Exclusive: The Glamourai’s Kelly Framel Turned To An Unexpected Design Source To Revamp Her NYC Apartment

Kelly Framel—creative director, stylist, and founder of The Glamourai—recently gave her quaint New York City studio a bit of a facelift. The style maven updated the apartment using some of our favorite

and incorporated budget-friendly pieces from HomeGoods. Take a look at the revamped space Framel shares with her partner, Zach, for some simple tricks to make the most of your cozy living situation—and learn how to design a space with your S.O. in mind.

Framel has an affinity for velvet in rich hues, which she uses in many of her homes around the country. Case in point: a chic mustard-colored quilt and deep green drapery panels that divide the space into multiple rooms.

“I used a green velvet curtain to transform our studio apartment into a one bedroom with a spacious walk-in closet,” Framel said. “Tucking a few slim boxes within the lush curtains provides much-needed secret storage, perfect for small space living.” Hello, genius small space hack!

To further enhance the space, Framel installed

like this white beaded fixture. She believes that, similar to jewelry, lighting is the final accessory that ties together an entire vignette. Stacked books in the windowsills, an elephant-shaped side table, and a pair of red striped lumbar pillows add character and introduce a brighter color palette to counter the dark wood built-ins and navy rug.

When designing a small space, consider displaying beauty products and perfume bottles. When you use your loveliest bottles and products as accessories, you save concealed storage space and drawers for clothing, hair tools, and other bulky things that should be tucked away.

“Our cozy New York apartment works as a highly functional pied-à-terre thanks to a plethora of cabinets, hutches, trunks, and chests of drawers in varying sizes—many of which double as coffee tables or bookshelves to showcase art, books, and ornaments,” Framel said.

She also believes you shouldn’t avoid large-scale art when styling a small space. “I love using large-scale artworks in small spaces; it gives grandeur and gravitas and opens up the room.”

In the bathroom, Framel opted to paint the walls black—a trend we can totally get behind. We also love how she incorporated the mirror into a small but diverse

Who knew antlers could be so chic in a bathroom?

Framel designed the kitchen with Zach in mind. “He spends hours in our tiny kitchen perfecting his craft, so we wanted the space to be both functional and beautiful,” Framel said.

She made the most of the tiny space, styling the

with colorful dishes, copper cookware, and an array of herbs and spices. Potted plants and greenery give the kitchen a natural touch and make it feel fresh and airy.

She also implemented one of our favorite small space hacks: hanging your pots and pans. It frees up cabinet space for your less-attractive kitchen essentials. “Beautiful cookware is lovely to live with and will encourage you to cook more often,” Framel said.

For more inspiration, follow @theglamourai and @homegoods on Instagram.