My Houzz: Cozy and Collected in a Cambridge Apartment
Secondhand finds and thoughtful updates add character to this 650-square-foot Massachusetts rental for newlyweds
After getting married this past June, Caitlin Snyder and Zachary Cobb began the process many newlyweds face when merging their styles. Cobb moved into Snyder’s 650-square-foot rental apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and although he loved her style, they wanted a space that reflected both of them. “Since he was moving into my apartment, we had to work together to update the design and details to make it feel like ‘us’ rather than ‘me,’” Snyder says. They made small adjustments with fresh paint and a few smart storage ideas for a collected, eclectic look.
Snyder is a graphic designer, as well as a store manager at Anthropologie. A few items throughout the apartment, like this bar cart, are from the store.
Mercury bar cart: Anthropologie
Mercury bar cart: Anthropologie
“Growing up, I lived in countless houses where my dad, who was a contractor for most of my childhood, would spruce up with new electrical wire, a terra-cotta-tiled bathroom, fresh paint and French doors. You name it, and we probably updated multiple rooms in every house,” Snyder says. As soon as she moved into this apartment, she made what adjustments she could by painting the interior walls, replacing fixtures and, in her words, “make this little place shine and feel like me.”
The disco ball that hangs from the ceiling is a reminder of a fun gathering of friends. “I put this up for my 25th birthday, three years ago, and just never took it down,” Snyder says. “Now I am on the hunt for a large ball that can become an accent piece.”
Rug: Anthropologie; Landon upholstered sofa: Pottery Barn; Cast Base coffee table: West Elm; white linen pillows: H&M
The disco ball that hangs from the ceiling is a reminder of a fun gathering of friends. “I put this up for my 25th birthday, three years ago, and just never took it down,” Snyder says. “Now I am on the hunt for a large ball that can become an accent piece.”
Rug: Anthropologie; Landon upholstered sofa: Pottery Barn; Cast Base coffee table: West Elm; white linen pillows: H&M
“Most of my records have been collected from thrift stores or record stores. I actually just went though and tried to purge some but couldn’t bring myself to do it,” Snyder says. “I even kept my copy of West Side Story.”
The Kay guitar seen here used to belong to Snyder’s grandfather. “It has this unbelievable ability to never go out of tune,” she says.
Turntable: Jensen, similar at Urban Outfitters; Mercury glass lamp and Burlap flared drum shade: Pottery Barn; Kallax shelf unit: Ikea
The Kay guitar seen here used to belong to Snyder’s grandfather. “It has this unbelievable ability to never go out of tune,” she says.
Turntable: Jensen, similar at Urban Outfitters; Mercury glass lamp and Burlap flared drum shade: Pottery Barn; Kallax shelf unit: Ikea
Three large windows let in natural light to make the living area feel bright and airy. Snyder hung string lights from the curtain rods to frame each window and add ambience at night.
Blanket basket: Marshalls; black mud cloth pillow: Maewoven
Blanket basket: Marshalls; black mud cloth pillow: Maewoven
Snyder collects vintage books from thrift stores and antiques markets and uses them as decor on an open shelf. “Go slow and find things that are beautiful to you. Over time you will be able to curate a room that is unique,” she says.
Deer antlers: Diamonds and Rust
Deer antlers: Diamonds and Rust
The hallway features a few secondhand pieces, including a runner, a mirror from an estate sale and a thrifted pineapple lamp. The blue side table stores DVDs and candles the couple uses when entertaining.
Table: Through the Country Door; string lights around mirror: similar at Pottery Barn
Table: Through the Country Door; string lights around mirror: similar at Pottery Barn
Snyder and Cobb simplified the bedroom to create a clutter-free and calming space.
Tarva bed frame, Ranarp work lamp and indigo throw pillows: Ikea; gold lamp stand: Target; linen lampshade: Pottery Barn; Soft-Washed linen duvet and Euro and woven shams: Anthropologie; small throw pillow: West Elm
Tarva bed frame, Ranarp work lamp and indigo throw pillows: Ikea; gold lamp stand: Target; linen lampshade: Pottery Barn; Soft-Washed linen duvet and Euro and woven shams: Anthropologie; small throw pillow: West Elm
“The bedroom is my favorite place in the apartment. Although it is tiny, it is so relaxing,” Snyder says. “I love napping in here, and all around find it comforting.”
Mirror: Ikea
Mirror: Ikea
Before Cobb moved in, one of the bedroom walls was painted with chalkboard paint. “The problem was that I had decided to be very DIY on this and made my own chalkboard paint. Long story short, it did not work and I just had a black wall that I couldn’t write on,” Snyder says.
“Luckily, with some very good paint and primer in one, Zachary and I were able to cover the wall and paint the room a bright white. We took down the art I had hanging and kept the color story to neutrals with different blue hues.”
Dresser: Boutique Fabulous with knobs from Anthropologie; Marmotinto rug: Anthropologie; mirror: Ikea
“Luckily, with some very good paint and primer in one, Zachary and I were able to cover the wall and paint the room a bright white. We took down the art I had hanging and kept the color story to neutrals with different blue hues.”
Dresser: Boutique Fabulous with knobs from Anthropologie; Marmotinto rug: Anthropologie; mirror: Ikea
The kitchen used to have a yellow linoleum countertop and backsplash from the ’50s. One day Snyder and Cobb found a plant growing out of the backsplash. “That was when we decided to replace it,” Snyder says. They asked permission from their landlord to remove it, and then Snyder’s father and Cobb installed a butcher block countertop from Ikea. “It completely changes the feel of the kitchen,” she says. The couple hope to someday finish the rest of the backsplash area where the yellow linoleum used to be.
