By Arabella Peterson Interiors 21.05.2025

All Stylish Brooklyn Apartments Have This One Thing in Common

It’s not a colour palette or a layout – but it’s what makes these spaces feel instantly cool.

Ask any impeccably dressed Brooklynite where they got their outfit and their answer will probably be the same: it's a mix of vintage and new pieces. This age-old styling hack is the perfect way to make sure you're looking polished and put together, but also effortlessly unique and adventurous.

And this approach is by no means relegated to just the fashion scene in New York City's creative borough – in fact, within the walls of Brownstones, lofts and walk-up apartments, the same ethos thrives. Interior combinations like mid-century furniture with modern sculptural ceramics, vintage lamps topped with custom shades, and heirloom bed frames with fresh linen sheets make any space feel equally timeless and of-the-moment.

Four Brooklyn locals and The Makers series alumna – Serena Goh, Romilly Newman, Victoria Jane and Brigette Muller – have mastered this high-low design philosophy. Here's how they bring their unique personalities to their homes through a thoughtful mix of eras, textures, and stories.

1. Minimalism, but Make It Vintage

If your home is a contemporary dream – full of modern art and sculptural furniture – you might be hesitant to add treasures from bygone eras for fear of disrupting the sleek vibe. But even minimalists can find beauty in the craftsmanship of past decades. Serena Goh’s Bed-Stuy townhouse is a masterclass in blending old and new without visual clutter.

With a self-imposed 80/20 rule – 80% vintage, 20% new – her home radiates warmth and personality through collected knick-knacks, antique accents, and earthy tones, while still feeling fresh and modern. As she muses, “I love collecting vintage trinkets and artwork.”

Tips for nailing vintage minimalism:

Stick to a cohesive colour palette to unify old and new pieces.
Focus on form and texture over pattern or ornamentation.
Use the 80/20 rule – let vintage items lead, and let modern pieces ground the look.
Edit often – curate rather than clutter.
Choose vintage accents with personal meaning for warmth without excess.

2. Embrace the Past

As Romilly Newman (who's been dubbed Gen Z’s Martha Stewart) says, “I always joke that I was born in the wrong era. I'm still very connected to the past and it's expressed through the way I dress, and the way I cook, and the way I decorate.” Step inside her Park Slope brownstone apartment and you feel this straight away – it’s a semi-maximalist feast of nostalgia and charm.

From inherited antiques and moody tablescapes to gothic florals and clawfoot tubs, her home channels old-world glamour with a playful Brooklyn edge. Romilly leans into history – her apartment and her style both reflect a reverence for the past, yet she brings it into the now through her creative hosting, layered linens, and modern flourishes.

Tips for embracing past styles:

Incorporate heirloom pieces or vintage finds that hold personal or family history.
Use rich materials and layered textiles to evoke a sense of drama and warmth.
Don’t shy away from darker tones in moderation – moody palettes can be just as welcoming as neutrals.
Mix antiques with contemporary styling to avoid a museum-like effect.

3. Make It Personal

For photographer and florist, Victoria Jane, styling her Brooklyn home is less about trends and more about instinct, “I’ve become more thoughtful with what I bring in and keep in my home, which allows me to choose and style with pieces that truly feel authentic to me," she says.

Her collected-over-time interiors reflect her creative spirit: mismatched vases filled with flowers, unique thrifted furniture, and vintage lighting customised with personal flourishes. Her space embraces imperfection and spontaneity, showing that the most stylish homes are the ones that feel like an extension of yourself. In Brooklyn, where space is tight and rent is high, her intuitive approach feels especially freeing.

Tips for adding personal touches:

Start with objects that bring you joy or have a story, then build around them.
Don’t be afraid to mix eras or styles – eclecticism can feel more personal than perfection.
Use flowers and natural elements to add life and movement to static vintage pieces.
Customise vintage finds (like lamp shades or upholstery) to suit your current style.
Embrace the evolving nature of your space – rearrange, rotate, and experiment freely.

4. Layer With Intention

Brigette Muller's "decor style heavily focuses on vintage pieces," and notes that it's "super easy for me to stay aligned with my values in this way.” Her dreamy railroad apartment in Brooklyn is a love letter to old-world charm, layered with vintage paintings, chandeliers, and flea market tapestries.

Brigitte wants her space to feel "calm, beautiful, and romantic, with a French, old-world feel," and achieves with with flying colours. Her approach is all about balance – pairing French-inspired antique finds with clean white walls and romantic textiles to create a cohesive aesthetic. Her advice? Don’t be afraid to treat your rental like your forever home. Her space proves that layering thoughtfully sourced vintage pieces with modern touches (like crisp linen bedding and contemporary lighting) can make even the smallest apartment feel like a Parisian escape.

Tips for layering vintage and modern elements:

Start with a neutral base, walls, floors, or large furniture pieces, to let vintage elements shine.
Use textiles (like linen, velvet, or lace) to soften and unify mixed-era furnishings.
Balance ornate pieces with streamlined accents to avoid overwhelming the space.
Think vertically – add layers through artwork, lighting, and draped fabrics.
Curate slowly – the most harmonious layers are built over time, not bought all at once.