A Cozy Brooklyn Apartment’s Full-Blown Renovation

“Sleep on any major changes before committing,” is Katherine Steinberg’s sage advice. And after taking on a full-blown renovation when she moved into her Brooklyn apartment over two years ago, she’s had a lot of experience with making big updates in her home, everything from moving the location of a staircase to picking out wallpaper. “I have a tendency to make impulse decisions and I get very impatient. Waiting to get wallpaper samples and trying out a few different kinds helped me live with my decision,” she says.

Katherine has a mid-century modern style and loves anything from the ’70s, but she also finds inspiration in the everyday people and things around her. An example: She confesses that a neighbor used to create art that she could see in his window when walking to her building’s entrance. “I loved it so much from afar that when I found out he was moving I offered to buy it off him for my own apartment. I love the way it looks different from every angle. It fills the space perfectly and creates interesting shadows at different times of the day.”

Apartment Therapy House Tour Survey:

My Style: Mid-Century Modern

Inspiration: I love anything from the ’70s, honestly.

Favorite Element: The high ceilings, but also the big corner windows in my daughter’s room. This isn’t something that came from the apartment, but I did find the art above my staircase in the building. My neighbor was moving upstate and created this art that I would see in his window every time I walked down the ramp to my building entrance. I loved it so much from afar that when I found out he was moving I offered to buy it off him for my own apartment. I love the way it looks different from every angle. It fills the space perfectly and creates interesting shadows at different times of the day. He also did the circles that are mounted on the loft wall.

Biggest Challenge: Remodeling the upstairs to feel more like a traditional bedroom area.

What Friends Say: They love the big windows in the living room and in my daughter’s bedroom.

Biggest Embarrassment: The unfinished closet upstairs.

Proudest DIY: Wallpapering the wall next to the kitchen.

Biggest Indulgence: Getting Schoolhouse Electric hardware for the kitchen.

Best Advice: Sleep on any major changes before committing. I have a tendency to make impulse decisions and I get very impatient. Waiting to get wallpaper samples and trying out a few different kinds helped me live with my decision.

Dream Sources: Schoolhouse Electric, Room & Board, Design Within Reach.

PAINT & COLORS

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray for the entryway and upstairs in the loft.

ENTRY

Mill Mini Console Table — CB2

LIVING ROOM

Berin Day & Night Sleeper — Room & Board

Shelly Round Velvet Pillow — Urban Outfitters

Noguchi Table — This was a hand-me-down from my Grandma Dorothy.

Stockholm mirror — Ikea

Baa Baa Bookshelf — Rowen and Wren

Pinstripe Floral Wallpaper — Kate Zaremba

DINING ROOM

Fish’s Eddy Expandable Dining Table — West Elm

Preben Chairs — IKEA

KITCHEN

Edgecliff Pull — Schoolhouse Electric

Mid-Century Knob — Schoolhouse Electric

BEDROOM

Expressive Palms Duvet — Urban Outfitters

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