issues living in the studio and enjoys the high ceilings and natural light. Claudia also mentions the outdoor dining area and the multifunctional desk that serves as a dining table for her and her friends.
🛏️ Slumber Area and Antique Charm
Claudia transitions into the sleeping area of her studio, which is separated from the living room by an antique room divider she found on a trip to Cape Cod. She has a dresser from Facebook Marketplace, which she uses as both storage and a nightstand. Above the dresser hangs a hand-painted wood painting she bought in Upstate New York. Claudia also talks about her non-functional sconces, a headboard from Lulu in Georgia, and her love for patterned and cozy bedding that adds character to her living space.
🎨 Artful Touches and Collected Treasures
Claudia's apartment is filled with art and collected items, each with a story. She has a rug with a perfect shade of green that complements her home, as well as a painting she bought as a souvenir from her study abroad in Vienna. The apartment also includes a desk she found on Facebook Marketplace, which fits perfectly in her space. Claudia's collection of terracotta pictures, a scon from England, and a heart-shaped scun are all part of her curated and eclectic style. She also mentions her need for extra storage and how she found a piece on Facebook Marketplace that she painted to match the aesthetic of her home.
🍳 Kitchen Comforts and Culinary Creations
Claudia's kitchen, though small, is a cozy and functional space. She has covered the counters with peeling stick paper and adorned the backsplash with art. She has also created a rolling skirted table for additional counter and storage space. Claudia enjoys cooking and baking, and she has a signature dish, Bolognese, which she perfected after visiting Bologna, Italy. She also shares her love for baking and her experience of opening a bakery during the pandemic. Claudia's kitchen is a reflection of her culinary passions and her ability to make the most of a small space.
👩🍳 Content Creation and the Essence of Home
As a freelance writer and content creator, Claudia works on stories for Architectural Digest and creates videos about interior design, DIY projects, and slow living. She expresses her gratitude for being able to exercise her creativity and work in her beautiful home. Claudia's concept of home is about the feeling of safety, comfort, and warmth, and she believes that home is what one makes of it. She is thankful for her apartment and the ability to fill it with things she loves, creating a cozy and personal space.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Studio Apartment
💡Freelance Writer
💡Rent Stabilized
💡Architectural Digest
💡Flea Market
💡Terracotta
💡Matchbook Collection
💡Room Divider
💡Pier Mirror
💡DIY (Do It Yourself)
💡Content Creator
Highlights
Claudia Williams, a freelance writer and content creator, shares her 400 sq ft studio apartment in Brooklyn, New York.
After living with roommates for four years, Claudia desired a space of her own and to adopt a cat.
She put her belongings in storage and traveled to England for two months, living with a stranger who became a great friend.
Claudia's apartment search was challenging, facing denials due to her single freelancer income.
Her broker, Naomi Steinberg, helped her find the perfect apartment while Claudia was in England, using FaceTime for viewings.
The apartment featured original architectural details, natural light, and was rent-stabilized with utilities included.
Claudia's favorite part of her apartment is her 12-foot bookshelf, curated with beloved items and books.
She enjoys the morning ritual of opening the original shutters with her cat, Stanley, to enjoy the outside view.
The apartment's chandeliers are from a brand called Pooky, chosen for their use of Morris & Co linen fabric shades.
Claudia's Pier mirror is a standout feature, stretching to the ceiling and providing practicality without needing a floor-length mirror.
She found a unique antique room divider on a road trip to Cape Cod, which helps define her sleeping area.
Claudia's kitchen is small but functional, with a cozy atmosphere enhanced by art and collected items.
Her bathroom, though compact, is personalized with a handmade shower curtain and vintage storage solutions.
The apartment's original double doors were a selling point for Claudia, adding to the grand entrance and character of her home.
Claudia's work as a freelance writer and content creator allows her to exercise her creativity and share her love for historic homes and interior design.
She has a vision of opening a bakery in Upstate New York, inspired by her successful baking business started during the pandemic.
Claudia's home is a reflection of her love for antiques, secondhand finds, and items with a story, creating a traditional eclectic style.
She believes that home is not just a place but a feeling of safety, comfort, and warmth, which she has successfully cultivated in her studio apartment.