by Amy Azzarito
At: Design Sponge

Naomi Stein describes her aesthetic as modern bohemian glamour. She gravitates toward an eclectic look, mixing colors, patterns and time periods. This was Naomi’s first apartment completely alone, without having to factor in a roommate or a boyfriend’s tastes, so she pushed herself to take risks with color, pattern and art. Together with her father, Naomi owns a boutique construction firm, Design Manifest. They design and build residential projects in the Philadelphia area. Her own home is a bit more daring than she might suggest for a client, but everything was done on a tiny budget, with most pieces found for less than $250. When she’s ready, she can change it all up without worrying about the preciousness of the furnishings. Thanks, Naomi! And thanks to Courtney Apple for the lovely photos! — Amy Azzarito

Image above: This is my office nook. It’s a dark corner of the loft, and I knew it would be the only wall I painted. I already had the hot pink Parson’s desk (a second-hand find that I painted with Glidden’s Very Berry). I decided that bright blue would be the perfect complement to the desk. It’s my take on Yves Klein Blue. The actual paint I used is Olympic Brilliant Blue. The rest of the space evolved over a six-month period. I slowly added pieces until it felt just right. The shelf is massive — a 50 lb. live edge piece of wood. I love the contrast it creates against all that saturation. And the side cabinets are Ikea’s famous Rast drawers. I added overlays to them to create a Palm Springs look. (The detailing reminds me of the Parker Palm Springs.)

Image above: This is my bedroom, otherwise known as the cheapest makeover ever! My sister scored this headboard at an Urban Outfitters’ sample sale for $60. I will be forever indebted to her. The batik dyed bedspread was a gift from my mom, and I LOVE it. The pillows are from my friend Caitlin Wilson’s new textile line. My end table was a $30 Craigslist score. And I won the Marilyn in a giveaway from Cozamia. I had been eyeing her, so I probably would have bought her anyway, but free is better.

The rest of Naomi’s home tour continues after the jump!

Image above: I bought this vintage bar cart at a furniture auction. I was so nervous as I waited to bid on it, as I was sure there would be a bidding war for it. I ended up winning it for $150. Worth every penny. I commissioned Nicole of Sketch 42 to create the painting above it. I bought it for myself when I moved into the apartment. It will forever remind me of new beginnings.

Image above: This is my living room sofa. You might think I’m being dramatic, but when I slipcovered my MG+BW sofa, it changed my life. I loved the soft-yet-streamlined look and have a slight obsession with changing the pillows out seasonally. Right now, I’m digging my pink/blue/black mix. I saved money by shopping discount fabric outlets and sewing all the pillows myself. I’m obsessed with the Jim Thompson goddess pillow on the left. It was left over from a job I did, and I’m just so happy to have a small piece of it in my home. I painted the black frames on my doors to add a little architectural intrigue to the slab style. Oh and the elephant on the coffee table is vintage and was given to me by my sister.

Image above: I dressed up a plain Ikea Expedit bookshelf by adding a plate mirror to the back and putting a big piece of art on top of it to extend the height. The pop art is actually a framed scarf that was signed by Victor Vasarely, the artist. It’s one of my prized pieces, and I was lucky enough to stumble upon it in my grandmother’s basement. The Eames reproduction lounger was found on a curb. Thank you to whoever threw that away. High style + dirt-cheap budget = that’s the way I roll.

Image above: That mini Singer was my great-grandmother’s. I never met her, but it’s pretty cool to have a piece of her in my home. The David bust was scooped up at thrift store. I love collecting — whether the pieces are valuable or cheap, sentimental or just pretty, I like mixing them all into my space.

Image above: This is my living area. The Tangiers rug is Pottery Barn, and it was picked up on eBay for half price. Someday, I hope to upgrade to a real Beni Ouarain Moroccan rug, but for now, it’ll do. I picked up the vintage wood end table from Z Brothers in south Jersey. It’s one of my favorite pieces. I think I paid $280 for it, which makes it one of the more expensive items in my apartment. Totally worth it.

Image above: My entry bench. I have a serious weakness for David Hicks’ La Fiorentina, so the bench was a splurge for me. The art was another free score from Nana. I picked up ikat scraps from Material Culture and sewed them into pillows. I bought the lady in the cage for $5 at a furniture auction. It’s actually a light, but I never turn it on!

Image above: If my apartment was burning down and I could only save one home possession, it would be my Nina Campbell wallpaper. Okay, not really, because it’s glued to the wall and that would totally slow down my escape. But honestly, I love this paper. This nook makes me smile every time I walk into the door. I found the mirror on sale at Anthropologie and spray painted it teal. The chairs were another auction find — $30 for the pair. I recovered them in a zebra fabric that was gifted to me by a friend.

Image above: I would like to thank Craigslist for my free dining table and inexpensive bamboo chairs. The chairs were originally creamy French-country wannabes. I glammed them up with a high-gloss black finish and chevron upholstery. My vintage Suzani still takes my breath away. I don’t care if Suzanis are trendy, it makes me really happy, and that to me is what good design is about. There was no light in this area, so I had my carpenter hang my string ball chandelier so that I can see my food while I eat it. It’s the little luxuries that make life special.

Image above: This is my kitchen. A tribal rug in the kitchen is a must for me. They warm up the space and bring so much personality. I found this little beauty for $30 at a thrift store. I also decided to hang some of my more ornate art in the kitchen. I like how they dress up the simple cabinets. I never would have chosen cabinets in this stain, but it’s a rental, so I just tried to style the kitchen as best I could.

Image above: That’s me and Bailey, snuggling on the sofa. He’s my little love bug. You may have spotted him in large-scale photography around the loft. It was my inexpensive way to fill my many walls!