apartment living // the living room

by Kaylah Stroup
I realized last week that I’ve now been living in my new apartment for one month. It’s been the best month. I absolutely love it here, I couldn’t be happier. I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be right now. Initially a little nervous about city living, my fears have disappeared! This place is perfect for me.

Like I’ve mentioned in other posts, I’m mostly settled in. My bedroom still need a little work, really I’m just waiting to find a desk to make into a vanity and then it will quickly come together but in the mean time I’ve finished up my living room. It’s basically the cutest thing ever, in my opinion.

Behind the couch, from where I would be standing to see the view in the above photo, is where I have my desk set up to work. It’s the only wall with blank space left on it in this room, hence why it’s not shown. As soon as I get it all set up I’ll be sharing photos of my new office. To the left is my bathroom, a few closets and my bedroom. To the right is the dining room and kitchen.

I planned on doing a “sources” list but when it comes down to it, basically everything in the room is second hand, from a thrift store, ebay, a gift, etc. The couch is from Thrive Furniture. The fox and beetle pillow are from Target. If you’re curious about anything else specifically, just ask!

I love this place dearly. 
xoxo

You may also like

55 comments

Paige @ LPD March 24, 2014 - 12:33 pm

Love thrive! Their showroom made me sad I didn't have a million dollars to spend on new furniture though, ha. But I love all the built ins and light in your new place.

Michelle March 24, 2014 - 12:34 pm

It is really pretty! The lighting is fantastic, so cheerful.

Tara Green March 24, 2014 - 12:44 pm

I'm so glad to see you settled in! I absolutely adore your decor and I wish that I had everything that you have in your house! Where did you get the butterfly print from? xx Tara

Kaylah March 24, 2014 - 2:06 pm

It's actually a tea towel a friend found at an estate sale (I think?) and sent to me. I had to frame it!

Rosie W March 24, 2014 - 12:45 pm

What an awesome, individual space 🙂 I'm so glad that you've settled quickly. x

Sarah Spitz March 24, 2014 - 1:02 pm

Love the map and all the books! Thanks for sharing!

Greetings from Germany and a peek into life lately…

http://lasagnolove.blogspot.de/2014/03/what-bambi-has-been-up-to-lately.html

Love,

Bambi

Diane Cayton-Hakey March 24, 2014 - 1:30 pm

Adorable space you have created for yourself and it reflects all that you are from what I have seen on your blog. The teal colors really make a person smile and I'll be you LOVE living there. Can't wait to see your office space too!

Charity Blaine March 24, 2014 - 1:57 pm

This is truly a wonderful and unique space!

Lukács Tímea March 24, 2014 - 2:34 pm

You have no idea how much I envy your home decor skills! I'm about to move in a new apartment soon, and will probably take a great deal of inspiration from these photos. I'm absolutely in love with your place – I hope you'll post photos of the other rooms, too!
Also, I wish I could find thrift stores in my country with stuff as awesome as you have. Argh, the envy is killing me! I especially love the ice cream lamp and your gorgeous posters. Could I ask where you got that huge skeleton poster from? 🙂

nikki hancock March 24, 2014 - 3:11 pm

I absolutely love this room, it looks so cozy! As a side note, my "across the way" neighbors at my condo complex have that same cat statue on their balcony. It took me weeks to figure out whether or not it was a real cat, I just assumed they never let their poor kitty indoors!

Jordyn March 24, 2014 - 3:14 pm

Its looking so good! And those windows are just perfect.
Jordyn
Pretty Lovely

Allison Dauw March 24, 2014 - 3:23 pm

I absolutely love that large, white cat statue/figure! I've decided to collect white cat things when I have my own space.

Can't wait to see what you do with your desk space!

-The Mantis Princess

ette March 24, 2014 - 3:41 pm

A real beautiful and comfy living-room. And I really envy you for having no tv in the living room. Though I love to watch old films I would be so happy to get rid of this screen-dominated-living-room-architecture. But having a partner whose favourite activities all have something to do with screens, this won't be that easy. Well, at least that means I don't hav to install in my sewing room.
love, ette

Kerri March 24, 2014 - 3:47 pm

My grandma has that white porcelain/ceramic? that you have. My dog always thinks its alive and sniffs it out anytime we go over. xD

Dulce March 24, 2014 - 3:49 pm

I love it, is so shiny and the decoration is so fun!

