Houzz Tour: Killy and Oliver's Hip Harlem Apartment
Color, Clever Storage and Editing Turns a Tiny Apartment Into a Gem
For most couples, living together in 365 square feet could be considered a struggle, to say the least. For Oliver and Killy it was actually a step up in size from their previous apartment, and a chance for the husband-and-wife team behind design firm Frisson to put their collective talents to work.
The couple aimed to make the most out of every square inch of available room, with the goal of creating a home that was both inviting as well as multifunctional to its core. And did I mention it had to act as their work space too? See how they changed a cold, white rental into a cheery home and office without breaking the bank, and find their many small space solutions.
The couple aimed to make the most out of every square inch of available room, with the goal of creating a home that was both inviting as well as multifunctional to its core. And did I mention it had to act as their work space too? See how they changed a cold, white rental into a cheery home and office without breaking the bank, and find their many small space solutions.
A laser level and 3M Edge Lock painter's tape were their weapons of choice for getting the stripes just right.
Killy also recommends following these steps when painting stripes: "... paint your walls with the base color, tape the stripes, then paint another coat of the base color, brushing over the tape to seal the edges. Let that dry completely before painting the accent color. This step certainly adds time, but it completely eradicates paint bleeds under the tape, resulting in clean, crisp lines."
The couple's main source of inspiration for the apartment was the great light that came in from four south-facing windows. According to Killy, "[the windows] helped blur the fact that we lived in a small New York apartment on a busy street by making us feel like we were a little more connected with the outdoors. We built on that by having plants hanging everywhere."
Since Killy and Oliver work from home, they had to think of a way to incorporate an office into their small space. They carved one out of a niche in the living room and hung floor-to-ceiling curtains to close it off (and give the couple a respite from work) when not in use.
The desk spans the back wall, with all computer cords and components mounted to the underside.
The cheery stripes are Benjamin Moore's 2022-10 Yellow paired with Superwhite.
With the curtains closed, you'd never know a fully functioning design business operated out of the home.
Killy made linen panels to cover up any unsightly items stored in bookcases and on shelves throughout the apartment. She also recommends using matching containers to provide some order to visible storage areas.
Killy and Oliver have gleaned plenty of practical tips for decorating a small home. Most importantly, edit edit edit! "Small spaces are wonderfully warm and cozy, but they get easily cluttered," says Killy. "We are rigorous editors of stuff now, but are surrounded only by the most important things in our lives."
Case in point: The makeshift nightstand is actually Oliver's accordion case (a gift from a friend) propped on top of a stool. The clever storage solution stemmed from the couple's need to keep the case somewhere safe but also accessible.
Next, they recommend to use those walls and ceilings! They made a pot rack out of pegboard and mounted knives, cutting boards and spices to the walls of the kitchen.
"The kitchen was literally a strip of wall in the living room, with a 2' x 1.5' section of countertop, one drawer and a few cabinets," Killy shares. "Utilizing the walls for vertical storage was essential; every nook and cranny was considered a potential storage opportunity."
Order all that chaos. Spices are stored in matching containers with custom handwritten labels. The uniformity calmed what could have otherwise appeared disorganized. The couple also spent a little more money on things that had to be out all the time and were visible throughout the home.
Pretty pots and pans gifted to the couple on their wedding are on view in the petite kitchen.
Embrace the smallness! Killy states, "we firmly believe that no amount of white or bland 'greige' paint is going to make all small rooms feel big. Some rooms are just going to be small, so embrace them and make them jewel boxes with bold paint colors and applications, unexpected lighting and/or unique furniture and accessories."
Decorate with plants. According to Killy, "nothing makes a home feel more alive and inviting than a dash of green. Even the most basic houseplants enliven a space."
Says Killy, "we have a variety of furniture, accessories and art styles that have to work together — some from parents, grandparents and friends, along with our own finds, but all the variation results in a collected home that has history, personality and a little whimsy." I couldn't have said it better myself.
Read about Killy and Oliver's design projects on their blog, and learn more about their design services at the Frisson website.
Thanks for sharing your home, Oliver and Killy!
More Houzz Tours:
5-Day Outdoor Makeover
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Read about Killy and Oliver's design projects on their blog, and learn more about their design services at the Frisson website.
Thanks for sharing your home, Oliver and Killy!
More Houzz Tours:
5-Day Outdoor Makeover
Step inside more inspiring homes
They used Benjamin Moore's Superwhite and Van Deusen Blue paint colors to get the crisp contrast.