Sweaters in the oven. The stale scent of cigarettes. No sofa, just a coffee table and chairs. I’m talking about Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment. HBO’s iconic '90s rom-com Sex and the City made a triumphant return to Netflix, and a whole new generation is binge-watching the sitcom’s six seasons as if they just dropped. Carrie’s Upper East Side flat might not be the flashiest of the four leading ladies’ apartments, but there’s something as chaotically charming about it as the spastic columnist herself.
Offering no shortage of ideas for decorating an apartment, Carrie’s abode ‘was feminine and eclectic with a New Yorker’s touch,’ muses New York-based interior designer Emma Beryl at Emma Beryl Interiors. ‘She had mismatched furniture that looks as if she collected it over the years from different thrift stores and maybe even a last-day-of-the-month sidewalk find.’
‘The key to the look is organized chaos,’ Emma continues. ‘You need shelves full but organized in a system you know your way around.’ Carrie’s apartment features nightstands, dressers, media units, and bookshelves galore — none of which really go together — ‘but they are all good quality and perfect the eclectic look.’
Living in New York City myself, I find inspiration in the lived-in metropolitan glamour of Carrie’s apartment. And as someone who has also hit up one too many Manolo sample sales, I need tips on where to put my shoes. Over twenty-five years after the show’s initial release, join me as I delve into recreating the most iconic home in TV history.
Re-creating Carrie Bradshaw's Apartment
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Bedroom
Given that Carrie’s apartment was a studio, her bedroom area was a focal point throughout the show. Naturally, this is where I started my search.
Price: $299
Carrie had a lilac duvet cover, ‘which you can recreate easily by grabbing the washed linen duvet cover from Brooklinen in Peri Splash,’ says interior designer Emma Beryl. ‘What makes it even better is that linen helps you stay cool, which is a must in NYC apartments during the summer.’
Price: $319
Was: $399
Carrie’s nightstand is fairly simple: classic rich wood with a single drawer. This option from Pottery Barn is one of the closest I’ve seen to the original — right down to the hardware. And better yet, it’s currently on sale. The fashionista only had one, but for a grander look, consider purchasing a second to flank either side of the bed.
Price: $373.40
Was: $933.50
‘What changes throughout the seasons tends to be the carpet at the end of the bed,' explains Emma. 'The carpets go from an Aztec pattern with oranges and browns to florals with blues and purples.’ Personally, I think the more memorable, more iconic bedroom rug is the former, which was tricky to find. However, I did manage to find this option from Etsy, which has a similar color story.
Living Room
‘Her furniture is very low-key with a few chairs that have wood legs and arms and upholstered seats but nothing crazy in pattern or color. Stay neutral with leather or browns,’ urges Emma. And don’t forget to ‘look for storage everywhere so your small space can stay clean.’
Price: $437.01
Was: $524
Carrie’s coffee table had a much thicker wooden top than this one, but the overall design is pretty spot on. It’s super sturdy with its durable walnut wood construction, and judging by the reviews, it seems that it looks even better in person. Fill the table's surface with stacks of books and Bergdorf's shopping bags to really get the look.
Price: $69.99
I mean, did I nail it, or did I nail it? This floor lamp looks just like Carrie’s with its classic silhouette, warm glow, and two-tone base. Also, it’s worth mentioning that I have seen quite a few floor lamps in my day, and never have I seen one so highly reviewed as this — especially with a price tag under $70. Sex and the City fan or not, this is a steal.
Price: $1,079
This West Elm accent chair is pretty darn close to the one in the corner of Carrie’s living room with its wooden armchair frame and rich cognac brown leather. It’s the sort of chair you can snooze in, or if you're like Carrie, perhaps enjoy some Chinese food.
Closet
There was no way I was discussing Carrie's apartment without mentioning her closet! ‘Carrie’s closet was stuffed to the brim,’ explains interior designer Emma Beryl. ‘Every square inch of space is utilized for something.’ The only thing that kept it out of complete disarray was the fact that Carrie utilized multiple kinds of storage — an important takeaway to maximize even the tiniest NYC closets.
‘It wasn’t just hanging space,’ says Emma. ‘There was space for long dresses, a closet rod stacked above another for shorter pieces of clothing, drawers, shelving for shoes, and hooks facing outward so that you can hang outfits before wearing them.’ The key takeaway? Variety.
Price: $149.99
‘Put an Ikea cabinet in the closet underneath shorter pieces (making sure it fits and drawers can be opened) so that you can store more in the space,' explains Emma. The Malm's sleek lines and no-fuss construction fit seamlessly into even compact closet corners, while its drawers glide like butter. Coming in at a cool $149.99 with an even more stellar 4.6/5 star average review, I’d consider purchasing two if you have the space.
Price: $39.99
‘Definitely make sure you have lots of shoe storage,’ emphasizes Emma. ‘Stacking shoe racks from places like The Container Store work wonders in spaces like this so that you can add as your collection grows!’ These bamboo ones hold eight pairs of shoes and are sturdy enough to stack to your heart’s desire — the sky, or should I say ceiling, is the limit!
From: $69.86
You’ll notice that Carrie makes good use of her vertical space. From top to bottom, she stuffed her closet with accessories. The easiest way to store things in those ultra-high loft-level heights without making them a total pain to take down is a storage basket — especially a chic rattan one like this. I happen to own a few and can attest that they’re absolutely essential. Purchase smaller boxes for hats and gloves and larger ones for bulkier off-season items like sweaters (no oven necessary!).
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