Hi guys, welcome to my new home in Pasadena! 🙂
Before I give you the grand tour, I want to give you a background about my apartment search. Whenever you are apartment hunting, it is always important to set a budget. Mine was between $1,800 to $2,090. There are also so many other factors that come into play when searching: Will my vehicle, mail and other packages be safe and secure? Are the elevators working properly and secure? Will the unit have tight locks? How busy is the traffic from the street? Is the complex quiet?
The first place I looked at was a fourplex with 2 bedrooms on the east side of Pasadena for $1,950. I was in love with it because it was built in the 1920s and had the vintage hardwood flooring, radiator and the old fashioned doorknobs. There was also a built in chest. Unfortunately, there was no built in AC, which is an absolute must living in Pasadena, and I would’ve had to have purchased a washer/dryer unit to have hooked up. The guy even offered to give it to me for $1,850. Overall, I would’ve had to have put more money into it than I wanted to. It was quaint and adorable, but a no go. I also checked out the property manager’s other rental on the north side of town, which was a guest house behind the main house, but I wasn’t impressed.
The next day I checked out an apartment complex in Old Pasadena, which is the more lively part of town. Even though the studio unit I toured would’ve worked, I wasn’t fully sold. The last place I checked out (and the one I chose) was a studio downtown and I moved the appointment up an extra hour ahead because I had to get back to Ventura. At the time, I was so frustrated with my search. The lady at the first apartment complex told me that “there are plenty of units to go around,” but when you’re on a budget, everything is limited at that point.
One of the reasons I was so drawn to my place was the New York loft style it had with the polished concrete, sliding door to the bathroom, corner kitchen, track light near the living room area and the biggest feature, the brick wall near the bedroom. This was also the only studio in the whole complex that had this look to it with a decent price. What was ironic was in my 20s I wanted an apartment unit like this, but the thought left my mind years later, so maybe I was meant to have it at this time in my life? Even though the building was built in the late 2010s and was styled for this type of look, it’s rare to see these types of units exist anymore (especially vintage ones) in the LA area. In NYC, you see a ton of these!
So the apartment I live in costs $2,095 for 565-square-feet with utilities except electricity and obviously internet. For those who think this is a lot of money, this is quite a deal for Pasadena! I am also fortunate to have positioned myself into a manager type job where I can work from home, afford my rent/bills and still save enough money. I put the $500 deposit down immediately after I saw it because the landlord told me it was in high demand for renting. I can understand why!
I also live near a slightly busy street but it’s behind the main street of the complex from downtown (downtown is pretty quiet IMO and white noise to me after awhile). There’s also a 2-step process to getting through the gates for myself and my car. My mail is also in a secure locked box. Upstairs on another floor, I have to get my delivered packages.
There’s also no neighbors to the left or right of me (although I do have a bigger, main terrace but the residents rarely go out there) and I do have one neighbor above me, but she is very quiet and I might occasionally hear footsteps. Below me is a study area in the complex. Overall, what sold me is the whole complex is QUIET! There’s not a ton of barking dogs here like my last place by the beach, the dogs are very well trained and behaved here! Everyone is friendly.
Styling this NYC style unit was not easy and I spent many hours looking at photos of apartment buildings with polished concrete and brick walls. I knew I wanted to stay away from red and black since I used those colors at my last place and I went for more neutral ones with a bit of yellow to make everything pop more. Everything ranged from $2.99 to $550 and I am so happy with how it turned out though!
Alright, let’s go inside! 🙂
Door/Entryway
Ring the doorbell or knock and come on in!
It took me awhile to figure out the right door mat for entering the unit and after looking at a ton in stores and online, I finally caved in and bought this mosaic looking one from Target. You will also notice as you enter there are shoes on a decorative memory foam mat, which used to be in the bathroom, but I ended up replacing it with another bath mat.
New
Entryway Memory Foam Bath Mat (Target)
Bathroom
Freshen up!
Immediately to the left through the sliding door is the bathroom. This is probably the room I struggled with the most in terms of decorating. I knew I wanted a plastic shower curtain and not a cotton one with a liner (it’s more pricey) and I ended up finding one at Bed, Bath and Beyond along with the rings. I have the white chenille memory foam bath mat to step onto after a nice shower and then my favorite was the color block one I found at West Elm (this is the ONLY West Elm product you will see in my place!). The colors in it were just perfect and also went well with my sponge that I had bought in Tarpon Springs, FL a few years back.
