Small Takes with Eli Scullin
How a maximalist makes her 380-square foot Manhattan apartment work.
New Yorkers, have you voted yet? Encouraging you not to rank Andrew Cuomo anywhere in your five picks for mayor and put Zohran Mamdani as #1 and
In Small Takes, I ask people who are living small how they make it work. I stumbled across Eli Scullin’s apartment while searching Substack for other writers who were talking about small spaces. Her one-bedroom reminded me of the kinds of apartments my friends have lived in over the years: Small, quirky, and full of self-expression. I asked if she’d do a Small Takes profile because I was eager to show that you can embrace maximalist style and love collecting while still living well in a small space.
Eli says she loves spending her free time thrifting and notes, “Just about every inch of my living room and kitchen is covered in art from my travels, thrifting, or from my late mom (who I like to think I got my sense of taste from, as well as my love for thrifting).” Originally from Oswego, a small town upstate, Eli moved in when her lease ended during the height of the pandemic (it was a scary time to move, but also an opportune time to sign an affordable lease in Manhattan).
Eli spent months “slowly putting together all the puzzle pieces” of her decor until it finally clicked. Five years into living in her apartment, she says she’ll never be “done.” “Almost every trip upstate or abroad yields a new piece or two that I need to shift around wall space to fit in, in an ever-evolving matrix of my personal history on display,” she says. “Everything I own is part of the lifelong collection I’ve been gathering and curating.”
Here’s how Eli makes her small, maximalist space work:
What is your definition of living small?
I’m only living small in terms of square footage. I feel I’m living pretty large within what is technically a small space. My design style is very maximalist and I consider myself a collector of antiques and vintage items. This is the first space I’ve ever had that’s truly been just mine*. Having the freedom to do whatever I want with this space and fill it up with all the stuff I’ve been collecting and saving over the years for “my” place feels like such a luxury.
* Eli’s long distance boyfriend stays with her about a third of the time.
What is the real reason you live small?
I can’t imagine living anywhere other than New York City, and I think living small is a necessity for anyone who’s not extremely wealthy, especially in Manhattan. But it’s also all I’ve ever known. My boyfriend Dar says I’m like a goldfish—always growing to match the size of my container.
What has living small given you? What has it taken away?
It’s given me the ability to live in Manhattan, as well as a tiny bit of restraint (working on having more of this), and a bit of extra anxiety every time I buy something.
It has taken away the ability to lean fully into (secondhand) overconsumption and going home with every single thing I like, which is a good thing for me. It forces me to walk away from purchases and only circle back around to the things that are still nagging at me to rescue them.
What is a small change you made to your home that made a big difference?
I hated the way my black flatscreen wall mounted TVs clashed with the decor in both the living room and bedroom. Not wanting to spring for one of those fancy TVs that look like a painting, and also not wanting to get rid of two perfectly good TVs, I decided to throw vintage table runners over the ones I already owned. I love how it looks, and it prevents me from constantly having the television on.
What is your greatest home extravagance?
I think the peak of luxury is my portable washing machine and its bespoke cover made by my boyfriend’s mom. I live on the fourth floor, and schlepping my laundry down the street to a laundromat was such a hassle that I only did it once before ordering the machine. It hooks up to my sink and has wheels, but the only good spot to keep it is in a very visible corner of the kitchen. My boyfriend’s mom, who is very crafty, offered to make me a custom cover. We picked out a gold lamé jacquard fabric for it.
What’s a home design lesson you learned the hard way?
Not every space issue can be solved with more or more creative storage. Sometimes you have to get rid of things! I’m still in the process of learning that one.
What’s one way that your home is sustainable?
Much of my decor is handed down, thrifted, or antique, including the three vintage armchairs I acquired for my first shared apartment twelve years ago. Anything I do buy new, like my couch, I research heavily before pulling the trigger. And once I do buy something, I tend to hang onto it.
Is there a home design book or other resource you’d like to recommend?
is something I recently bought and am studying carefully to take my eye for antiques to the next level. My mom had an encyclopedic knowledge of these things, and I want to bolster myself with as much knowledge as I can in her absence. It makes me feel closer to her just being in an antique store–it’s like I’m visiting her there.Virginia also has an excellent design and antiquing Substack called What’s Left, where she also writes about her own grief, which has really resonated with me since losing my mom three years ago.
What’s on your home wish list right now?
Nothing! I’m trying to control myself. But if I found a cool vintage kitchen table, I would gladly replace the cheap one I bought five years ago.
What’s one thing every small home needs?
Every small home needs vertical storage and the tallest bed you can tolerate to maximize storage underneath.
What helps you stay organized in your small home?
The prospect of visitors is the only thing that keeps me organized. I love having people over—whether it’s my boyfriend visiting from L.A. every few weeks, having friends over for a small-scale group cooking project or dinner party, or hosting a house party. I have a hard time keeping my place clean unless I have something social on the books. Otherwise I think I would easily fall into a full pile lifestyle.
I also believe that visible storage can be part of the decor, so my vintage hats, colorful silk scarves, sequined purses, and jewelry are all on display on the walls of my bedroom. Having my wardrobe visible inspires me as I’m getting dressed and adds to the overall character of my bedroom.
If your home could be one room larger, what would you add?
I dream of having a second bedroom that I could use as a walk-in closet, second workspace, and (in a perfect world) guest bedroom for visitors–emphasis on the closet part.
Thank you so much for being a part of Small Takes, Eli. You can follow along with Eli’s maximalist outfits @outfitthemeoftheday and give her a follow on Substack.
Do you know someone I should profile in Small Takes? I’d love to feature people from different places, stages in life, and personal styles in future editions. Please reply to this email with your suggestions!
I love Eli’s green couch! Curious where she got it, if she happens to see this! I’m looking for a similar sectional that still feels big and cozy but can fit in a small space.
My decorating instinct is always to take things away (boooooring), so it's super fun to see a space that's the opposite of that. Thanks Laura and Eli!