Who decides to wrap up holiday orders and embark on her apartment search the same week? This girl. The past few weeks have been insane — in an awesome, overwhelming, what-did-I-get-myself-into, thank-goodness-I-love-my-job, pinch-me! kind of way — so I'm not really sure why now felt like the right time to tack this onto my to do list. But my parents and I spent the weekend looking at places and goodness gracious, I am so excited to finally live in New York. Granted I will be living in the teensiest, tiniest studio with a hyperactive 10-month-old puppy and boxes on boxes of inventory... but I'm 100% up for the challenge. Eeek! Lots more to come on this I hope. In the mean time, tell me: 1) Where was the tiniest place you've ever lived? and 2) What's one thing you did to make it feel like home?
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47 comments:
Wow so exciting Mackenzie! I've heard you mention a few times about wanting to step out on your own, this is IT! I'm happy for you. I know you will meet this new chapter of your life with grace and style. xox Good luck and Merry Christmas!
AAAAH! So excited to have you in the city! What neighborhood will you be in? Kenny and I lived in a 500 sq ft studio for 2 years and I can tell you it definitely made us appreciate personal space ;)
My sister just finished the crazy NYC apartment hunt after months of looking -- let me know if you want her realtor or her advice!
And good luck :) How exciting for you!
Our little swiss apartment was TEENY tiny. and I loved it. Now I live in a 3000 sq ft home, and I honestly miss the smallness of that cozy little two bedroom loft. Plus I was always close to JB... he couldn't get away from me (;
Congratulations! Living on your own is one of the best and most rewarding experiences as a young-professional! With a small place- making use of the space is key. Utilize every single bit of space and find fun ways to display items (which will also hold those items). Also...learn to get rid of things!! You never know how much you have until you begin to move!
best of luck & congratulations
dreamy! love that we get to share in your new adventure mackenzie! we lived in a two bedroom apt. with three kids while waiting for our house to be built. it was fun!...and cozy. i'm so excited for you :)
Good luck! How exciting. I had a tiny apartment with my then-new-boyfriend and now husband in Cleveland - not a single closet. We made it work. Functional, slim storage from Ikea helps a bunch.
Lauren from Flee to the Cleve
We lived in a studio in SoNo and it was really small and I honestly didn't decorate it at all because I knew we'd only be there for a year and had no idea where we'd go next.
my smallest place was a studio on the upper east side with kitchen in the closet & a bathroom only one person could fit in at a time, I loved it! My current apartment in Beacon Hill is still super tiny & I adore it. I think I do well in small spaces, feels safe :) Good Luck!
we lived in a 680 sqft apt in the city for 4 years...I really tried to keep colors neutral...we had really big windows so that helped too...the worst thing to do is have unnecessary clutter..it makes the apt feel caustrophobic...
So excited for you, sweet girl! Can't wait to see how you decorate it!!
i lived in a studio apt in new haven connecticut for a year - i always made my bed & i had the coziest quilt that was also pretty to look at.
I am very jealous of your oh-so-fabulous-tiny-studio-apartment-living-self. It's going to be an amazing experience and one that you'll love.
Chelsea
Haute Child in the City
What an exciting time! I lived and worked in NYC for over 6 years and LOVED every minute. My smallest apartment was around 800 square feet and on 27th street. It had a fantastic view and honestly did not feel small. I just felt fortunate to be living in the most magnificent city in the world!!
How exciting, congrats girly! Maybe re-visit Ellie Somerville's apt from a couple years ago - I thought she did a great job on small space! Happy holidays! X
Eek! So exciting! I live in Asia (which has its' own challenges in feeling homey besides space) but I love candles, flowers, and lots of color to make it feel like home.
The best part about living in a small space is that it forces you to edit down your possessions to only what you really love and use daily. Also, candles smell amazing because there is less area!
congrats on a busy holiday season and apartment hunting! It is so exciting that you are accomplishing all your goals!
How exciting! Hope to see updates when you get into your new place and see how you decorate! The one thing I did when I moved into my first apartment, to make it feel like home, was bring some of my parents' old furniture pieces and create a cozy seating area. That was my favorite area in the apartment, and actually when we moved into the house, I just transplanted that seating area into the living room.
My dorm room was the smalled place I've ever lived. Not too bad considering, but I made my bed a sanctuary & used shelving as storage. To me, your bed is the most important thing in a home & if its comfy & welcoming, you're set!
So exciting! I lived in a 300 square foot apartment for 2 years -- DEFININTELY leads to creative space usage!
So excited to see your decorating process! Glad you found a place. It's fun to make an apartment in to your own little home.
Good luck apartment hunting!!
Tiny apartments can be very quaint. It's def all about paring down to just what you love and not trying to cram too much furniture into the space. I'm guilty of over-cramming and having too many tchotchkes, but you live and learn :) Use the city as your living room and dining room and you will have plenty of space!
Good for you! The tiniest (and also not a super nice apt) that I lived in was one that was owned by my university when I first got to Montreal for my Masters :)
as someone who lives in a teeny-tiny manhattan studio herself, i can tell you that it's 100% worth it. good luck with the search!!