At some point I want to get another new towel set because I think the detergent from the washer washed out the colors and destroyed it! 🙁 For now, it will do. I also got a basket for the towels because as you can see from the photo, I do not have enough room for two large towels on the rod above the toilet (why in God’s name someone put if there is beyond me). Also, if you see to the side of the doors leading into my closet, I couldn’t find small enough towels rods to insert on either side, hence the basket. It still looks cute though!
On the bathroom counter, I bought a tumbler to hold my toothbrush and other necessities. I also have a matching trash can next to the toilet. I also had to buy a toilet paper holder.
This room is also where my clothing AND storage closet is! It’s pretty tightly packed (you see why I had to downsize before I moved?), but I made it work!
I also hung my sea urchins above the sliding door and my sea glass picture I made is also above one of the cabinets.
New
Memory Foam Chenille Bath Mat (Target)
Organic Color Block Bath Mat (West Elm)
Dashed Shower Curtain (Bed, Bath and Beyond)
Shower Curtain Rings (Bed, Bath and Beyond)
Bath Towel Set (Bed, Bath and Beyond)
Textured Paisley Bath Set: Trashcan and Holder
Old
Therometer (PierOne and I can’t find it anymore, but you can search for a similar one online!)
Bedroom
This is the more industrial side of the apartment and everyone’s favorite part: the brick wall! I hung no art on this wall because I live in California and if a huge earthquake were to occur, I don’t want to take the risk of it falling on my head!
My dresser from IKEA and bed are still the same from my last place. I spent a few good hours looking at neutral bed in a bag sets to complement this wall and I ended up choosing one from Overstock. I think in another year I may purchase one that has a creamy/ivory color to it, but for now, I am satisfied. You can see the whole gang is still on my bed! 😉
I had one IKEA nightstand from my last place and I purchased/assembled another one along with matching lamps and shades from Target to make it look more universal. I was trying to go for a hotel-style feel. I decided on a round, shag rug because originally I thought about purchasing another rectangle rug to go underneath the bed and stretch out, but then realized that my mirror stand and dresser would also have to be on top of it, which I didn’t want. I love that I purchased a different shaped rug!
For the wall art, this is where I really wanted to bring out some of the highlights from the city. I purchased the Colorado Street Bridge print and had it professionally framed for an affordable price. The glass is also not anti-glare but it still looks great! Finally, Pasadena City Hall is a watercolor print on canvas that I had shipped from…you’ll never believe it…the Ukraine, LOL! I looked all over Etsy for someone in the states and found NO ONE! Plus, this place I purchased from had rave reviews, so I took a chance. It was the second most affordable art piece in the whole apartment, so I was quite impressed!
New
Bed in a Bag (Overstock, I can’t find it anymore because I think it sold out!)
Pillows (Bed, Bath and Beyond)
Chenille Throw Blanket (Target)
Colorado Street Bridge Print (Etsy)
Pasadena City Hall Canvas Art (Etsy)
Old
Bed Mattress and Frame (these all came from Sam’s Club 11 years ago and I wrap the Serta mattress in a hypoallergenic sheet. The mattress is not gross/destroyed underneath because of this and still feels great on my back!)
Nightstand (IKEA, I had one previously from 11 years ago)
Kitchen
Let’s cook!
This is the first kitchen that I had space over the cabinets! I didn’t want to do the typical throwing plastic leaves over it due to them getting dusty, so I got some string lights and assembled empty wine glasses (after I drink them, of course!). One side has Reds going down it and the other with Rosés and Whites. I put the small photo I had of wine glasses above the fridge and bought another wine glass mat. I still wanted to incorporate wine into the kitchen since I am such an enthusiast!
The biggest additions are inside the cabinets (e.g., silverware, glasses, dinnerware) and I linked them below if you want to check them out. There’s a small trash can I bought and I assembled all of my travel magnets back onto the fridge. I love the tiled background near the stove and I bought matching decorative towels to coordinate with it. I talk about my dining table (which is also my work area) down below and I also bought some new Therapedic chair pads so I can work and eat comfortably!
