This 120-Year-Old NYC Home’s Design Was Inspired by Gertrude Stein’s Paris Apartment

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11 months ago

This 120-Year-Old NYC Home’s Design Was Inspired by Gertrude Stein’s Paris Apartment

Chelsea knew the apartment, which was initially built in 1905, was the one for their family from the beginning (even after 120 days in contract). “I saw this apartment online the day it was listed, visited it the same day, and made an offer that evening,” she explains. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

A hallway with gray walls, wooden floor, framed artwork, and a wall-mounted light fixture. — Chelsea knew the apartment, which was initially built in 1905, was the one for their family from the beginning (even after 120 days in contract). “I saw this apartment online the day it was listed, visited it the same day, and made an offer that evening,” she explains. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“We were very lucky in that the home’s design prior to moving in was quite elegant and simple,” Chelsea says. “And previous owners had already completely redone the kitchen and bathroom in a thoughtful way, so most of the changes we made were more aesthetic in nature.” Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

When the couple bought the apartment, there was unused space in their dining room. So, Chelsea dreamed up a built-in bookshelf and bar, likely making hosting a breeze. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

You might recognize Chelsea’s beautiful home from social media. She often posts TikTok videos about hosting tips, and it just so happens that she has a book titled *Having People Over*, coming out in October 2025. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

Guests always ask Chelsea about the wallpaper in their bar area, which is inspired by Bemelmans Bar in New York City and made by The Lawns. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“I drew inspiration from images of Gertrude Stein’s Paris apartment, as well as the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, to create a space of joyous maximalism,” Chelsea says of her home’s aesthetic. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“I wanted my home to feel like an old-school salon, where people drop by for a drink or bite and good conversation, and there is always plenty of visual interest to keep people’s attention,” she continues. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“Few things make me happier than when people get lost in a piece of artwork on my walls, asking questions about it and soaking it in,” Chelsea concludes. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

The previous owners completed some updates, and there wasn’t much to do when Chelsea and her husband moved in. So, she focused on ways “to add personal style, functionality, and, above all, art.” Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

Surrounding herself with abundant art is in Chelsea’s blood. Her cousin and uncle are both professional artists (her cousin created the illustration for her upcoming book!), and her relatives are creatives, too. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“Visual art has always been a big part of my life,” Chelsea explains. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“I cook quite a bit, and it feels spacious and well-appointed for a Manhattan apartment,” Chelsea says. “Especially since the updates we made, it’s my favorite room of the house to be in.” Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

While the couple didn’t have to do many projects in the apartment, they made a few changes to their kitchen. Black-and-white checkered flooring was installed, some fixtures were swapped out, and they hung marble shelving. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“I’m sure I’ve broken them all because I have a very vibes-based method of design (and life, honestly),” Chelsea says of her experience breaking design rules. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“But I love that it feels perfectly imperfect,” she continues. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

In the apartment’s guest room’s closet (not pictured), Chelsea’s husband set up a racing video game setup, which includes a steering wheel and pedals. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

Chelsea admits that one of her home’s dirty secrets is that underneath the beds are “completely chaotic.” Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

“I’m not a big DIY person, but managing to create a beautiful and functional vanity space in my relatively small bedroom felt like a big achievement,” Chelsea shares. Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

If Chelsea had to put her finger on the oldest thing in the home, she’d say it was the apartment itself (it’s 120 years old!). Credit: Kiritin Credit: Kiritin

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ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Apartment

LOCATION: Morningside Heights, Manhattan, New York

STYLE: Eclectic

BEDROOMS: 2

SQUARE FEET: 800

If anyone knows anything about the unique blend of financial planning combined with hosting guests, it’d be author and the founder of The Financial Diet, Chelsea Fagan. Not only did she create a platform for women to openly talk about a taboo subject (money!) but she also has a book, titled Having People Over, coming out in October about hosting. You might also recognize her from her very popular TikToks, which feature party planning tips and hot takes.

What makes Chelsea’s platform even more special is that she shows it all in her two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood. She’s lived in the home for four years, but she knew it was the space for her, her husband, and their pup instantly.

“I saw this apartment online the day it was listed, visited it the same day, and made an offer that evening,” Chelsea explains. “And in the 120 days we were in contract, I never saw another listing I would have visited. I knew I wanted to live in Morningside Heights, which is a very small neighborhood with limited housing stock, and I knew the specifics of the apartment I wanted. So as soon as I saw this place, it was love at first sight.”

The apartment was built in 1905 and those original architectural details, like the moldings, high ceilings, and transom windows enchanted Chelsea. It was also a bonus that the layout has a cohesive flow — especially for hosting. Another plus? As an expert on financial planning, she knew that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when inventory was cheaper, was the “optimal time to buy in the city, if we were ever going to,” Chelsea says.

Resources

PAINT & COLORS

ENTRY

LIVING ROOM

Sofa — Article
Loveseat — Room + Board
Dining Table, Side Table — Thrifted
Hanging Lamp — Vintage
Mini Lamp — Pooky

DINING ROOM

Table — Jonathan Adler
Wrought-Iron Chairs — Vintage
Dining Chairs — West Elm
Wallpaper — The Lawns
Mini Lamp — Pooky
Wine Cabinet — Handmade
Painting — Elizabeth Lennie

KITCHEN

Fridge — Sub Zero
Oversize Print — Etsy
Mini Lamp — Zafferano
Dutch Oven — Staub

BEDROOM

Thanks, Chelsea!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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