Inside a Fashion Blogger's Dreamy West Village Apartment

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Updated on Apr 24, 2019

Kat Tanita is not the type to sit still. With a successful fashion blog and travel app under her belt, she's most likely jetting off to Mexico or Paris rather than hanging out at home. But any frequent flier knows the value of a well-organized and comfortable home to come back to after a long string of travels. When she first stepped foot in her two-bedroom apartment, located on the West Village's most charming block, she knew she had to make the most of the 650 square feet to accommodate her busy lifestyle and booming business.

With little need for a guestroom and a closet bursting at the seams, Tanita decided to turn her second bedroom into a large walk-in closet and home office. She called on the help of Becca Galbraith of Becca Interiors to breathe life into the small space. With a little creativity, the duo was able to think outside the box and design a space that truly reflected the fashion blogger's style.

Take the tour—Tanita's rental-approved tips may inspire your own design endeavors.

When Tanita walked into her West Village apartment for the first time, she knew the small space would be a challenge, but it was one she was willing to take on. "I started completely from scratch," she told us. "It took me three years to fully complete the apartment."

The fashion blogger was envisioning a space that reflected her personal style: classic and feminine with a touch of bohemian. To solve her storage issues, Tanita sacrificed her entire second bedroom: "I had a contractor build a custom closet and converted the second bedroom into a walk-in closet and office," she said. "The incredible beaded chandelier completely transformed the space."

"I love neutrals, and since the space is small, I wanted everything to blend and flow from one room to the next," said Tanita. "I stuck with mostly black, white and tan."

In her living and dining space, she blended classic with a few bohemian pieces: "I wanted to bring warmth and add an eclectic feel. I embraced the charm of the West Village and the historical brick building I lived in and added sisal and Turkish rugs throughout."

To customize her space without renovating, Tanita added lighting all around the apartment and wallpapered the bathroom: "I wanted to make the space come to life," she said. "In the end, the bathroom was bright and rustic with a floral black and white wallpaper, a wood medicine cabinet with a gold sconce, and basket to hold all of my towels."

The biggest challenge for this blogger, who was also a design major, was the lack of space. "It's a small space, but I wanted it to also function as an office space with a great nook for entertaining," she told us. "I created a mini bar area with a bar cart and cocktail station and added a big Saarinen white table to host brunches and dinners."

"The size of the apartment was a challenge, but that can be said about any NYC apartment," said Tanita. "It was a fun challenge."

Her favorite thing about the space: "That it feels lived-in and full of life. There are special pieces from all over the world in every room. You’ll find souvenirs from my travels and coffee table books on my favorite topics on every surfacer. It really is a representation of me."