Manda Marie March 24, 2014 - 3:50 pm

what a great space!

Alexandra March 24, 2014 - 5:21 pm

Everything is perfect! I have wanted a light-up ice cream cone for ages and I had that brass turtle dish when I was a kid. Saw some really great antique torso medical models (and an eyeball like the one you have) at a flea market this weekend but they were sadly out of my price range. I miss Ohio thrifting prices 🙁

Alexandra March 24, 2014 - 5:23 pm

Everything is perfect! I have wanted one of those ice cream cones for ages and I had that brass turtle dish when I was a kid… Found some great vintage medical models (torsos, an eyeball like the one you have) at a flea market this weekend but they were sadly out of my price range. I miss Ohio thrifting/flea market/garage sale prices 🙁

Fiona Brooks March 24, 2014 - 5:29 pm

that little cat statue is AMAZEEE!!

FIONA
Click here to see Fiona Brooks Personal Fashion Posts!

D. Carlson March 24, 2014 - 5:49 pm

I really like the prints on the wall in the … Dining room? I think I see a hutch in there. They are on the right in the second photo. Are they also thrift finds?

Kaylah March 25, 2014 - 12:40 pm

Nope, those are prints of Ernst Haeckel's work.

casey newman March 24, 2014 - 5:57 pm

Uuuft you have such an incredible space! And it just keeps getting better!

I sent you a message a few weeks ago about this but I'm not sure if you got it. when I was a kid my Granny had those EXACT same siamese cat statues, and just about a week before I saw your first post with them I remembered them for the first time in years and did hours of searching online to see if I could find them. I found loads and loads of porcelain/ceramic siamese cats but never that exact pair. I thought maybe my Granny just had a one-off set, and then I saw your post! please please tell me you found them on ebay somewhere and not in a secondhand shop! <3 xx

Kaylah March 25, 2014 - 12:39 pm

My dad actually gave them to me. He bought a box of junk at an auction and those were in there. I bet you could find a pair on ebay though!

Elizabeth March 24, 2014 - 7:16 pm

I love all the natural light in the living room!!

By any chance do you still have that red apple TV set (I remember reading about it a long time ago on your blog)? It was so adorable!

Kaylah March 25, 2014 - 12:38 pm

Oh man, I forgot about that TV. I do still have it, but it's at my old house. That was such a good find, I'd like to keep it until I have kids.

Katie March 24, 2014 - 7:22 pm

Wow. That is a *stunning* living room.

Creemakeslove March 24, 2014 - 7:43 pm

Ahh, I'm halfway through the third month in my new apt, and it's not half as cute as yours! I wish I had the time/resources to do something so cute. I live with my boyfriend, and our roommate is his best friend, so I don't want to feel like I'm taking over the apartment when I rearrange our living room and hang pretty posters on the walls. Haha. By the way, under the photo of the little turtle, is that a photo of a cicada or is it pinned? I have a box full of critters I want to pin, but again, I need the time! I want to cover my walls in them.

Kaylah March 25, 2014 - 12:37 pm

It's a cicada I pinned last summer. 🙂

SnarkyBat March 24, 2014 - 7:53 pm

Oh it is cute. I especially love all the medical/science stuff. And the ice cream cone, because how could you not love that?!

Great job making it into such a homey, comfortable looking space so quickly! It takes me months to get my spaces truely the way I want them. I'm currently in the boxing up stage, and will start the unboxing/decorating stage in less than two weeks! New spaces are so exciting. 🙂

Stephanie March 24, 2014 - 9:11 pm

Glad to see you settled and happy in your new digs.

You certainly have a lovely and a very "you" space.