New
Glassware Set (Crate and Barrel)
Wine Glasses (Amazon, Set of 4)
Silverware Tray Organizer (Bed, Bath and Beyond)
Oneida Silverware (Bed, Bath and Beyond)
Therapedic Chair Pad: (Bed, Bath and Beyond)
Old
Dining Table and Chairs (IKEA, I also use this as my work desk. They also don’t make these exact models anymore)
Living Room
Sit down and relax!
You guys might remember the couch I had from my last apartment and it still is comfortable and clean. I decorated it with some throw pillows from Kohls. I don’t know what it is but Kohls is the only place that I like to buy throw pillows from! You can also look outside and see the street view and the terrace.
In the front is the most expensive piece of the whole apartment, the concrete coffee table. I wanted to buy a coffee table that would look stylish and most importantly last me way into the future (my last coffee table from IKEA got banged up pretty bad). I got it from Living Spaces and when it arrived you guys…OMG. This was the biggest pain in the ass to assemble! First I had to assemble the wood legs, followed by screwing in the concrete slab on top. I have never broke out in a sweat so bad! My mama told me I might regret this table because it is heavy. I don’t have any regrets YET, but I do feel bad for my future movers!
Underneath the table is the shag throw rug al from Living Spaces. I wanted something neutral for the floor, which I successfully accomplished. It is so soft under my feet!
On the coffee table is my decorative bowl from PierOne that I bought years ago and used in my last place with the seashells I got from local beaches in Florida. The marble coasters are from Crate and Barrel. I almost put some Los Angeles coffee table books on it instead, but I decided against it.
Finally, the wall! Originally I wanted abstract prints and paintings but decided against it. Since my bedroom had more of the industrial/city feel to it, I decided I wanted to focus on the mountains and nature of the San Gabriel Mountains. I found a watercolor print of the Bridge to Nowhere in the San Gabriel Mountains and had it professionally framed. As far as the mirror goes, at first I wanted to do another painting on this side of the wall, but decided a sun mirror would be best. I looked at close to 100 mirrors and I wanted one that did not have rays poking out of it because I didn’t want it to overpower the painting. The mirror I ended up choosing was the only one I liked from Lamps Plus. It still has the circular gold rim to it, but with a bit more personality. I had to nail the sun on the main wall and nail the painting to the left side of the wall because it just didn’t look good looking straight on. Plus, because the glass isn’t anti-glare, it showed less on this side of the wall.
The unique part about this side of the room is the track light above (it its very bright!) and I also have a lamp stand if I wanted a softer light. You can see the photo of the living area at night!
New
Concrete Coffee Table (Living Spaces)
Throw Pillows (Kohls, they ranged in price)
Marble Coasters (Crate and Barrel)
Bridge to Nowhere Watercolor (Red Bubble)
Old
Ashley Furniture Brown Sofa (Big Lots)
Decorative Bowl (PierOne, this is not made anymore!)
Seashells in Bowl (Florida from local beaches)
Lamp (I can’t remember if it was Walmart or Target, but you can find these anymore for a good price!)
Office
Time to work!
Shocking: there is absolutely nothing new I bought for the printer, bookstand and table areas, LOL! I had to put my bookcase up against one wall and then the printer desk on the other side near the sliding door because that was literally the only place I could put them where it would work with the space of the room!
Something I want add to the wall above the printer is my Masters degree from Arizona State University once I complete/receive it. I don’t open up the sliding door all the way when entering the bathroom and it’s really the only place I can hang it!
Old
Printer Desk (IKEA, they don’t make this model anymore but have similar ones!)
Desk Organizer (Container Store, again, I can’t find the exact one anymore but this one is similar)
Terrace
Finally, we step outside to my favorite part of the apartment: the terrace! To me it reminds me more of a Paris balcony and not a NYC one, but I love it!
I bought my two succulents I nicknamed cabbage and shrub (I don’t know the official latin names and I don’t care) at a local nursery and I told the salesman I wanted two succulents that I could not kill and were pretty. They are my babies and I water them once a week!
The last item is the mosaic bistro set my parents bought me as a welcome home gift. This was the only bistro set I liked and it was very easy to put together! I love sitting out here in the morning with my cup of coffee, doing some work for my job or school and having a meal. It’s so quaint and cute!
Succulents (La Crescenta Nursery)
Mosaic Bistro Set (Amazon, house warming gift from mom and dad, thanks guys!)
If you need any decorating advice for an apartment or home with a brick wall, hit me up!
