Budget Breakdown: $49K of Curvy Cabinetry Solved This NYC Couple’s Storage Conundrum

Janey Tracey and Peter Efstratiades quickly fell in love with the neighborhood of Astoria in Queens, New York, after moving into a rental apartment there seven years ago.

They enjoy local attractions like the Wellington Court Mural Project, Socrates Sculpture Park, and the Noguchi Museum—and Peter, whose friends call him the "Mayor of Astoria," founded a dinner club devoted to trying new local restaurants. "It’s such a melting pot of different groups of people and different cuisines," Peter says. "There are so many different little communities everywhere."

When Janey and Peter found an apartment for sale in a new building just across Main Avenue from Two Coves Community Garden (where they’d secured a plot after five years on a waiting list), they knew this was their chance to put down roots in Astoria. Or, rather, to erect some arches.

The one-bedroom apartment they purchased in July 2022 is set in a redbrick building with large, industrial-style multipaned windows inspired by the candle factory that used to stand on-site. Though just 715 square feet, "It didn’t feel small, because of these giant windows and really high ceilings," Janey says. "We loved how open it felt—like it was bigger than it actually was."

Despite the impression of space, Janey and Peter faced a quintessential New York apartment challenge: a lack of storage. Janey, a writer and editor, treasures her book collection, so she wanted plenty of shelves. Peter is an enthusiastic cook who (channeling his Greek heritage) uses several different types of oregano; he dreamed of space for a well-stocked pantry.