Katelyn Sailor’s colorful tour of New York City

“Rally is boring,” says the custom mirror in content designer Katelyn Sailor’s colorful, quirky New York City apartment. When the North Carolina native and her husband, Kyle Raleigh, left for New York City in the midst of the pandemic, they thought their time in Manhattan would be temporary. But once there, the couple quickly find themselves falling in love with the town. “We had an Airbnb for two months, and one week into our stay, we were really looking at how we could live here full time,” said Katelyn.

Now, the couple has happily settled into their two-bedroom, 1,100-square-foot apartment on the Upper West Side. “We were working from home and we had no reason to be in North Carolina anymore,” Caitlin explained. “The city seemed like a fun adventure and we wanted to take advantage of our current freedom!”

Read on for a glimpse into Katelyn’s vibrant city space, filled with clever DIYs, funky décor, and renter-friendly upgrades you can easily replicate in your own home.

Katelyn Sailor’s colorful tour of New York City

the details:

name: Caitlin Sailor
location: Upper West Side, New York City
square footage: 1100
Rent/Own: rent

Now, you are a full time content creator. Tell us a little about your career and what you enjoy being freelance!

After several different careers over the years, I’m proud to say I’m a full-time content creator and absolutely love it. It’s so much fun showing my life and my creative side to others for a living, and I love working with brands I’ve used for years. Being self-employed can be a bit stressful, and I’ve had to work to overcome the anxiety of constantly feeling like I’ll be doing more, but it’s worth it in the end.

There are so many amazing DIYs and upgrades in your house. Have you always enjoyed making your spaces look unique, or is this a new passion?

I’ve definitely always enjoyed decorating my home. Growing up, my mom spent a lot of time making every apartment or house look pretty, so I definitely got that from her. She was always great at that, too.

How would you describe your inner style?

My style has changed many times over the years, but for now, I would describe it as fun, modern, and eye-catching.

Living with a partner requires a level of compromise when it comes to design. How do you and your spouse make design decisions together?

I am really lucky in this aspect. My husband allows me to have complete control over the pieces in our house. I think my current flat would be pink to a lot of people, but Kyle loves it!

Your coffee table like this show. What’s the story behind it?

I love my coffee table. It’s from Anthropology, and it was a bit cool at the time. The color is neutral, so I can use it even if my love of color has changed, but the uniqueness of the shape makes it really fun.

What’s the biggest splurge in your space?

Maybe my marble rack, but it was well worth it.

Tell us more about your fake shelf and the rainbow colored books inside. What inspired this project?

I’ve always loved the idea of ​​a mantel to decorate but I’ve never lived in a house with an actual one. I searched the Facebook Marketplace for weeks to find the perfect shelf. When I finally found one I loved, I quickly realized the seller was the extremely talented Josh Young, the person who arguably decorates a faux fireplace with books inside of something! It’s a real stunning marble mantel that I absolutely love.

I wanted to add some color to it and took inspiration from Elsie Larson’s rainbow bookshelves. I searched thrift stores and $1 carts at locally owned bookstores for all the colors. Some are more difficult to find than others, but I think the finished look is fun!

You’ve built an awesome gallery wall above your media platform. What are some of your favorite pieces of art in your apartment?

The gallery wall above my media stand (which includes our Samsung Frame TV) is basically a travel wall that showcases a few of my favorite places my husband and I have visited. And I got them all on Etsy! I guess people can be intimidated by art, but Etsy has great prints you can put in my favorite cheap Amazon frames with a mat, and they end up looking a lot more expensive than they are. You can even print some yourself for under $5!

Wallpapering your kitchen was another big task that seemed to require a lot of creativity and patience. What is your advice to someone considering a project like this?

Take your time and don’t stress! I know this is easier said than done, but it’s important not to get discouraged when things don’t seem right or happen quickly. Decorating and home improvement takes time—it took nearly two years to get just 75 percent of my tiny apartment the way I wanted it.

Can you talk about the tenant-friendly aspects of your DIY projects? How does one ensure that any hand-made work can be undone when it’s time to go out?

I own tons A convenient tenant upgrade in my existing apartment. One of the things that has the biggest impact, in my opinion, is switching out the building’s light fixtures. There are plenty of beautiful light fixtures out there for affordable prices if you take the time to research. I also changed all the appliances in the kitchen and the faucets in both the kitchen and bathroom. Even the door handles got an upgrade with gorgeous crystal knobs. The most important thing is to keep all of the original pieces in a safe place where they won’t break so you can swap everything back when you move.

Tell us about the vibrant pillows and rug in your bedroom. What made you decide to decorate in bright colors there?

When we moved to New York, we decided to rent out our Raleigh home furnished, so we didn’t come up with much. I’m basically starting over and really wanted a bright, fun living space that would make me happy every time I walked into each room. I wanted my bedroom to feel calm but to share the rest of the apartment, so I kept the tapestries, walls, and furniture white and then found euro prints I fell in love with from Laura Park Designs. The rug adds some more color, and I think everything goes together really well.

Where do you like to shop for your home items? Any favorite resources in town?

I shop everywhere for home decor. My go-tos are Anthropologie, Wayfair, Overstock, Target, West Elm, World Market, Amazon and Etsy – all of which are popular. My favorite hidden gem is Scout Design Studio. They have a beautiful and unique selection of items and the best customer service ever. In town, I love stopping by Jonathan Adler for inspiration, and there’s a little shop called Happy Kangaroo in my neighborhood that has great finds.

What’s your advice for someone who might be nervous about incorporating bold patterns and colors into their space?

I promise you can add subtle color throughout your home without making it overwhelming. If you’re thinking of adding color, go with some pillows that make you happy. Then, maybe some bright and colorful art on your walls!

Tell us a little bit about your wonderful French, Lou. Did she move into town with you? Where is her favorite place to hang out in the apartment?

My French bulldog, Lou, is my best friend and he has been with him for eight years now. If you’ve seen her on my Instagram, you know she’s hilarious and has a lot of personality. She makes me so happy and I love taking her anywhere with me as often as I can. She has a little fluffy bed in the living room where you can usually find her during the day while I work beside her.

In just two sentences, what would your advice be to someone moving to New York City for the first time?

Go explore, as much as you can. Choose a new neighborhood every weekend and spend the day wandering in and out of new places!

What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday in New York?

I love taking advantage of all that New York has to offer. My favorite type of Saturday is when my husband is looking for a new restaurant in a new neighborhood and we go and get to know the area. We love eating out and enjoying the level of food New York City has to offer!