A Brooklyn Renter Refreshed a “Cold” Apartment with Warm, Scandi-Inspired Style

published May 13, 2025

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Home Type

Apartment

Location

Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn, New York

Style

Mid-Century Modern

Minimal

Scandinavian

Bedrooms

Square feet

1000

Sq ft

1000

Caitlin Maestrini is the curator of Teak New York, a Scandinavian design store in Brooklyn that Caitlin launched after not feeling like she could find the kind of Scandinavian furniture she was looking for. Her aim was to create the “perfect hygge home,” and thanks to her curation of Scandi brands for Teak, she’s been able to transform her two-bedroom, 1000-square-foot Brooklyn apartment into a of “love letter to Scandinavian design.”

Credit: Courtesy of Teak New York

Caitlin says the second bedroom became a "Japandi-inspired media room with tons of natural materials, lots of greens, wood tones, textures, and low furniture," she writes. "I also purchased my first record player just to have in this room, as I felt like this was somewhere I wanted to relax and listen to music."

“Before I moved in, the apartment was really cold and simple. The developer of the building was going for an ‘industrial’ look by not finishing off some of the surfaces and leaving exposed concrete,” Caitlin begins of the apartment she’s rented for three years. “This felt a little unfinished, so I had to add items to contrast that. We also have very basic apartment amenities because it’s a typical New York apartment — no dimmer switches, outlets in wrong places, cheap lighting, etc. It didn’t have any style except ‘landlord special.'”

Credit: Courtesy of Teak New York

"The artwork in my home is either things I’ve painted/created or art that I’ve collected from various New York street artists or artists that I’ve purchased from online. I do have a few small cat accessories in various places as well — my favorite being a Royal Copenhagen Siamese Cat ceramic," Caitlin describes.

“The home is inspired by Scandinavian design principles and aesthetics,” Caitlin continues. “I incorporated popular Danish brands like Montana Furniture and OMHU; I sought out pieces that are not easily accessible in the United States. Since founding my company, Teak New York, I’ve had the opportunity to furnish my home with the brands I’ve admired for years.”

Credit: Courtesy of Teak New York

Caitlin explains that it’s the concept of hygge, the Danish idea of coziness, that she keeps in mind when designing. “I always have blankets, pillows, books, and candles nearby no matter the season. When I first started discovering Scandinavian design, I was under the impression that it had to be gray and neutral, but now I’ve grown to understand the style better.”

Credit: Courtesy of Teak New York

Caitlin uses converted Formakami Pendants from &tradition as plug-in lights. "It’s super simple to change a hard-wire lamp into a plug-in light, so I love doing that while I rent apartments," she writes.

“I focus on the craftsmanship of my furniture, the materials that everything is made of, the company and where things are produced, and of course the color,” Caitlin explains of what she looks for when decorating her home. “Some of my items are Scandinavian vintage, like the Kai Kristainsen Elevator Table in teak wood, but I also incorporate it with contemporary design like Massproductions and Montana Furniture. The vibes are cozy, warm, and Nordic.”