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Unlike most New York City rental apartment searches, this one-bedroom unit on the Park Slope and Gowanus border in Brooklyn seemingly “fell into Tess Wunder’s lap.” Previously, she’d lived in an apartment with a lower rent because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was about to increase.
Tess, who shares about designing her apartment as well as fashion on TikTok, was slightly stressed about finding another home within her price range. Luckily, a coworker’s landlord was looking to fill a space, and it was within her budget.
“When I first saw the apartment, I really had to see the vision because the previous tenant did not take care of the unit,” Tess explained. “Even despite this, I saw so much potential, and I loved the overall character of the space. I was excited to tackle the challenge and see what I could turn it into, knowing I’d be here for longer than the usual one-year lease.”
And after three-and-a-half years and design hiccups (lack of storage, unique layouts, and planning), it’s finally “done.” When she first moved in, the apartment was a “blank slate.” But now, it’s a mirror of Tess and her interests.
“The space is very much a reflection of myself and is a safe, cozy space for me to land each day,” Tess said.