How exciting! The smallest space I have ever lived in was my dorm room freshman year of color. My roommate and I made it our own by decorating the walls and adding lots of pops of color :)
Have you seen this feature from The Everygirl? Tons of great ideas for a smaller space!
xo Olivia
go for the glam
best of luck girl! I'll most likely be moving to NYC next year and would love any tips you have!
I lived in my sorority house with a closet the size of half of a door. I actually think the smaller places make a place feel more cozy! Warm colors, fluffy rugs, giant down comforters, lamps for dim lighting... all of those things will make it feel cozy! You better share before and after pictures lady! Good luck, and so excited for you!
My hubs and I live in a 600 square foot studio now to prepare to move to NYC next year [but shhh! that's a secret! ;)]. We absolutely love it. It makes you reevaluate your purchases and keeps the clutter away! As far as tips, it's really about utilizing every nook and cranny! I keep my mop/broom/ironing board under my bed (it's too low and too big to put on risers). I also suggest mounting your tv if possible! Good luck!!
Yay congrats on your big move!
Congratulations, Mackenzie! Kind of jealous of all you amazing ladies in NYC. I'll just have to visit.
In terms of smallest space I've lived... boarding school for sure! To make it feel like home I added my own curtains and hung "art" (magazine tear sheets) everywhere.
Sounds like so much fun!
The tiniest place I have ever lived would be my jail cell of a dorm room with my roommate our freshmen year in Tutwiler Hall at the University of Alabama! To make it feel like home? Well no matter where I live even if it is for a year hanging up pictures of my family and friends and some art work always makes me feel at home because for some reason if you put something on the walls its like your saying I am going to be here awhile, maybe that's the military child in me but it always makes me feel at home with pictures.
I know your apartment will be cute and cozy!
Sounds like so much fun!
The tiniest place I have ever lived would be my jail cell of a dorm room with my roommate our freshmen year in Tutwiler Hall at the University of Alabama! To make it feel like home? Well no matter where I live even if it is for a year hanging up pictures of my family and friends and some art work always makes me feel at home because for some reason if you put something on the walls its like your saying I am going to be here awhile, maybe that's the military child in me but it always makes me feel at home with pictures.
I know your apartment will be cute and cozy!
Congrats on the new apartment!! From a fellow New Yorker, welcome to the most wonderful city on earth!! I live in a tiny NYC studio apartment as well. I make it my own my putting pictures of family and friends everywhere!
Congratulations! NYC will be so exciting! I'm moving to London to study abroad next semester and I'll be living in a teeny apartment too! I plan on putting up tons of photos of my fam!
Emily
www.prettyshinymine.blogspot.com
Just moved into NYC a few months ago - my bedroom is 8x8 but I looove it. Make every piece of decor count and have a story!
So exciting! My first apartment in NY was tiny but it was so fun to make into HOME. (It did help that I was working for Ralph Lauren and could get a big discount on some furnishings)
So exciting! I think I would have ended up in NYC had I not met my hubs when I did. My fave apt was my apt in an old high rise in Chicago. I painted the kitchen pink and hung a chandelier in the entry foyer. I loved that little apt!
xx
Hang window treatments. Immediately.
I spent my early twenties bouncing from apartment to apartment chasing the next best leasing deal to save money. Some were charming; others crummy. But regardless of the view from each respective window, hanging curtains instantly transformed another random apartment into a cozy little home.
I wish you the very best in your search! And when you find your new nest, remember that space is relative. Make it your own and the square footage won't matter in the least!
So exciting!!!! The smallest place I lived in felt a lot smaller than it was, but I kept the style of it very white & crisp. I felt like every a few photos on the wall made it feel tiny- so mirrors & white it was! I'm excited for this next chapter for you!
xoKatie
www.suburbansparkle.net
When I first apartment here in Chicago was a 130 sq ft (yes you read that correctly, a 10x13) box a couple blocks from Wrigley Field. I stayed there for 3 years (It's just SO stressful to move!). It will always be my first place, and it will always be a fun period in my timeline.
Most of the compliments I got (AFTER "it's so tiny!") was how cozy it was, in a good way. Pictures, and books, a chair, a coffee table and a bed. Once I put my kitchen together it felt like home.
Good luck! You'll LOVE New York! And when apartment hunting just remember my 130 squarefooter: yes it CAN get smaller!!!
Best of luck! That sounds super fun!
HI Mackenzie,
Congratulations, how exciting! I used to live in a studio apartment while at UCLA and the trick I learned was to have my furniture have more than one purpose...you learn to be creative and really utilize what you have. This has become a philosophy in living my life.
Rooting for you!
xoxoxo
So excited for you! Congratulations! If you've ever done a dorm, you know you can live ANYWHERE! Regardless, it's NYC!!! Yay! Smaller space means you can buy fewer but nicer things!
Congrats, Mackenzie! I am sure you'll make that first apartment homey and fabulous. I live in a pretty small one-bedroom and I actually love it...small spaces can really be so charming if you do them right! In making it feel like home, for me, the most important elements have been fresh flowers, a cozy rug, and some favorite art/prints. The scent of a great candle or dinner on the stove will definitely warm the place up too. Have fun!
Congrats! My tiniest apartment was in Paris... It was really important to me to find the right boxes for the storage. Enjoy!
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