Damaris // The cat, you and us March 24, 2014 - 9:23 pm

Your living room has the most beautiful light and those windows major crush! 🙂 I also like to have all the objects that make me happy around me that's what I think when I see all your pretty collections. Oh! And love that bookcase with sliding doors, any chance I can get it anywhere?

Kaylah March 25, 2014 - 12:37 pm

Thanks so much!! 🙂

I snagged that at an auction.

Michelle March 24, 2014 - 9:53 pm

Your living room looks very cozy! I still can't help but to freak out a little when I see your collection of bugs (I hate bugs) but I love your blog too much so I just hold in my fears and scroll as fast whenever I see bugs.

Katrina Allain March 24, 2014 - 11:22 pm

On the sixth picture, what album is that? I absolutely love the lighted globe too!

Kaylah March 25, 2014 - 12:36 pm

It's Man Man – On Oni Pond. Definitely worth a listen, or 500.
🙂

Mauriene Tolentino March 24, 2014 - 11:53 pm

you have such a cheeky taste in design. I am completely adorned by the feel of your living room space!

megan March 25, 2014 - 12:35 am

you have such a fun, clean aesthetic. i love when you share photos of your home!

Morgan P March 25, 2014 - 1:45 am

Thanks for sharing! Where is that rug from?

Kaylah March 25, 2014 - 12:35 pm

Walmart! It was only like $20 too!

Anonymous March 25, 2014 - 6:58 am

And your cats? 😛

Kaylah March 25, 2014 - 12:35 pm

What about them?

pilla March 25, 2014 - 9:31 am

Such a nice place you have!,

http://pernillabredolt.com

Georgia C. March 25, 2014 - 10:08 am

SUCH a beautiful space, you should be so proud!. Can't wait until I'm living in my own place so I can spend some time and love on it. Particularly adore the lepidopterology in the first shot 🙂

Michelle Drew March 25, 2014 - 11:52 am

I like the green triangle pillow. Very cute!

Anikaviro March 25, 2014 - 11:56 am

That is SO cool.
In love with that human anatomic poster ♡

Daisy Doll Chain March 25, 2014 - 11:56 am

I love reading people's posts about their new home. This gets me excited about moving into my own place one day. I love your map!!

http://daisy-doll-chain.blogspot.com.au/

Raffles Bizarre March 25, 2014 - 12:13 pm

I just love everything about your decor, dream room! All the maps and globes are perfect.
Raffles Bizarre Blog

strawberrycupcake7 March 25, 2014 - 12:18 pm

I'm so happy that you love your new apartment. There really is no better feeling than coming home to a place that you love. And might I add, your decorating skills are top notch!

Kimmy March 25, 2014 - 2:07 pm

You've done such an excellent job at decorating your space. And that window! Gosh, such a nice apartment, really beautiful floor plan.

Hello_Precious March 25, 2014 - 5:01 pm

If only you could decorate my place !!!

Emilia the Lumberjack DeLuxe March 26, 2014 - 4:58 pm

Gah! I love ALL OF IT. I'll be borrowing a page or two from your stylebook when I start getting the stuff together to decorate my new place. Looks like I'm not the only one interested in collecting bugs! The way you mix vintage finds with the new is really cool, and the look is comfy and stylish without looking stuffy or trying-too-hard. Keep it up! 😀

Ashley Taylor March 26, 2014 - 10:59 pm

So perfectly quirky and definitely YOU! That's what I love about your blog. No one can deny it's yours.

xo Ashley
thetiniestfirecracker.com

Sarah March 27, 2014 - 4:20 pm

So cute! I'm just working on decorating our apartment so I love to see what others have done!

Elif Onay March 29, 2014 - 12:48 pm

I would believe if they said that your apartment was partly a museum. You have so many lovely treasures in there and probably lots of information on them too. It would be exciting to take a tour of your house <3

Chamomile Dealer

Van September 9, 2014 - 3:04 am

I'm always revamping my apartment and trying to find the best arrangement, thanks for sharing this. Love how light and fresh your space is, very inspiring 🙂 I love looking at the homes of other creatives/collectors.

Comments are closed.