A DIY Designer Created a Cozy Bronx Hideaway

Name: Monica Wheeler
Location: Bronx, New York
Size: 600 square feet – built 1950
Years lived in: Renting 2.5 years

Tucked along a grassy and tree-lined East Bronx street is the ground-level home of Monica Wheeler, an interior design enthusiast. This patterned, cozy, and wholly inviting space is subject to cycles of furniture, art, and trinkets coming in and out whenever the mood strikes her.

When asked about her style, Monica comments that she takes time to consider the accessories to purchase and place to bring the room together, but is open to trying new ideas with curiosity as her muse. With no loyalty to any one brand nor style, Monica experiments in her home with subtle accents mirrored in different forms, often sculptural pieces.

Rooms tend to have blue hues as a focal point and theme with gold coming in second for its cameos. Perky plants liven the apartment, especially during the colder New York months. Monica basically has her very own hideout to come home to!

My Style: Eclectic living

Inspiration: I am inspired by mid-century modern furniture and vintage accessories.

Favorite Element: Taylor navy love seat from Houzz; and living room rug from Raskin Carpets.

Biggest Challenge: The budget; and decorating with white walls.

What Friends Say: “You should go to interior decorating school.”

Biggest Embarrassment: My cheap dinette table for two is not a comfortable height for sitting.

Proudest DIY: Painted my vintage dresser set

Biggest Indulgence: Taylor navy love seat from Houzz; and living room rug from Raskin Carpets

Best Advice: My advice is to take photos of what you are trying to match or looking for when shopping, and purchase accessories last. Also, don’t be afraid to paint metal pieces gold/silver.

Dream Sources: Apartment Therapy, Houzz, HGTV and DIY Channel and Pinterest

PAINT & COLORS

• Apartment walls — BEHR’s White
• Vintage dresser and night stands – BEHR’s Calypso Blue/gold trim

LIVING ROOM

• Taylor Navy Love Set – (Houzz)
• Gold and Navy Blue Polka Dot Accent Chairs — Bob’s Discount Furniture
• Acrylic Chair – Finger Hut
• HomCom 3 Piece Stackable Nesting Acrylic End Tables – Clear – Walmart
• Credenza Walnut – Walmart on-line
• Gold Arched Floor Lamp – Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Gold Tree Floor Lamp — At Home, Bronx
• White Lamp – Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Navy Blue and Gold Planters – Burlington; Harlem
• Acrylic Coffee Table – Wayfair
• Faux Palm Tree with White Planter — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Extra-large Floor Vase — Marshalls; Mohegan Lake, New York
• Full Length Mirror and Wall Mount Mirror – Allerton Discount Store; Bronx
• Lilac Floral Wall Art — Cee & Cee Dept Store; Bronx
• Gold round mirror — Marshalls; Mohegan Lake, New York
• Gold Large Floral Mirror – Pier 1 Imports; New York
• Full-length Mirror Wall Mount – Home Goods, Brooklyn
• Petite Gold Burst Round Mirror — Pier 1 Imports
• Metal Wall Art Female Elephant and Calf — At Home; Bronx
• Gold Wicker Side Table — Marshalls; Mohegan Lake, New York
• White Blackout Curtains — Cee & Cee Dept Store; Bronx
• Gold/white Accent Pillows — Cee & Cee Dept Store; Bronx
• Silver Accent Pillows – Marshalls; Harlem
• Sea Urchin Wall Decor — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Plant Stands — Allerton Discount Store; Bronx
• Bamboo Floor Mat — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Ceiling Mount Light Fixture — Home Depot; Baychester, New York
• Other Accessories — At Home; Bronx

DINING ROOM

• Dinette Table — American Furniture & Appliances; New Haven, Connecticut
• Lilac Accent Pillows — Cee & Cee Dept Store; Bronx
• Reef — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Butterfly Statue — Pier 1 Imports; Baychester, New York
• Faux fiddle-leaf Plant — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Wall Art — HomeGoods; Brooklyn
• Bird Cage — At Home; Bronx
• Vase — At Home; Bronx
• China — Gifted
• Chargers — At Home; Bronx

KITCHEN

• Wall Art — At Home; Bronx
• White Wall Art — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Appliances – Finger Hut
• Cabinet Doorknobs — At Home, Bronx
• Metal Trash Can — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Confetti Room Dividers – Amazon
• Floor Mat — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Other Accessories — At Home; Bronx

BEDROOM

• Wicker Headboard – Pier 1 Imports
• Vintage Dresser – Etsy
• Side Dressers – Etsy (Shop Owl Designed; Brooklyn)
• Angel Wings – Midnight Velvet
• Gold Lamps – Kmart
• Ocean Wall Art – Marshalls; Harlem
• Large Floral Picture — Home Goods; Brooklyn
• Medium Floral Picture – TJ Maxx; Harlem
• Wall Mount Mirror — Allerton Discount Store; Bronx
• Wall Mount Damaged Mirrors — At Home; Bronx
• Live Edge Floor Length Mirror — Marshalls; Baychester, New York
• Blue Floor Lamp – Pier 1 Imports
• Floral Vases – Home Depot; Baychester, New York
• Mermaid Sequin Pillows — Cee & Cee Dept Store; Bronx
• Accent Chair — Bob’s Discount Furniture
• Foot Stool — Marshalls; Mohegan Lake, New York
• Plant Stands — Allerton Discount Store, Bronx
• Gold Accent Pillows — Kohl’s
• Faux Fiddle-leaf Plant – Walmart online
• Green Elephant and Small Green Vase — At Home; Bronx
• Comforter — Wayfair
• Floral Wall Art —– Discount store; Harlem

BATHROOM

• White Curtains — Discount Store; Harlem
• Plant Stand — Allerton Discount Store; Bronx
• Faux Plant – Marshalls; Harlem
• Baskets — Marshalls; Harlem
• Wall Mount Mirror — Allerton Discount Store; Bronx, NY
• Mate — Marshalls; Harlem

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