How One Designer Brought Joy to a Moody Period Corner Apartment (With Playful Pops of Color)

I’m going to be honest: I should be folding socks right now. Instead? I’m curled up in my favorite corner next to a half-cold mug of coffee, shamelessly scrolling through before-and-after home tours. You too? Good, because today’s post is a love letter to one of my all-time favorite transformations—a creaky, stately, gloriously high-ceilinged apartment brought back to life with COLOR (and a hefty dose of designer magic).

If you’ve ever stared at vintage crown molding and wondered, “But where’s the fun?”—this one’s for you.

Meet

the Apartment: History, Charm, and a Side of Shabbiness

Picture this: a handsome 1920s corner apartment in a sleepy city neighborhood—just enough original details to make realtors foam at the mouth. Think: bowed bay windows, honey-toned herringbone floors, flourishes of ornate plasterwork. All absolutely smothered in “just moved in” beige and an inexplicable collection of dusty fake plants (we’ve all been there).

The couple who snagged this gem—a young family moving up from a shoebox rental—loved the bones…but also confessed, “It feels a bit like visiting our great-aunt. Sweet, but not really us.”

Enter Sofia Lin, interior designer, color theorist, and—according to her Instagram bio—“recovering neutral addict.”

The Vision: Honoring the Past Without Living in It

Sofia’s big rule: Respect, don’t replicate. She wanted to highlight those deliciously original details (because, hello, you can’t buy that kind of character from IKEA) but pull the space into modern, real-life territory.

She started with questions, not swatches.

“What colors make you happy before coffee, after a bad day, during the weird in-between?”

Over shared cookies, the family confessed: they loved bold art, post-bedtime dance parties, and the kind of colors you see in storybooks.

Maybe you crave clean Scandinavian neutrals—no shade! But if you’ve ever felt your mood shift after putting on a bright sweater or setting out a bowl of lemons, you get it. We want our homes to hug us back, not lull us to sleep.

Step 1: Start with a Clean (But Not Sterile) Slate

Before going full technicolor, Sofia gave the apartment what she calls “the deep breath treatment.” Walls went from drab beige to crisp, gallery white (specifically Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, for my fellow paint obsessives). Any cringe-inducing track lighting was swapped for elegant brass sconces and vintage fixtures—she found a few on Facebook Marketplace, which honestly gives me hope for the rest of us.

The original floors were sanded and resealed, showing off their warm, lived-in charm. Those bay windows? Scrubbed until they practically sparkled. Every room suddenly felt five times brighter, already looking more like a place you’d want to sprawl out for movie night.

Step 2: Plotting Out Color—The Right Kind of Drama

Here’s where Sofia flexes her “studied-but-chill” expertise: She didn’t blast the entire apartment with neon walls or paint the woodwork lime green (Pinterest, take note). She went for playful pops—that is, bold, purposeful hits of color that give each zone its own voice.

Living Room: Teal, Art, and a Plant That Actually Survives

Two chunky velvet armchairs in a deep teal (spoiler: from a local thrift shop, reupholstered by an old-school craftsman who could write a book about furniture).
A vintage rug with threads of turquoise and magenta, strategically covering the less-than-perfect spots in the hardwood.
Above the original marble fireplace? A gallery cluster of bright abstract art—not precious, but fun. Sofia and the family actually had a Saturday afternoon painting session together. Half of those frames are home-grown masterpieces.
One big, blessedly real fiddle-leaf fig. (Yes, it’s thriving. No, I don’t know Sofia’s secret. Sunlight and prayers, maybe?)

Dining Nook: Yellow That Outshines the Morning Sun

Small space, big personality: Sofia found four mid-century-inspired dining chairs in a perfect shade of sunflower, which literally sparkle under pendant lighting during breakfast.
Honorable mention: a cheeky cobalt blue fruit bowl always overflowing with oranges.
The dining table? Antique marble, legs repainted lemon yellow, sitting on a playful patterned runner in bubblegum pinks and mint greens. Unexpected, but somehow it all sings.

Bedroom: Sophisticated, But Make It Happy

The “grown-up” zone—sort of! Sofia painted a single accent wall in soft citron (like sun filtering through a sheer curtain) and grounded it with navy blue linen bedding.
Clustered coral and blush throw pillows, not matching but definitely mingling.
She repurposed two thrifted bedside tables with splashes of deep emerald, tying the room to the palette without making it feel clownish.

Balancing Old and New: A (Fine) Line Between Grandma and Playroom

This apartment never looks like it’s trying too hard—and that’s Sofia’s magic. She lets historic trim and original doors steal the show, sneaking in contemporary color through fabrics, ceramics, and cleverly curated art. Every bookshelf is peppered with family travel souvenirs (a clay vase from Athens, a rainbow hat from last summer’s road trip) and actual read books—not just stacks for show.

If you’re picturing chaos, you’re not alone—I definitely was. But Sofia’s background in both color psychology and vintage restoration means she has receipts (and credentials) to back up her instincts. Color isn’t just decorative. It actually boosts mood, fosters creativity, and—according to the American Psychological Association—helps kids (and adults) feel more grounded at home.

Personal aside:

I tried color-blocked kitchen shelves after seeing this apartment, and my day genuinely starts better now. (Highly recommend. Also: yes, guests comment on it. Win-win.)

Tips for Your Own Place: Steal Sofia’s Moves
Let’s be real: not all of us have corner apartments or a designer on speed dial. But Sofia’s methods are totally adaptable. Here’s her advice, which she shared with me over DMs (because yes, I fangirled hard):

1. Start With One Spot

Pick a corner, chair, or shelf—add a wild color. See how you feel. “If it makes you smile before you brush your teeth, it’s a keeper,” Sofia says.

2. Layer, Don’t Clutter

Mix in accents slowly. Bring in pillows, throws, art, or even colored glassware. Keep vintage details visible.

3. Use What You Have

The family’s “abstract art wall” was made from a free weekend and some dollar-store paints. Start there!

4. Plants Count as Color

Seriously, a lush plant can transform a bland nook. No shame in fake, but try a real one if sunlight allows.

5. Lighting Makes Color

Warm bulbs, vintage sconces, sunlight—play with it and watch your colors transform all day long.

The Vibe Today: Lived-In, Loved, and Joyful

The apartment is full of life: shoes by the door, coffee rings on the dining table, and laughter echoing off the herringbone floors. It’s vibrant but never chaotic, grown-up but never stuffy—the kind of place you want to hang out in pajama pants and just be.

Bottom line:

Sofia didn’t just redecorate. She honored history, thrilled her clients, and proved (again) that color isn’t scary—it’s liberating.

So if you’re itching for change, set down the laundry and grab a splashy pillow or a new paintbrush. Your home, however humble, might just need a little playful pop.

Real Apartment Details, If You’re Curious

Location: Northeast corner unit, early 1920s walk-up
Key Materials: Reclaimed velvet upholstery, thrifted art, gallery white paint, aged oak herringbone floors
Sourcing: Local vintage shops, family artwork, and Etsy finds
Still scrolling? Me too. This laundry isn’t going to fold itself, but hey—maybe one spritz of coral and I’ll actually want to do chores.

Have you tried adding color to your home? Drop your favorite palette in the comments—or just describe your dream sofa. I’m all ears, and way too happy to procrastinate.