Feature: How to Make Your Home More You with Mapiful

Ahh, my old 1911 apartment. This place was where I began to cultivate my home yoga practice, spent endless nights talking to my now-husband (then-boyfriend / fiancé), where he first said 'I love you', and the place that earned me special feature in Mapiful's book (!!)

This building is something else. I could right a dozen and one complaints about it, but it was very special to me for all the reasons listed above. I've since moved out, but felt it was time to revisit (not literally) the space through photos and speaking about my special feature in How to Make your Home More You.

Couch: Pottery Barn | Rug: Loloi | Pillows: vintage

What sold me on this place were the 15 foot ceilings, concrete floors, huge windows, and exposed brick walls. The apartment was abundant with character - even down to the details in the exposed outlets and pipes. Typing it out, it doesn't sound glamourous, but I've always had a thing for the 'undone.' Dressing up the space with a mix of vintage and modern pieces really made it come to life.

Cabinet: Ikea | Rug: Loloi

Cabinet + mirror: Target | Frame: Favor the Kind | Glasses + plates: Anthropologie & vintage

I wrote a piece in Mapiful's book about incorporating vintage pieces into your space. I am a total sucker for an antique shop and can spend hours upon hours perusing if I'm able. I've scored some major wins! I also believe that the key to making a space feel cohesive and reflective of your personal taste is to stick with what you love rather than following trends.

Additionally, there's no need to fill an entire space with only high-end furniture and décor. A mixture of antiques, thrift finds, inexpensive but versatile décor (read: Target), and a few high quality pieces make for a beautiful space! I didn't think too much about how I was designing my space, I simply placed things where they worked or where I liked the aesthetic.

A blend of old + new

I'm always using books as design pieces

Creating a space that feels unique to you and your own preferences and tastes is not always easy to do. If you're like me, you love a lot of different designs. For instance, maybe you love modern but also a little classic/traditional. Who says you can't mix them?! (Sometimes it works better than you'd expect - that's the fun of design.) In the photo above, I've paired a more modern lamp with vintage/traditional design (see the pillow covers, which used to be old Turkish rugs).

I see my home as a canvas that's never fully complete. It's a palette I get to continue creating in and evolving as my style and taste changes. The goal is to always keep it reflective of myself (and now my husband!) One sure-fire way to create a home that shows of your personality is to incorporate your favorite books, photos, or mementos throughout. I personally love styling books and photos. I also try to be intentional about where I place souvenirs (e.g. seashells).

Mixture of vintage + new artwork

All in all, creating a home takes time. I feel that my apartment finally, truly came together how I wanted after about a year and a half. Enjoy the journey and the creative process! I had so much fun snapping these photos of my home for Mapiful. I hope to do another project like this soon. You can check out the book here!

Side note: For less curated photos, see below. I loved taking snaps of my old apartment and have an abundance of them sitting in my camera roll:

I've been missing this space more lately than I thought I would. Moving on from it was the right move, but it will always hold a special place for me. This apartment brought out my creativity and had an inherent character I hope to find again in our future home.

xx,