Life in New York City has been so good to me. It’s crazy to think that less than a year ago I was fully settled in San Francisco, toying with the idea of moving to New York but with no concrete plans. Things can change so quickly and once the move was confirmed I only had a few weeks to find a new apartment and organize my cross country move (#chaos) but once the dust settled and the boxes were unpacked, New York immediately felt like home and I couldn’t be happier.

But let’s rewind for a second and talk moving. As someone who is a serial mover (this is my 9th apartment in less than 9 years with 3 cross country moves in the mix!), I’ve got the logistics of moving down to a science. I’m all about the pre-move purge, I can pack up a full apartment in a weekend, and know that every moving crew appreciates a cold beer, especially after lugging all of my belongings up multiple flights of stairs. But the part that still always manages to stress me out? Finding a new apartment.

I’m a bit of a homebody so my space matters really matters to me. I love nothing more than the fresh start of having a new apartment to decorate and can immediately tell when an apartment is the one when I can visualize an exact furniture layout and picture myself spending a lazy Sunday morning in the space. My search criteria is usually pretty simple: great natural light, decent closet space, dog friendly, with bonus points for having a dishwasher and washer/dryer in-unit, but I tend to go for spaces with some character to ’em, which can be much harder to find. Luckily one of my favorite hobbies is browsing rentals online, and Zumper has become my new BFF as I start planning my next move in New York and thinking about trading my West Village apartment for more space across the river in Brooklyn.

Zumper makes it really easy to find an apartment, with the ability to apply your standard filters (location, price, number of bedrooms) PLUS layer on amenities filters, like washer/dryer or outdoor space, so you’re able to save time combing through a million listings that aren’t quite right. You can also set up alerts to be the first to see any new listings that match your search criteria, which is huge for the competitive rental market that is New York City. Zumper Select can also save you a ton of time and stress by connecting you with an expert who can recommend listings just for you based on your move date and budget, then even schedule you viewings and connect you with local rental experts so you have peace of mind knowing you’re in good hands from start to finish with your move.

I still have to pinch myself sometimes that my very first New York apartment has truly everything I was looking for – from being in my favorite neighborhood, the West Village, to having pre-war charm and exposed brick – it’s truly been a dream living here since July. Before moving from San Francisco I sold the majority of my furniture and did a major purge of my belongings and it’s been really fun to start fresh and design this space to be a true reflection of this chapter of my life.

My living room is my favorite space in the apartment thanks to amazing natural light, the fireplace and exposed brick. It’s where I spend the majority of my time, either relaxing on my own or entertaining friends – I’ve never hosted more often than in this space, the apartment’s central location makes it the perfect gathering spot for impromptu stop by’s when a friend happens to be walking through the neighborhood, or getting everyone together for drinks before a night out. I love how perfectly the bookshelves work on either side of the fireplace to add some much needed storage space for my book collection and random other small treasures I’ve collected over the years, and how the arched mirror makes the room feel bigger and even brighter on a sunny day.

Moving into this apartment I knew the bedroom was going to be a bit of a design challenge due to it’s limited square footage and natural light thanks to an interior-facing window, so I decided to embrace it and paint the walls a dark navy/grey to accentuate the high ceilings and beautiful vintage moulding. The dramatic dark paint instantly made the space feel more intentionally cozy, and I brightened things up with light colored fabric on the headboard and a small gallery wall of favorite art pieces in bright white frames. I love crawling into bed every night – it feels like my own little oasis within the massiveness that is Manhattan, and it’s so dark and quiet with the door shut, aka best sleeping conditions around!

The entire apartment packs a lot of personality into a small space tucked within one of the best neighborhoods in Manhattan. It’s been so much fun to have incredible bars and restaurants within walking distance, as well as be close to the Hudson River for evening runs or trips to the dog park with Callie. While my days in Manhattan are likely numbered (Brooklyn, here I come!), this apartment will always be a very special place for me, reflective of an exciting move back to the east coast and the pinch me moment of coming home to my very own charming West Village apartment every day.

Anyone else thinking about moving soon? Obsessively checking out apartments on Zumper has me excited about all of the possibilities! #MakeYourMove

This post was sponsored by Zumper and as always, all opinions are 100% honest and my own – authenticity is a top priority and I only partner with brands I truly love. Thank you for supporting the brands that partner with Pretty & Fun! 

Photos by Carter Fish