Dish towels: Anthropologie; knife set: Schmidt Bros.
Dish towels: Anthropologie; knife set: Schmidt Bros.
Cobb, seen here with Snyder, works for Gracenote Coffee, and the couple have become coffee aficionados.
Woven rug: Urban Outfitters
Woven rug: Urban Outfitters
The couple use an Ikea cart as a coffee bar. “We have all the tools that we need, primarily a pour-over coffeemaker, and use it regularly,” Snyder says.
Bekväm cart: Ikea; pot rack: Bed Bath & Beyond
Bekväm cart: Ikea; pot rack: Bed Bath & Beyond
Snyder stripped the existing black paint on the cabinet pulls to reveal the brass underneath. Teacups hang underneath the cabinet for both aesthetics and functionality.
While merging their styles over the past few months, Cobb and Synyder integrated a few new pieces into the existing decor. “We added more natural wood and black painted wood to different rooms,” Snyder says. They also minimized the amount of gadgets and wall hangings to simplify each space.
“We ended up refinishing an old Shaker table we found on the side of the road in Cambridge. Giving it a good sand-down and some black paint, we were able to start seeing the tie-in’s of him moving in,” she says.
Threshold Annandale area rug: Target; lighting: Marshalls
“We ended up refinishing an old Shaker table we found on the side of the road in Cambridge. Giving it a good sand-down and some black paint, we were able to start seeing the tie-in’s of him moving in,” she says.
Threshold Annandale area rug: Target; lighting: Marshalls
The couple added wall storage wherever possible to free up floor space, including in the kitchen.
Omar wine shelving unit: Ikea
Omar wine shelving unit: Ikea
The bathroom door is one of Snyder’s favorite DIY projects in their home.
Whale shower curtain: West Elm
Whale shower curtain: West Elm
“Since my bathroom had zero light — no windows and no working lights — I wanted to replace my door with one that had a window, with the hope that the window would allow natural light into the small space. I scoured Craigslist and bought a door from a couple who were winterizing an old estate house,” Snyder says. She used Rhino paint and primer from Behr when distressing the door.
Snyder replaced the glass with a frosted pane and sanded about six layers of old cracked paint off one side, as it turns out it was an exterior door at one point. “With the help of my father’s contracting experience, I learned how to hand-plane, move the knob and doorjamb and fix the door frame. It was such a great experience working with my dad and learning how to do something like rehab the door,” she says.
Bath towels: Anthropologie; towel basket: Marshalls, similar at Target
Bath towels: Anthropologie; towel basket: Marshalls, similar at Target
“We are beyond thrilled that we have an apartment with two bedrooms. Our second room acts as a guest room when we have visitors, but otherwise it is our office,” Snyder says. “One of the reasons why I was so keen to move in was that this two-bedroom offered me an office space. I worked from home at the time, and the additional space for a desk was critical for a happy, healthy home office.”
Snyder works full time at Anthropologie as a manager and also works at Paper Moss, a stationery company specializing in custom letterpress wedding invitations. She uses this space to complete design work on her computer. Occasionally she also uses the other half of the desk to work on watercolor drawings and paintings for clients.
Snyder’s dad custom-built the desk to fit the large wall. The shelving above the desk was an addition from Cobb’s apartment; the pine and pipe are from Home Depot.
Wall paint: Rhino, Behr
Snyder works full time at Anthropologie as a manager and also works at Paper Moss, a stationery company specializing in custom letterpress wedding invitations. She uses this space to complete design work on her computer. Occasionally she also uses the other half of the desk to work on watercolor drawings and paintings for clients.
Snyder’s dad custom-built the desk to fit the large wall. The shelving above the desk was an addition from Cobb’s apartment; the pine and pipe are from Home Depot.
Wall paint: Rhino, Behr
“I wanted the workspace to be very minimal,” Snyder says. “Granted, we have things, so we need storage. The bookcase serves as a way to showcase Zach’s love of books but also functions as my storage for paper samples or art supplies.”
Vittsjö shelf unit: Ikea
Vittsjö shelf unit: Ikea
Snyder’s sister found this blue upholstered armchair on the side of the road on her way to college in Boston. “She couldn’t move it back to California with her, so I have adopted it as my own,” Snyder says. “Zach loves it because of the midcentury style of being lower to the ground. I will occasionally catch him napping in it.”
Rug: Nate Berkus, Target
Rug: Nate Berkus, Target
Cobb and Snyder relax in their living room. “I know there are stories of couples who can’t agree on what color towel to get or how the couch will face, but Zach and I had very little of that,” Snyder says. “For one thing, he is really easygoing. And the other, he loved my personal design style, so we just had to add more of him into the mix.”
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See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes |Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Caitlin Snyder and Zachary Cobb
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Size: 650 square feet (60.3 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
Era built: 1800s
“Most of my items and inspiration come from gathering and picking out amazing pieces and building on them. I think that is what helps my space never become sterile or boring but instead organic and interesting,” Snyder says. She found that curating pieces for her apartment one at a time was key. “The best advice I can give to anyone working within a budget who also wants a naturally curated home is: Don’t try to decorate your space all at once.”
Many of the furnishings are thrifted and vintage, such as the orange love seat, red kilim pillow and wall art in the living room area.
Butterfly poster: Ikea