Before and After: The Dramatic Evolution of a Tiny Beige Studio

Angie Teater is a vibrant New Yorker who knows how to make use of a small space. The proof? Her studio apartment was a 350-square-foot beige box when she first moved in eight years ago. But now, it’s a bold, dramatic home that somehow fits a bedroom, living room and dining room in a teeny space. Effortlessly graceful, it feels more like a luxurious hotel room than a small studio apartment in the city. An interior designer by trade, Angie describes her style as “easy elegance. I love for my home to feel sophisticated without being too fussy or formal.”

Angie shares how her studio apartment evolved:

“This was very much an evolution of style! When I moved into this apartment all my stuff was ‘just because.’ I’d bought them on Craigslist or on sale at a box store. I didn’t love anything. It was just functional. But I desperately wanted my ‘dream’ apartment and decided to make an effort to create it, collecting tons of inspirational photos that fit my style. I slowly began swapping out the ‘just because’ things for pieces I truly loved and that fit the space. I’d say my biggest aha moment was the spontaneous ebony-wall paint job! It’s not for everyone, but it was soooooooo for me!”

The fact that it feels like a luxury hotel also isn’t an accident: “I get lost perusing luxury hotels like the Belmond collection and the Oberoi Hotel & Resorts — they have really perfected the art of high-style relaxation.”

“Measure, measure, measure! I make a list of what is needed then measure out the space and figure out where things should go and how big it should be. In a small space, proportion is essential,” says Angie.

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