101 Lafayette started as a beaten-up rental that looked nearly unsellable in its current state. At the time, studios in the building were going for $375K to $390K, and I knew I needed to do something to make this one stand out. With a limited budget and a reluctant seller, I got creative: I painted the kitchen cabinets, installed a new backsplash and butcher block countertop, and found a clever way to turn a problematic column into a design feature by wrapping it in nautical rope.

Beyond the kitchen, I transformed the entire space with thoughtful staging—layering in artwork, fresh flowers, and a serene, Zen-like aesthetic that gave the apartment warmth and character. The result? A bidding war that drove the final sale price to $500K—$150K more than anything else in the building at the time. And it sold within the first week.