ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Apartment

LOCATION: Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York

STYLE: Eclectic, Organic Modern

BEDROOMS: 2

SQUARE FEET: 875

This two-bedroom, 875-square-foot rental apartment has been the home of Annika Morgan and her cat, Tony, for two years now. It features tons of prewar charm (the building was built around 1930) like picture frame moldings, tall ceilings, and big sun-filled windows — all elements that sold Annika on the rental.

Cozy bedroom corner with a large mirror, a plush chair with colorful pillows, a wooden side table, and a patterned rug.

“For a long time I let my perfectionist tendencies hold me back when it came to decorating a space. I was fixated on the ‘finished product’ and would be worried about executing a specific aesthetic or get frustrated when things didn’t come out exactly as I had envisioned them. It often stopped me from even trying,” Annika admits. “And then I noticed that everyone with homes I admire approaches decor as an ongoing process and genuinely enjoys the steps along the way. Once I shifted my mindset and started approaching designing my apartment as a puzzle, I was able to find more joy in experimentation and playing with different styles and techniques. I now genuinely enjoy the process of trying a new idea, whether it ends up working or not.” Credit: Annika Morgan

“I went full Virgo mode as soon as I saw it on Zillow. I had my rental packet complete and deposit check signed before I even saw the place. Fortunately my gut was right!” she writes.

Cozy kitchen with wooden cabinets, a window overlooking trees, a bamboo cart, and kitchen utensils on display.

“I started a food access nonprofit early in my career, so food was always going to be at the center of any home I make. This kitchen is small but mighty. My favorite item is my pink ice cream maker. It was an impulse purchase during the very first Target trip to buy a shower curtain liner and trash bags. But I absolutely love it; I experiment with new flavors all the time. It is also my first kitchen with natural light in it; the south-facing windows make any meal look exquisite,” she writes. Credit: Annika Morgan

This is Annika’s first time living solo, and as a self-employed, nonprofit freelancer, Annika says it feels like a “huge accomplishment to have my own space that I can work from. I like surrounding myself with projects that exercise my creativity and capacity with a drill. There is nothing I love more than saying ‘I made that myself!’”

A white pendant lamp casts a shadow on a wall above a wooden nightstand with books, small plants, and a jar.

“I can’t paint the walls of this rental, so I have found ways to add color or texture by customizing simple pieces of furniture; painting IKEA pieces or staining stripes onto wood to add some dimension and a feeling of novelty,” she writes. “I also love adding pendant lights; I have several. As long as you have an outlet you can find a cord and bulb fairly cheap that can be hung from the ceiling with any simple fixture. My favorite ones are just origami paper from Etsy that cost $30.” Credit: Annika Morgan

Something else she’s working on in this apartment is “leaning into a new found identity as a creative person. In the internet age there is so much to take creative inspiration from. I have about 20 ideas for every one that I actually execute. Typically concepts that make me laugh or feel really unique are the ones that I am able to get across the finish line,” she writes, using Tony’s “office” as an example.

A cozy shelf with a cat in a bed, books, baskets, a plant, and decorative items against a red background.

I love this little built-in in the office. It came with some very ancient wallpaper so I striped and painted it, which was a much more involved project than I anticipated. The lower shelf is the first place Tony hid when he first came home so I decided to turn it into his office,” Annika explains. “I maybe got a little carried away with the Sopranos theme. He does actually sleep in his little bed while I work. Tony’s closet was so fun to put together because I could have fun with the references and the knowledge that he would be sitting behind me there while I am on Zoom calls in my office. And he actually loves sitting in there!” Annika says it’s her favorite DIY. Credit: Annika Morgan

“I hope that my choices honor the integrity, charm, and history of the space while also injecting a bit of modern eccentricity,” she admits. “The space is cozy, joyful, and practical. I enjoy contrasting vintage dark wood furniture with bright colors and organic patterns. Decorating has really been an exercise in getting to know myself on a deeper level. I am famously indecisive, so each item in the space has truly been agonized over in the process of FB Marketplacing, DIYing, or vintage shopping.”

Related: Extended Tours: Big Families, Small SpacesResourcesCozy living room with a brown corduroy sofa, patterned pillows, a glass coffee table, and plants by the window.

Credit: Annika Morgan

LIVING ROOM

Coffee Table — Facebook Marketplace

Frame TV — Best Buy open box sale

Chairs — Facebook Marketplace

Credenza — Dobbin Street Vintage

Cozy dining nook with a round white table, two green chairs, a vase of flowers, and a patterned blue sofa.

Credit: Annika Morgan

DINING ROOMA wooden shelf displaying a black bowl, a white decorative piece, two blue glasses, and colorful bowls, with kitchen knives and scissors below.

Credit: Annika Morgan

KITCHENCozy bedroom featuring a green bedspread, pink pillows, a decorative wall art piece, and pendant lights.

Credit: Annika Morgan

BEDROOM

Light Shades — World Market

Cozy room with a striped rug, a cat sitting, a green pet bed, and shelves displaying colorful decor and plants.

Credit: Annika Morgan

OFFICE

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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Further Reading

Before and After: Black and White Paint Covers Up a Wood Paneling Kitchen

10 Under-$500 Couches That Look Way More Expensive Than They Are

12 Top-Rated Amazon Sofas We Love

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A Renter Turned a Brooklyn Apartment into a Colorfully DIYed Sanctuary (Wait Until You See the Cat’s Office)

“When I moved in, the place had been unoccupied for a little while so it needed a bit of cleaning up. I spent a full day removing paint splatter from the windowpanes and hardwood floors,” writes Annika Morgan, who’s been renting this apartment for two years. “Maybe not entirely necessary, but I was thrilled to have my own apartment to do tedious little tasks for.”