How Brigette Muller Renovated Her Dreamy Brooklyn Rental

Welcome to The Makers. Each week, we celebrate innovators, artisans, and crafters of all types by taking you on a private tour of their creative spaces. For this instalment, we tour content creator Brigette Muller's dreamy old-world rental apartment in Brooklyn, New York City.

Turning your rental into your dream home is not something many of us are able (or allowed) to achieve. But for content creator Brigette Muller, decorating her Brooklyn rental apartment has been a labour of love, and she's managed to make it her dream space. Better yet? She gets paid to do it.

Brigette's social media presence as @hummusbirrd, allows her to showcase how she decorates her space. From thrifting videos and perfectly styled vignettes to comedic memes and decorating tips, her accounts offer glimpses into her life of styling. "I never would’ve guessed that I’d be getting paid to decorate my own home and make silly little videos about it, and yet here we are," she shares with Bed Threads Journal.

You'd never guess her apartment was in bustling Brooklyn. She has adopted a French, old-world aesthetic, layering each room with thrifted vintage pieces, Facebook Marketplace finds, and neutral tones. She lives solo and has created a sanctuary that makes her cosy and comfortable. "I want my space to feel calm, beautiful, and romantic."

Brigette has always loved decorating and was that classic kid who would rearrange their bedroom at any given opportunity – a telltale sign they might end up in a creative field. She began her career working as a blogger for fashion label Free People and later worked as a social media specialist at Etsy, before taking the freelance route as a content creator.

A relaxed landlord and her creative energy have resulted in her being able to decorate her apartment as she pleases and document it online. All-white floors and walls allow for vintage paintings, chandeliers, and timber furniture to shine. Each space is further elevated with gold accents from picture frames, fixtures, mirrors, and furniture legs. High ceilings and plenty of natural light are a luxury to have in New York City and keep the home feeling airy, bright and in keeping with the French provincial vibe.

An antique tapestry which she picked up from a flea market hangs above her bed which is clad in Oatmeal and White linen. This sleeping nook becomes a dreamy oasis when the sheer curtains are drawn. Another special moment in this apartment is the breakfast nook which has been outfitted with a small banquette seat, plush cushions, and a white plinth to display flowers.

There's a lot to learn from this space. If you're living in a rental and are unsure how to layer it with a certain aesthetic, take notes from Brigette's calming abode where every inch has been utilised.

We took a tour of the home and spoke to Brigette about her life as a content creator, her top home styling tips, and what sustainable style means to her.

Shop Brigette's edit.

Hi Brigette! This series is called The Makers. What is it that you make?

I make… my house a home. I’m always making changes, switching up the decor, adding things here and there, and experimenting with ways to make my space feel good. Oh yeah – and I make content too. I’m a full-time content creator.

How does the act of “making” relate to your personality and who you are?

To me, to make is to create, and creating is at the heart of who I am. Ever since I was little, I’ve always felt most like me when I’m creating something – from making potions in my backyard at age five to designing my apartment at 35.

Tell us about your career journey to date. Did you always know you wanted to pursue this line of work?

I’ve always loved decorating. I was the kid rearranging her room at 9 pm at night, painting her walls a new colour at an early age, and then plastering them with magazine cutouts. I’ve also always loved making videos, too. Growing up, my sisters and cousins and I would shoot funny videos on our family video camera, and then invite all the grownups in for a viewing party.

To be honest, I never really thought there was a career for me in the video or home decor worlds, since they weren’t what I went to school for (I studied the business side of advertising and marketing), but I always found ways to sneak both into my work.

My first real job was as a blogger for Free People – my dream job at the time – and although my job description called for 100% photo and 0% video, I remember multiple times when I’d say to my boss: “This post would be so cool with a video component. Can I make one?” The answer was always yes. My blog posts were always about whatever I was interested in, too, so home decor naturally made its way into a majority of that content.

From there I went on to work for Etsy full time as a social media specialist, and a few years ago I finally went off on my own as a full-time freelance content creator. It was a seamless shift since I’d been making content for my own channels all along.

When I moved into my current apartment in 2021, home reno and decor content became the majority of what I posted on Instagram and TikTok, and I’ve been so lucky to grow an audience of people who are into the same things.

Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?

What process? Haha. My mind jumps from one thing to the next before I can even finish what I started thinking about to begin with. Somehow it works, though. I’m always coming up with ideas for videos I want to create or changes I want to make in my home – sometimes these are prompted by something I come across, and other times they just pop into my head out of nowhere.

One thing is always true, though: When I get excited about creating something, I want to do it *now*. So if it’s a video idea, I’ll literally drop what I’m doing to go film it right then and there. Or if it’s a decor idea for my home, I’ll whip out my laptop and start furiously searching for the item I’m picturing in my mind. My tape measure stays next to me at all times for this exact reason.

