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Photography by BRITTANY AMBRIDGE

Above the sofa, a hand-painted chinoiserie fan supplies old-school glamour.

Photography by Brittany Ambridge

classic charm
Last year, seeking a change of scenery, domino market editor Elaina Sullivan went hunting for an Upper West Side apartment with history and soul. She found these qualities in abundance in a 250-square-foot studio located in an 18th-century building that once belonged to the Gulden family (of mustard fame). Though small, the space boasted 12-foot-high ceilings and French-style plaster moldings. To enhance these covetable features, Sullivan furnished the apartment with a mix of old and new—vintage accessories and colorful paintings—creating an eclectic, well-curated atmosphere.

Photography by Brittany Ambridge

Rhododendron branches are Sullivan’s foliage of choice.

Photography by Brittany Ambridge

Sullivan kicks up her heels outside her Upper West Side abode.

Photography by Brittany Ambridge

“Art is at the foundation of everything I do,” Sullivan says. “Whether I’m at work or at home, it’s what keeps me focused and inspired.” In addition to other impressive pieces, her collection boasts abstracts by Fort Makers, as well as an oil portrait that once belonged to Kate and Andy Spade.

Photography by Brittany Ambridge

space-saving solutions
By carefully planning her studio’s layout, Sullivan managed to devise separate “rooms”—a living area, a bed nook, and even a bar—lending a sense of expansiveness to her intimately proportioned home. She also covered one wall with framed mirrors, enhancing the space’s natural light and seeming to double its size. But perhaps Sullivan’s most effective trick came in hanging floor-to-ceiling floating shelves across the length of her apartment, providing the illusion of height, as well as plentiful surfaces for storage and display.

Photography by Brittany Ambridge

George, Sullivan’s orange tabby, takes an afternoon catnap.