Boston Rental Apartment Tour Photos

Name: Heather Preslier, my partner, Dennis, and my cat, Marilyn
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 1,000 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Our apartment was somewhat “handed” down to us. It was built in the 1920s and our longtime friends, who recently got married and bought a house, lived here. Interior decorating and organization is really a creative hobby for me, since I have a full-time engineering job. The vast majority of pieces we have collected for our home were either thrifted or bought secondhand.

I am a computer engineer working in cybersecurity, and I spend a lot of my time skiing, playing volleyball, and hiking. Since I work so much with technology, most of my home is actually technology-free. A lot of the artwork we are drawn to is inspired by the outdoors. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Impressionist Movement, and artists like Monet and Renoir, so they are featured throughout our home. I’ve also stuck to more of a pastel palette in our home as those colors are bright, uplifting, and lively while also being calming and soft.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Collected, colorful, and a mix of modern and vintage.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the dining room and lounge. Almost everything in it is thrifted or secondhand, so it’s a great reminder of all the things we have collected. Our dining room chairs, for instance, were found and upcycled with new fabric and paint. There is also a stunning built-in bookcase. The room gets amazing morning light, so I like to relax, drink tea, read, do a puzzle, or listen to our records!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought for our home was this amazing antique, hand-knotted, Kurdish Bijar Serapi wool runner from the early 1900s that was made with veggie dye.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Your home should be warm, inviting, and a collection of things you love! Take your time collecting and curating, and don’t be afraid to change it up or donate things that don’t make you happy anymore.

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