See Inside a Small Scandi-Style NYC Studio That Rents for $3,172 a Month
Adrienne Breaux
·6 min read
If your home had a zodiac sign, what would it be and why? If my home had a zodiac sign, it would be a Taurus. My home is a place of calm and relaxation, which aligns with some of Taurus’ personality traits. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Scandinavian spa meets NYC studio! Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
This is the “cat nook” and library. The litter box is tucked away in the cabinet and has an opening on the side for my cat to get in and out of it. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
What was the thing that was the “final piece of the puzzle” and made you feel like yes, I’m ready to submit this as a house tour? The floating shelves on my wall felt like the final piece of the puzzle. I’m an avid reader and writer, and I have a LOT of books. Before I bought the shelves, stacks and stacks of books lined my floors. Needless to say, I was excited to move them to their new home. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
Is there anything that people advised against doing that you did anyway? I was advised against trying to match the wood and color palette in my home, but I went with my instincts instead. I loved the hunt for wood tones that felt “just right” and the feeling I got when different textiles came together to form a perfect harmony. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
What’s the oldest thing in your home? I have a wooden stool that I “borrowed” from my childhood home. It was the stool that my family and I sat on when we took calls from our corded landline phone (!) in our kitchen. It has moved with me from home to home, and I really treasure it. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
These are some coffee table books that show my love of all things New York. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
Are there any design rules that you’ve broken in your home and why? I chose not to add curtains to my windows for a few reasons. I absolutely love the view out my window, so I didn’t want to obscure that in any way. Plus, I love the natural light that comes through the (almost) floor-to-ceiling windows. And my cat is notorious for destroying curtains of all shapes and sizes, so I opted to keep the blinds that came with the apartment. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
Usually great decor starts with one piece that inspired it all; what’s that piece/color/wall/etc. in your home? The one piece that inspired the rest of my decor was the bed frame. The light wood and clean lines inspired me to find other pieces that complemented its style. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
What's your best decorating, shopping, cleaning, or organizing advice? Less is more! Stay true to your style, but don’t overdo it. Don’t feel like you have to fill up every wall or corner of your space. Instead, fill your home with items that are meaningful to you that you absolutely love. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
What’s the one thing in your home that people always ask about? People always ask about the wall hanging above my bed. It’s an Etsy find — a handmade, dip-dye tapestry made of wool and pine wood. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
What is your favorite room and why? My favorite area of the studio is definitely the dining space. It serves as my home office, dining room, and entertaining space when I have guests over. I love the Scandinavian-inspired chairs in particular; they’re unique and pull the space together so well.This is the home office, dining room, and entertaining space. Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
These are the vintage New Yorker magazine covers from Philip Williams Posters. What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? (Include links if you have them!) The last thing I bought for my space is a set of vintage New Yorker magazine covers from Philip Williams Posters (aka Poster Museum) Credit: Monica BarudinCredit: Monica Barudin
Monica Barudin originally grew up in the suburbs of New York City, but then left home for New England for college and grad school. But she’s made her “way back to the city that never sleeps. I’m a fully remote digital content designer for a large healthcare organization, and I’m grateful to say I love what I do every day.”
Her home in the city that never sleeps is this 480-square-foot studio apartment on the Upper West Side she pays $3,172 per month for. “My studio is a little slice of NYC heaven: It serves as my home, home gym, and office (when I’m not working on the rooftop or at a coffee shop). I love small spaces, so living in a studio works perfectly for me!” Monica writes.
“I identify as an aspiring minimalist and modernist. You can see that reflected in the choices throughout my home: clean lines, no clutter, white space. My home’s color palette is inspired by whites, grays, and earth and jewel tones,” she shares.
“When I’m not working, I’m exploring the city with family and friends, attending art and language classes, and hanging out with my three-legged cat, Monkey.”
"I allowed it to make me feel bad about myself and tell myself stories about my intelligence and my capabilities," says the actress, who was diagnosed with ADHD at 39.
Former President Donald Trump’s former campaign aide and White House communications director Hope Hicks testified Friday about her efforts to knock down negative stories about her boss during the 2016 campaign.
MLB and Nike are making changes to the player uniforms for the 2025 season. The uniforms have faced heavy criticism for a variety of issues including small lettering and discoloration with sweat.
Helldivers 2 players have become frustrated after Sony suddenly required linking to a PSN account to play the game on PC. This was not necessary when the title launched in February.
