My Manhattan Apartment
if carrie bradshaw had an apartment in 2020
Last year, I bought an apartment in Chelsea, NYC. The bare bones were good, but it needed a major design overhaul. I wanted it to feel clean, and to be sophisticated and modern at the same time. Here is 500 sq ft. of inspiration from the Italian Renaissance + a touch of #hygge.
I hope you like it and make sure to watch my IGTV “cribs tour” at the end of this post.
P.S. Let me know if you have any questions about the products in the comment section and I’ll try to help. :)
Before i bought it:
Bathroom:
Inspired by the bougieness of Capri, Italy. These are super luxe shower curtains. The material is thick and the black trim gives subtly textured fabric an elevated, Italian feel. Better than anything you’ll find at Target or Amazon, that’s for sure!
So perfect for a European inspired old-world bathroom décor. 100% natural cotton woven to resemble a beaded rug with chic fringe in classic ivory color. They are thick and absorbent and the best part is you can throw them in the washing machine - which I do every month to keep their bright color!
Hallway
Modern and minimalist, this was the skinniest console table I could find that looked high-end and matched my décor. It has glass on the bottom and top with gold trim. I have a skinny hallway and needed something under 12” wide so it didn’t stick out too much into the hallway!
This tinted glass gives this mirror an old Hollywood feel. I wanted an antique gold mirror that was affordable which is very hard to find, I spent over a month doing so! This was a decent price point for what most floor length gold mirrors are. I love getting ready with this every morning!
Seriously, SO worth the investment and they look SO real. These are made of actual paraffin wax exterior and a have a swaying candle “wick”. What’s cool is they have a timer function and turn off to preserve batteries. I’m 9 months in and my batteries are still alive! Any other cheaper model will NOT last as long I promise.
The Container Store will personally design your space (right down to how many dresses or tall boots you have). They also install, paint, and take down whatever you had before. If we’re going to spend so much money shopping, we might as well see our clothes the best way possible to style them?!
Living Room:
If there’s one thing you buy from my home tour, it’s THIS - it’s the most luxurious faux you’ll ever cuddle with. This is hands down my favorite “splurge”. It’s the highest quality fur I’ve ever seen and felt (some feel feathery and stringy) and this is plush, velvety and luscious.
This hand-woven wool off-white rug adds that perfect hygge touch to your room. It comes in several sizes big and small but I got the 5’ x 8’ oval size and it’s super unique. It’s very high quality and has thick padding which makes it comfy to walk on. A high-quality sweater like this almost much but it’s a rug!
These metallic embroidered pillows match my ceiling which looks like concrete is dripping down from it — I couldn’t believe I found these! They give a great modern touch and the canvas is thick and feels high-quality. I got the 20” square size.
This has a minimal and industrial look that I wanted to bring into my apartment to go with the modern vibes. The base is is a solid block of Carrara-style marble, while matte black iron pole streamlines up and over in a continuous flow with a big bulb. I love it!
This 3D wall art is created with hand-inlaid capiz shells from the Philippines. Prized for their transparency and durability, the shells are separated by hand into paper thin layers that diffuses light. Hang it on the wall for a splash of subtle shine and mesmerizing dimension. I also put lights behind it so it glows with a remote control!
This medallion molding will add depth and European elegance to any light fixture in your house. It’s a simple yet classic design that I didn’t think was over the top. It adds just a touch of style.
This off-white couch is SO high quality it feels like it’s a Restoration Hardware/designer piece but under $1K! It’s also a sleeper sofa with a Queen size mattress. It’s amazing for guests or to pull out for movie night. I’ve sat on it for weeks in quarantine and it’s really comfy. There are 25+ color swatches and they’ll send some for free. I got the shade Bevin Natural.
This is my favorite purchase #lifehack. Most brushed concrete coffee tables run over $500+ dollars. I measured this side-bench from CB2 and it’s the exact size and height as a coffee table so I use it for that instead! You can also buy a cushion to turn it into a seating bench for guests if you live in a studio/small space.
The couch came with a set of two matching pillows but I wanted more to make it a cuddle puddle. I found these very light grey pillows to add to the couch and they’re also made of a thick canvas material that’s squishy.
OMG this is the only mirrored TV console I could find that 1. Has drawers and 2. Is affordable-ish. This is made from solid and manufactured wood with mirrored panels that reflect your existing decor and draw the gaze. Three drawers and four doors conceal plenty of space for you to tuck away anything and it looks SO expensive.
I’m a travel buff and love to sit and daydream of my future European travels. Plus, my apartment has that renaissance Italian feel, so this is perfect. This sometimes goes on sale and a #lifehack is to order it used on Amazon in excellent condition and it’s $20 cheaper!
You have to buy pillow inserts for the covers and now they’re on sale for cheap cheap. I also have a long version of the ink pillow that I place in the middle of my couch:
14”x 26” Long Ink Pillow Cover | $39.20 HERE
Long Pillow insert |$16.00 HERE
20” Square Pillow insert | $14.40 HERE
Bedroom:
This petite barrel chair looks so expensive. It has faux leather upholstery which feels real and features detail stitching for a tailored touch. It’s comfy to sit on and the matching self-storing ottoman completes the design and is great to tuck in if you live in a small space!
I wanted a sleek and modern jewelry box that looked clean and orgaized. This has several compartments that open and close, lots of nooks for your rings up top, a mirror, and three drawers with rich gold details. I’m obsessed.
I wanted a super modern, high-end looking dresser and I jumped for joy when I found this cool “art” piece. It has three tiers of drawers with a stacked look and a high-gloss finish. Each of the six drawers offers plenty of room. Plus, this design includes a matching mirror which makes one less purchase!
I highly recommend only getting this brand of dimmable soft white under cabinet lighting. The soft white color is not the fluorescent color that I’ve made the mistake in buying. You can cut them to size and easily peel and stick. They come with a remote and lots of dimming options. Brightens up and modernizes any furniture piece like under a bed, dresser, etc.
Transform any wall into a functional workstation by mounting this fold-away desk. It looks like it’s floating off the floor. I used the gold foil leaf kit to make it look artistic on the outside (watch in my IGTV video). This is such a great little purchase for a small NYC apartment.
With this kit you can make any decor piece have a touch antique gold. There is enough leaf included to cover the surface of a lamp, frame, figurine, or any number of other projects. Includes 25 sheets and I had enough to do my small desk and picture frame. I’m addicted and it’s such a fun DIY
What better way to show off your jewelry, perfume, or makeup than to display them on this beautiful vanity tray? With glimmering crystals surrounded by a chrome frame, this adds glamour to your decor. Perfectly suited to sit on top of your dresser.
This minimalist bed frame boasts a rectangular silhouette with protruding bedrails which I knew would be perfect to put my underglow LED lighting under. This was the most affordable I found. It’s super clean looking and fits a queen-size mattress. I got the off white color which I think there’s only a few left.