Alea Lovely wanted her rental to feel calm, welcoming and elegant—not busy or overwhelming. In the Hyde Park apartment she shares with her daughter, she built a warm palette around rich wood and brown tones while keeping the rooms feeling open and airy.
The roughly 102-year-old prewar building is surrounded by trees. Lovely says the apartment was in good condition when they moved in, but much of its original wood had been painted over, leaving what she described as a “white box.” She set out to work with the home’s architecture, using paint and renter-friendly touches to bring out its character.
The layout was another draw, especially compared with a railroad apartment she previously lived in in Brooklyn. Lovely also considered how the space would feel as well as how it would look: she says sensory issues made it important to avoid decor that felt too busy or distracting.
Natural materials informed many of her choices, including wood, marble, linen and florals. She says these elements help her feel calm, and joked that guests have told her they feel sleepy after spending time in the apartment.
Secondhand and vintage pieces feature throughout the home, alongside finds from retailers including HomeGoods, Target and Facebook Marketplace. The office has walls painted in Behr’s “Death by Chocolate,” while the bedroom includes a rug with corner cuts that Lovely says give it an Art Deco feel and complement the artwork. She also adapted a jeweled mirror by changing its orientation and adding tassels.
Lovely says she and her daughter have settled in well, though she still has further plans for the rental. Some furnishings are temporary: she notes that she intends to replace her daughter’s bunk bed, which she does not recommend.
Sources: Apartment Therapy.