What’s been the single most crucial tool or strategy you’ve used to further your career?

I honestly think it’s really paid off to just be me. It’s really important that I stay true to myself and do the things I want to do in the ways I want to do them. I try hard not to force anything, because once something feels forced, it’s no longer exciting to me, and once it’s no longer exciting, I’m over it.

We’re in a time where there are SO many creators out there – and I honestly think there’s a space for all of us. We all bring something unique to the table, and leaning into that uniqueness is what makes people interesting.

I sometimes ask myself: “How can I do this thing in a way that feels most like me?” And sometimes the answer is simple: Stop thinking so much! Just do what comes naturally.

What does sustainable style mean to you? How do you work this into your life?

To me, sustainable style is about buying lower quantities of higher quality, and all with the earth in mind. If I’m being honest, I loveeee getting new stuff. So for me, it’s about allowing myself to bring new pieces into my life while focusing on two things. The first is identifying my everlasting underlining style. Of course, this will evolve over time, but I make a point to stay true to my style and choose pieces that I would’ve loved five years ago, and that I see myself loving five years from now. And second, I buy vintage and secondhand. I’ve been a huge thrifter ever since I was little, and my decor style heavily focuses on vintage pieces, so thankfully it’s super easy for me to stay aligned with my values in this way.

Now, the home stuff. How long have you lived in your home?

Exactly two years!

How did you initially know this was the space for you?

My intuition told me so. As soon as I walked into this space, I knew. It’s filled with so much charm and beautiful light. It feels like it came straight from a fairytale. I just knew.

Did you do any renovations or make any big changes after moving in?

Oh yes. I’m a renter, but I’ve been blessed with a landlord who lets me do what I want, so I act like I own the place, haha. I repainted every square inch, switched out all the light fixtures, installed a new countertop/sink/faucet/backsplash, added a huge wall of shelves, got a new fridge, and had new windows installed (LOL – my landlord helped pay for that), and now I’m in the process of renovating the teeny tiny bathroom.

I know it’s a lot, but it makes me so happy. I love living here so much.

What was the thought process behind the way you’ve styled the interior?

I’m going for a feeling. I want my space to feel calm, beautiful, and romantic, with a French, old-world feel. So every change I make reflects those things.

What are your favourite pieces in the home?

Do I have to pick?? I honestly am in love with so many of the pieces I’ve collected over the years and how they play beautifully with one another. But two I’ve really been loving recently are my gorgeous framed oil painting of a woman, and the antique tapestry hanging over my bed – I found both at Brimfield Flea in Massachusetts this year. Oh, and my little French chandelier in the living room – I love it so much.

Do you have any special décor pieces you’re looking to add?

I recently bought a gorgeous bench off of Facebook Marketplace that I love, but it needs to be reupholstered, so I’m currently searching for the perfect fabric to make it shine. I’m also looking for a small wood kitchen island with a French feel. The search has been much harder than you’d think!

Which is your favourite room in the house?

It totally depends on the day, but I think there’s something really special about my living room. It’s usually the least messy space of my whole apartment (lol) so it feels really calming, and it gets the most gorgeous afternoon sunlight.

What are your top tips for a well-styled bedroom, and home generally?

Honestly – and I’m not just saying this because you’re Bed Threads – don’t skimp on your bedding! Every time I have a friend stay over, they tell me how much they love my bed. A good mattress and mattress topper are the foundation of course, but the sheets, pillows, and blankets can really make or break the look and feel. I love decking my bed out in super-soft linen, and then adding a couple decorative pillows in velvet to dial up the luxe a bit.

In general, I think a well-styled home is all about layers and textures. Choose materials and colours that work harmoniously with one another – and most importantly, ones that make you feel good.

And don’t be afraid to go big with decorative pieces! I used to only decorate with lots of medium or small-sized objects. It wasn’t until I started playing with scale and bringing in some larger vases that my space started to feel more intentionally styled. It makes a big difference.

What are your top tips for anyone living solo who wants to make their apartment cosy and a personal haven?

Go for a feeling more than a look. Bring in pieces that make your heart skip a beat. Think about all the senses. Light candles. Fill your space with textiles. Don’t be afraid to spend money on something you absolutely love.

Do you have any projects coming up you want to talk about?

I’m sooo excited about my bathroom makeover! It’s the first room that I’ve ever truly designed all at once. It’s a tiny space, but I think it’s going to be beautiful when it’s done. Should be ready in just a few weeks. Stay tuned!!!

For more from Brigette follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

Photography by Emily Hlavac Green. Styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky.