Apartment Tour: How This Actress Turned Her Tiny Upper East Side Apartment into a Maximalist Oasis

In a rather common New York City apartment search occurrence, actress Jillian Marie Sayegh was sketched out by her current Upper East Side apartment listing. The agent was oddly persistent about booking a home tour, the photos were a bit scary looking, and it had been on the market for 33 days. But, following her gut (and the enticingly low rent), Sayegh decided to pursue the Manhattan listing. 

Earlier that year, a psychic had told Sayegh that she would likely end up moving into her first solo NYC apartment around February 20th. Sayegh toured the place on a Friday, decided it had good bones and lots of potential, and signed the lease that same night. When she asked about a move-in date, the agent asked if — you guessed it — February 20th would work. “Talk about a sign,” Sayegh says.

Every empty apartment needs a little love, but Sayegh’s 450 square foot one-bedroom was in need of a full DIY facelift when she first moved in. “This apartment had some sad, bad vibes,” she says. The only window in the living room had built-in shelves covering it, the place was extremely dirty, and overall, “needed some love,” according to Sayegh.

Her goal in transforming the space was to use secondhand items to assemble eclectic and maximalist interior design where every piece of home decor has a story. “I have curated pieces from estate sales, thrift shops, flea markets, Goodwill, and Facebook Marketplace,” she says. “I am an actor in the city, so everything needs to be sourced in the most economically smart way.”

Jillian Marie Sayegh's bedroom and bathroom. Photos courtesy of Sayegh.

Sayegh’s vision for the sunny bedroom with two large windows was to harness that precious natural light and make the space feel as cozy and as luxurious as possible. “I wanted the bedroom to be cozy, but still in my style. I am definitely a maximalist,” she says. Due to a partnership with a paint company, she was also able to blanket the bedroom in a moss green color with warm undertones. 

“I wanted the bed to feel like a hotel, with luxe white bedding and pillows,” she says. She chose a queen-size bed, leaving little room for much else in the way of furniture — but with some accent lighting and wall hangings, the space became ethereal and luxe while still achieving coziness and plenty of character. 

Sayegh also decided she wanted her apartment to have a signature scent, so she places Apotheke Charcoal candles throughout the rooms.

“I think my bathroom is the smallest one in NYC,” says Sayegh. And as we know, that’s saying something. Sayegh can easily touch all the walls while standing in the same space, so she had her work cut out for her. At least, however, the tiling was a Parisian black-and-white to begin with — so she had initial inspiration, already compatible with her aesthetic preferences. 

However, not everything in the bathroom inspired her. “The walls were a beige color, it had a broken light on the ceiling, and the mirror/medicine cabinet was over the toilet,” she says. “It made no sense,” So, Sayegh set off to make it make sense: She removed the medicine cabinet, put another 1960s light fixture matching her kitchen light onto the ceiling, and painted the room in Behr Leaf Green. “The contrast of the white trim and sink and toilet looks great with the dark green,” she says. “I always liked painting small spaces with dark colors to create dimension”

Sayegh decided most recently to paint the toilet seat black, adding a final dose of character to the tiny bathroom. 

Jillian Marie Sayegh's kitchen. Photos courtesy of Sayegh.

In Sayegh’s words, the very small galley kitchen has undergone the most change — “a full facelift,” she says. The kitchen had an unflattering tan floor and old, scratched beige cabinets. Today, the space is completely transformed thanks to Sayegh’s creativity and commitment to making the whole apartment her own style. “I used every renter-friendly hack known to man to save this space,” she says. 

Sayegh designed the space around a Mackenzie Childs teapot that a friend gifted her as a housewarming gift. First, she installed white peel-and-stick subway tile on the backsplash, put black contact paper on the old cabinets, and replaced the standard light with a stunning 1960’s cut-glass and brass fixture. She also added art: “I put two vintage paintings in the kitchen, one over the sink, and one over the oven, which I think brings a unique touch to the room and makes me smile.” Finally, Sayegh placed a vintage rug on the floor and the space finally came together.

Jillian Marie Sayegh's living room. Photos courtesy of Sayegh.

Sayegh’s plans for the living room revolved more around functionality and versatility, but not without maintaining a beautiful look and relaxing vibe. She wanted to fit an average-sized couch and a small dining table. While she liked a leather couch she already owned, due to its size, she had to opt for a cheaper velvet online find instead. 

Everything else in the room is thrifted: An earth-toned, patterned rug, an ensemble of textured pillows and knit blanket, an ornate gold-framed mirror, two wall-mounted candelabras, a set of transparent acrylic coffee tables, and more. The tall ceilings help give the space a more elevated energy, and small nooks and crannies give it unique character (as well as giving Sayegh a run for her money when placing furniture).

Because she’s an actress, everything Sayegh found for this room had to be lightweight enough to replace with a backdrop, lights, and a camera stand for remote auditions during the pandemic. “My living room looks like a hurricane during auditions, but it always works out,” she says.

Sayegh has lived in this apartment for two full years; it’ll be three this year. She can’t choose a favorite room, because she’s done so much to nurture the whole apartment throughout the years. No room goes neglected. “Every inch of this place was created and earned by me,” she says. “I worked very hard for the place, and to make it feel like home, so the entire space is my favorite.” 

She tells us that this care and hard work is something people immediately notice when they walk in, so sharing the space with friends makes her feel fulfilled and proud. “I love when people come in and their eyes dance throughout the space,” she says. “I hope people see what some decor hunting and a bit of imagination can do to make a beautiful, happy home.”