24 New York City Homes That Are What Dreams Are Made Of

By  Lauren McQuade
soho loft apartment with modern furnishings Claire Esparros

To some, there is no aspiration higher than moving to the big city in hopes of achieving their career goals and the ultimate American dream: living in (and owning) a stunning New York City loft apartment. We all know, even just anecdotally, that the Manhattan real estate market is fierce, full of old money and international investors. But that dream of selling off everything you own and finding a sun-soaked studio with south-facing windows is still possible and eventually, you could find yourself living through your very own 19th-century brownstone renovation in Brooklyn. Here are 24 stories of people who made it work in the Big Apple and have beautiful homes to show for it.

1. Classic Railroad-Style Apartment

railroad style apartment with stainless steel fireplace surround Eric Petschek

TAKE THE TOUR: This couple turned their 520-square-foot, railroad-style west Chelsea apartment into a functional home, despite only being 11 feet wide.

2. West Village Charmer

postwar living room with modern details Chloe Berk

TAKE THE TOUR: The rich decor in this one-bedroom apartment, perched high on the 12th floor on a picturesque street in Chelsea, embraces the postwar charm of the West Village.

3. Work-Life Balance in Brooklyn

couch with picture frame collage wall above Chloe Berk

TAKE THE TOUR: Inside ceramicist Michele Quan's sunny Brooklyn studio and home.

4. Soft-Industrial Vibes in Greenpoint

bedroom dresser and leaning mirror industrial modern Stefan Suchanec for Rory Creative

TAKE THE TOUR: Peek inside this crisp loft owned by The Wing's creative production manager — where new construction sits on a site that was once a garage, packed with details like old concrete floors and exposed brick.

5. Occupation as Inspiration

living room with modern furniture and built-ins Chris Mottalini

TAKE THE TOUR: This Brooklyn apartment highlights the style of its jewelry designer homeowner by incorporating brass and jewel tones throughout the space.

6. Micro Studio

well-designed bathroom for a small space Alan Tansey

TAKE THE TOUR: You won't believe how much fit into this 225-square-foot micro studio apartment until you click this link and see for yourself.

7. Dreamy SoHo Loft

kitchen dining combination with modern track lighting and jute rug Claire Esparros

TAKE THE TOUR: And find out what makes this the most perfect SoHo loft ever.

8. Bright Brooklyn Happy Place

living room with brick fireplace and bar cart Jeff Anzulewicz

TAKE THE TOUR: To clear the air after an ex-boyfriend moved out, she turned her 1,100-square-foot rental in Fort Greene into a happy place by bringing bright colors into every room.

9. Ultramodern Meets Boho in Brooklyn Heights

dining table with pendant lights and wishbone chairs Nicole Franzen

TAKE THE TOUR: Inside this ultramodern space that also somehow feels earthy with very minimal decor.

10. Timeless Details That Pop

Melanie Rieders

TAKE THE TOUR: You really need to see the raw-edge wood waterfall counter inside this duplex in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights neighborhood.

11. Brownstone Gold

seating area with Eames chairs and built-in bench Jonathan Hökklo

TAKE THE TOUR: See how a previously uninhabitable brownstone ends up looking after a tricky renovation (spoiler: it's so good).

12. Well-Designed Townhouse

townhouse living room with modern pendant light and traditional fireplace Nicole Franzen

TAKE THE TOUR: This Fort Greene townhouse is filled with brilliant, original design hacks that also happen to be inexpensive.

13. A Historic House With Bold Modern Accents

historic wooden design details and modern red sideboard Travis Mark

TAKE THE TOUR: Here's proof that you can preserve a home's precious historic details and still go bold with modern accents.

14. Neutral Heaven in Brooklyn

neutral living room with minimalistic fireplace and woven baskets Dustin Aksland

TAKE THE TOUR: This airy Prospect Heights townhouse is what Brooklyn dreams are made of (special shout out to its minimal integrated kitchen design and fireplace).

15. Floating Room Concept

open concept living dining room with Eames plastic chairs and modern couch Ball & Albanese

TAKE THE TOUR: Find out how these architects squeezed a master bathroom, two walk-in closets, a laundry room, and a guest room into this tiny two-bedroom Chelsea apartment.

16. Cozy Creative Space

dining area with pendant lamp and modern wall sconces Catherine Tighe

TAKE THE TOUR: A design couple's renovated Brooklyn home is filled with creative details, including one of the best lamp assortments we ever scrolled through.

17. Minimalism Done Right

minimal bedroom with sconces and pendant light Maletz Design

TAKE THE TOUR: A couple who downsized to this Chelsea loft had little choice but to embrace minimalism (ooh at those sculptural reading lights by David Weeks).

18. The Epitome of Goals

neutral powder room with wallpaper and goldtone hardware Alan Gastelum

TAKE THE TOUR: The perfect powder room does exist and it's in this 20-something's dreamy Park Avenue apartment.

19. Mindful Renovation

neutral living room with floating shelves and ceiling fan Anjie Cho

TAKE THE TOUR: This family sought help from an architect who also happens to be a feng shui expert to bring cohesion to their two-bedroom postwar apartment on the Lower East Side.

20. How to Brighten a Brownstone

brownstone staircase with skylight and coat hooks entryway Resolution: 4 Architecture

TAKE THE TOUR: Here's another Brooklyn success story — a brownstone that hadn't been touched in 40 years gets a beautiful, bright renovation.

21. Prewar Predicament

bright modern kitchen with black window frame and white marble Alyssa Kirsten

TAKE THE TOUR: This resourceful reno modernized a prewar apartment while dealing with the building's conservative co-op board, which meant they could only work with the existing architecture.

22. When Two Became One

kitchen living room combo with warm, rustic details Joe Fletcher

TAKE THE TOUR: This colorful Brooklyn apartment is a fever dream of all New Yorkers — the two owners got to experience the fantasy of connecting their home with the empty address next door.

23. When Your Priority is Space and Light

modern bathroom with penny tile and skylight Francis Dzikowski/OTTO

TAKE THE TOUR: When your ultimate goal is more space and light, you opt for skylights in every bathroom like this Brooklyn couple (smartly) did.

24. Kid-Friendly Modern

children's room with modern furnishings Eames chairs Dustin Aksland

TAKE THE TOUR: This Brooklyn brownstone renovation (déjà vu?) successfully makes modern details work in a kid-friendly environment, like adorable mini Eames chairs.

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