HOUSE TOUR | A Charming 400 sq ft Studio Apartment in New York City

Claudia Williams, a freelance writer and content creator, welcomes viewers to her Brooklyn studio apartment. After four years of living with roommates, she desired a place of her own and to adopt a cat. Facing challenges in finding a new apartment during a competitive rental season, Claudia decided to store her belongings and travel to England. During her trip, she collaborated with a broker, Naomi Steinberg, to find her dream apartment. Despite initial difficulties, she eventually found a rent-stabilized apartment with original architectural details, natural light, and a community feel. Claudia shares her joy in finding her 'dream apartment' and how the stress of the search was worth it.

Claudia takes pride in her bookshelves, which cost approximately $120 to make, and are filled with historical fiction and spy novels. She also has a collection of terracotta pictures and books bought during her travels, including a beautiful book about Old English country houses from the Cotswolds. Claudia's design style is reflected in her bookshelf, which she considers an embodiment of her personality. She has a system of organizing read books on the top shelves and unread books on the bottom, adding to it whenever she finds something that resonates with her.

Claudia's apartment includes a 125-year-old family chair, a new Indian block-printed pillow, and a chandelier from the brand Pooky, which she chose for its use of Morris & Co linen fabric. She also highlights the original shutters that offer privacy and light control, and a cat-friendly environment. The apartment's high ceilings, large windows, and a front porch enhance the sense of space, despite its studio layout. Claudia enjoys the coziness and intimacy of her home and has no issues with the limited space.

Claudia's bedroom area is defined from the living room by an antique room divider she found on a trip to Cape Cod. The divider serves a dual purpose, also acting as a clothing rack. She also features a dresser made from English Pine, found on Facebook Marketplace, and an elegant painting that she named 'Clarice,' bought from an antique store in Upstate New York. The bedroom is adorned with a handmade rug in a perfect shade of green, found through Lulu in Georgia, and a headboard from the same source. Claudia's bedding reflects her love for pattern and texture, with a gingham design and pinstriped cotton sheets.

Claudia's apartment is filled with art and objects with personal stories, such as a维也纳教堂版画 (etching of a famous church in Vienna) and a scon from her trip to England. She also has a collection of terracotta pictures and a lamp from the same brand as her chandeliers. Her apartment is a mix of antique and secondhand items, many of which she has found at flea markets, antique stores, or received as gifts. Claudia's home is a reflection of her love for traditional eclectic style and she affectionately refers to it as her 'Urban Cottage.'

Claudia's bathroom, though typical for New York, is personalized with a hand-sewn shower curtain made from an Indian block-printed tablecloth. She also installed pegs for hanging towels and baskets and used found art from a thrift store to add character. A Facebook Marketplace find provides storage, and she has a collection of soap bars from her grandmother. Claudia prefers the warmth of a lamp over the overhead light for a more comfortable ambiance.

Despite its small size, Claudia's kitchen is functional and personalized. She covered the counters with peeling stick paper and adorned the backsplash with a piece of art. The kitchen is filled with thrifted items, including wooden spoons and a miniature lamp for a warm lighting effect. A rolling skirted table made from a flea market fabric and a piece of wood provides additional counter and storage space. Claudia also has a handmade light fixture made from a block-printed tablecloth, adding a unique touch to the kitchen.

Claudia enjoys cooking in her small kitchen, often making lemon chicken soup and bolognese, a dish she perfected after visiting Bologna, Italy. She also has a passion for baking, having started a bakery in her mother's kitchen during the pandemic. Claudia hopes to open a real bakery in Upstate New York in the future. She appreciates the coziness of her current kitchen and makes the most of the space, using it to cook for friends and family.

For Claudia, home is a feeling of safety, comfort, and warmth, rather than a specific place. She has made her apartment into a home by filling it with beloved belongings and creating a cozy environment for her cat, Stanley. Claudia is a freelance writer and content creator who enjoys writing about historic homes and creating interior-focused content, including decorating and DIY videos. She expresses her creativity through her work and is grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves in her beautiful home.