TL;DR
Interior designer Megan Gibbon transformed her 900-square-foot Brooklyn rental into a personal space filled with meaningful objects, art, and handmade ceramics. The apartment feels like a family album and travel diary, reflecting her life and relationships.
Interior designer Megan Gibbon has spent five years transforming her 900-square-foot Brooklyn apartment into a personal sanctuary filled with meaningful objects, art, and her own ceramics, making it a space that feels like a family album and travel diary. This highly personalized approach highlights her philosophy of creating a home that reflects her life and relationships, despite the modest rental footprint.
Gibbon, originally from Britain, moved into the Cobble Hill walk-up during the pandemic, attracted by its natural light and peaceful atmosphere. She carefully curated the space with iconic design pieces, vintage finds, and handmade ceramics, blending personal history with aesthetic appeal. The apartment features artwork by her mother, furniture from friends, and objects collected during her travels, including textiles from Istanbul and masks from England.
She redesigned key areas, such as the kitchen, with bespoke ceramic tiles mounted temporarily for renters, and added custom hardware and lighting to elevate the space. The primary bedroom combines natural textures, antique finds, and her ceramic works, creating a layered, intimate environment. Despite the apartment’s small size, Gibbon’s design fosters a sense of openness and personal connection, making it a true reflection of her life and relationships.
Personalized Design as a Reflection of Life and Relationships
This story demonstrates how thoughtful, personal curation can transform a small rental into a meaningful home that reflects a person’s history, friendships, and travels. It highlights the importance of individuality in interior design and offers inspiration for renters seeking to personalize limited spaces without permanent alterations. The approach underscores the value of handmade objects and sentimental items in creating a warm, authentic environment that resonates emotionally and visually.
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From Hospitality to Personal Sanctuary: Gibbon’s Design Journey
Megan Gibbon’s background includes designing hospitality spaces like Soho Farmhouse, which influenced her approach to creating atmospheres that reveal themselves gradually. Her experience with hospitality design taught her how to craft environments that evoke emotion and personality, principles she applied to her own home. Over five years, she has layered her apartment with meaningful objects, art, and handmade ceramics, transforming it into a personal gallery and travel diary. Her approach reflects a broader trend of individuals customizing rental spaces to feel more like home, especially during the pandemic when personal comfort became paramount.
“Our home reflects our friendships and our travels; it’s less a collection of objects and more a record of the people and places dear to us.”
— Megan Gibbon
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Remaining Uncertainties About Long-Term Residency
It is not yet clear whether Gibbon plans to stay long-term in this apartment or if she intends to carry her design approach into future homes. Details about her future housing plans or potential renovations are still emerging.
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Future Plans for Personalization and Possible Relocation
Gibbon may continue to refine her current space, adding new personal objects or artworks. It remains unknown whether she will undertake further modifications or move to a different residence, but her approach suggests ongoing personalization regardless of location.
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Key Questions
How did Gibbon personalize her rental apartment?
She added bespoke ceramic tiles, custom hardware, and handmade ceramics, along with meaningful art and vintage finds, creating a space that feels personal and unique.
What makes this apartment feel like a family album and travel diary?
It is filled with objects collected during her travels, artwork from family members, and handmade ceramics inspired by her life experiences, all layered to tell her personal story.
Does Gibbon plan to stay in this apartment long-term?
It is not yet clear whether she intends to stay long-term or relocate, but her ongoing personalization suggests a strong emotional attachment to this space.
How does her design approach influence other renters?
Her example shows that renters can create meaningful, personalized spaces through creative interventions and thoughtful collections, even within rental constraints.
What is the significance of handmade ceramics in her home?
They serve as a creative outlet and personal touch, making her apartment feel like a curated, living gallery that reflects her personality and artistic sensibilities.
Source: Architectural Digest
