(Glimpses of) My Happy Place
I was visiting my sister in Philly last week and I asked her husband and my boyfriend the most obvious similarities between us. Steffen’s (my brother in law) answer came to him quickly—we’re both homebodies and not “looking for the next party.” I was a bit taken aback because I do consider myself pretty social (i.e., I could never go a full day without leaving my apartment to see friends or my yoga studio) but do think of my home as my sacred place where I do enjoy spending a lot of time.
I’ve lived in my current Austin apartment for almost 3 years. It’s 490 square feet, which is quite frankly the perfect amount of space for me. I effectively have a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. My apartment’s size certainly limits my ability to be social within it, which is probably why I venture out. While I have friends over for cocktails, I’d never be able to host any sort of dinner or movie night unless everyone would be ok piling in my bed (also, until recently, I didn’t cook any food worthy of guests).
I love my apartment because it’s my city hideout. I live in the midst of a lot of action—I can hear the summer orchestra series from my balcony, watch July 4th lake fireworks from my roof. I walk to work during all times of the year and most of my favorite places are a 5-10 minute car ride away. What I love most about my apartment, however, is how it has become a mirror of myself. I find myself gazing at my collections and books just for fun. When my apartment is a mess, it’s because I’ve been a mess. I clean and prune it as one would care for a pet.
Most if not all of my items are from Ikea. I simply don’t find joy in searching for cheap vintage finds or anything like that and loved the idea of being able to get easy pieces that fit into my Scandinavian aesthetic. While each item is likely a shade of grey, white or beige, everything must be comfortable (a very hygge, gezzelig life I demand). I luckily haven’t had to replace any of my furniture over my time at this apartment, plus my bedroom pieces came directly from my first Austin apartment.
I have a small sitting area that I had to carefully plan out given the size and flow of my space. While I don’t spend much time on the chaise, I love the arrangement of the seating with my shelves (installed by me and my father when I first moved in). My shelves display some of my favorite possessions, including my books and journals. My sister visited me a few months ago and rearranged my books by subject matter—most of the ones I’ve found worth keeping fall within economics/business/career, environment, strong female memoirs, spirituality and poetry. What else do you really need?
My shelves are full of gifts or what I’ve collected while traveling. You can spy Lil Kimchi, a piece my friend Tiny gave me for my birthday one year. My parents gave me the Bob Dylan lyrics book and I have the National’s special edition record for once I get a record player. My Sonos speaker also lives on my shelves, which supplies enough sound for the whole elevator area outside of my door to hear whatever the music of the day is!
I’d call this my spiritual shelf, home of my palo santo, sage and incense. Matt gave me the Post Malone candle for my birthday one year, and the framed crystal when he moved from Austin. Supposedly he found it shortly after we started dating and had been keeping it until the perfect time. Natalie gave me the frame, and I put in a picture she took of me while we were in India together.
I love my “coffee table” as it always holds my most favorite things: candles, incense, crystals, flowers and my tarot cards. My sister gifted me the Fountain Tarot deck for my birthday and I love to study and use them. The mirror on my table makes the appearance a little more interesting. Fun fact, you can store a lot within the table as the white tray is removable.
My kitchen is what it is—I have enough prep room and counter space at the bar to eat or work. If you look close enough you can spy my SCOBY that lives on my counter. The kitchen has received increased usage during my month of ayurvedic living (you can read about that too) but my large fridge, dishwasher and good storage spoil me. Directly across from my kitchen area is my “entrance way” which consists of an Ikea shoe holder used as a table for some of my favorite art. I always end up looking at myself in the mirror and smiling before I leave my apartment, which I only recently learned is a Russian superstitious ritual. Cute!
I’ve only recently gotten into houseplants and flowers. I love buying myself small bunches while at the grocery store. The plant on my island is a dracaena which I keep calling a draconea.
I try to put pretty little things in as many places around my apartment as I can. Here, I have photos of Amsterdam that Natalie and I won in an instagram giveaway. I also have some of my own watercolors. The quote is from a recent The Ordinary purchase.
My David Bowie poster (including it’s larger than life frame) has to be one of my most prized possessions. I got the poster in high school and was so excited to make it a staple in my home. The glass was all one piece before my bike fell on it and broke it (oops). To the right of the poster you can see my collection of owl and bird art. I love owls, and I’m thankful for my friends and family that consistently supply me with new additions.
I prefer the feeling of sleeping on a clean cloud, which I’ve achieved with my bed. She’s perfect for a sunny nap, a deep sleep, cuddling, working, anything really. I live in my bed and I stand by that habit given how beautiful she is. Washing my sheets and getting into a clean white bed feels like a hotel, but a hotel that’s also my home. Amazingly fresh. Above my bed lives my ode to the National (a copy of a newspaper from their first festival, as well as a set list I acquired after their Austin City Limits late night show). The collection of songs is very unique. My Radiohead poster has followed me since my childhood bedroom. I love the colors of it and I love Radiohead, can you say win/win?
On my nightstand you can find my journals and books that I haven’t gotten to, a candle, body oil, lavender essential oil and my floss. I also keep two pieces of my Away luggage in my room (the rest is in a closet) because I use them frequently for work. Luckily I think they both look nice enough that it isn’t too bothersome.
While in my small city apartment, I feel free. I walk around in my underwear and forget people can see me in the huge windows that directly face a walkway. I do random yoga moves in my kitchen, using my counters and fridge to stretch. I smudge and light incense when I need to reset or just get the smell of salmon out. And I never use my balcony. When I think about my next moves and the inevitable departure from Austin, I think about how much I’ll miss my apartment and what it’s brought me—a sense of identity and grounding that I rarely ever show anyone else (besides little glimpses here and there). It’s my happy place.
And for those of you wondering where the bathroom shots are, it’s the bane of my existence with no natural light and makes me want to cry. I’ll have a beautiful one, someday.