My Small Apartment

The design intent behind this small apartment was to infuse the space with a variety of influences while maintaining a bright and airy feeling. These influences reflect the occupant’s heritage, with nods to the Balkans and the Mediterranean, as well as their love of music and appreciation for family heirlooms.

Many of the pieces featured in the space are vintage, creating a beautiful juxtaposition against the newer, contemporary sculptural furniture pieces. Together, they create a dialogue between old and new within the compact space.

The design also incorporates mixed metals, vintage-inspired patterns, and meaningful, bold artwork. The balance of negative space allows each piece to make a statement without overwhelming the apartment, which is under 500 square feet.

“I wanted this space to feel like me. And, well, I have many sides to me, so it was a beautiful challenge to find the right piece for every element and bring everything together in harmony. In many ways, it felt like a process of self-discovery.

Ultimately, I wanted my living space to feel like a listening room, as I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music genres in my free time. I drew subtle inspiration from jazz clubs and wanted to create a space that felt cozy and intimate in the evenings, while bright and airy during the day.

My style is contemporary and leans toward the minimal side, but I also love making bold statements. I like to tell stories through interior design and create spaces that influence how I feel.

I wanted to feel feminine, energetic, and clear-minded, and those feelings ultimately influenced many of my design decisions.”

– Daniela Alilovic

“I wanted to feel like a woman in my bedroom, which, for me, meant storytelling and creating a romantic space.

The artwork I featured in this room is especially meaningful. I framed pages from my grandparents’ old passports, which thoughtfully document their travels and migration story.

I drew inspiration from the beautiful burgundy covers of their Yugoslavian passports, as well as the dusty blue pages within them, and incorporated these colours into the space, allowing them to seamlessly become part of the overall colour palette.

I also really wanted to bring in lavender, a colour I’m naturally drawn to and one that, to me, embodies femininity.”

-Daniela Alilovic