Hi friends, it’s Courtney (Melissa’s daughter)! After spending the past year in my parents’ lower-level apartment, I’ve moved into a cozy new one-bedroom in Bellingham, Washington — a charming waterfront town I’m excited to call home.
Today I’m sharing an empty-apartment tour plus three mood boards that show my design plans. I’ve already made a lot of progress in the six weeks I’ve lived here, and I’ll be back on the blog tomorrow with a full bedroom reveal — don’t miss it!
If you’ve followed my Instagram stories, you’ve likely seen some of these updates. My story highlights have extra peeks if you want an early look.
A quick overview: the apartment is about 500 square feet with one bedroom — roughly 100 square feet smaller than my previous one-bedroom in Seattle. I signed the lease in June 2020 before construction finished; delays pushed my move-in from October to mid-January, but the wait was worth it. I love the apartment and the town, and it’s nice to be just an hour and a half from my parents’ home in Seattle so I can visit easily.
Now for the tour. First up: the kitchen. For a 500-square-foot apartment, the kitchen is pleasantly spacious and the finishes are a perfect neutral starting point.
The floor plan showed an island, but on my first walkthrough I discovered the island also has knee space for stools — a great bonus for this compact layout.
I also appreciate the shaker-style doors. The door beside the refrigerator looks like it might hide a pantry, but it conceals a water heater — still, it adds character and the kitchen offers plenty of storage.
Beyond the island is the living room.
The living room is narrow but long — the back nook wall is a little under 8.5 feet wide and the room stretches about 14 feet. I explored several layouts and settled on one that feels right for the space.
That back wall will soon house a woven-wood cabinet I ordered — I’m excited to see how it anchors the space.
The double doors next to the island conceal my side-by-side washer and dryer, with a wire shelf above for additional storage.
Beyond the living room is the bedroom. Having a separate bedroom is a delightful change from my previous open one-bedroom in Seattle; it feels like a real room with a door.
The bedroom measures just under 9.5 feet wide by 12.5 feet long and includes a good-sized closet and two large windows that bring in lots of natural light. I can’t wait to show the cozy setup I’ve created — look for the bedroom tour tomorrow.
Back in the living room/kitchen area you can see the entry door.
To the right of the entry is the bathroom. I really love the vanity and tile work in this space — they give the bathroom a clean, modern feel.
That’s the quick tour! After six weeks I’ve settled in and am really enjoying this apartment and the town. Below are the mood boards that capture the vision I’m bringing to each room.
The Living Room:
Living Room Sources (scroll and click the thumbnails below):
The woven wood console I mentioned arrives this week and I’m eager to see it in place. I’ll also use a simple white shelving unit to keep the room airy and functional.
The Kitchen:
Kitchen Sources (scroll and click the thumbnails below):
For the kitchen, I’m keeping the palette neutral and focusing on functional, compact pieces that suit the island and open layout.
The Bedroom:
Bedroom Sources (scroll and click the thumbnails below):
The bedroom mood board leans into soft textures and warm neutrals. I’m using a few vintage-inspired pieces and clean modern accents to create a calm retreat.
The vision is coming together — I’ll be back tomorrow with my fully set-up bedroom reveal.
If you can’t wait, follow me on Instagram where I’ve posted updates, reels, and story highlights featuring the apartment and the town of Bellingham.
Thanks for taking the tour today!
Related Posts:
Courtney’s Small Apartment Bedroom Tour
Courtney’s Apartment Tour (500 Square Feet)
Courtney’s Amazon Favorites + Apartment Sources