Letting the light in

When Allie Osipov checked out the fourth-floor walk-up in Bella Vista in 2022, she was instantly smitten.

The two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment was flooded with natural light, and the layout — with steps leading up into the apartment and a sunken living room — made the 700-square-foot space feel especially roomy.

“When I saw the living room’s glass walls and almost floor-to-ceiling glass windows, I was stunned,” recalled Osipov, a graphic designer at Truth & Consequences in Old City.

Her roommate, Claire Borgerding, occupies the second bedroom and Osipov’s 9-year-old cat Olive has the run of the place. The door between Osipov’s bedroom and the kitchen is missing the lower glass pane, providing the perfect kitty door for Olive.

Built in 1915, the structure has likely been through several transformations over the years. One bedroom door has a mail slot, indicating it was once an entry door. The sunroom appears to be an addition with an ice glass block wall, Osipov said.

Upon entering the apartment, a flight of stairs leading to the kitchen and dining room includes a wall of four glass windows that peek inside. Hanging globe lights decorate the space.

The kitchen includes plenty of counter and cabinet space and features stained glass windows above the cabinets that face into both bedrooms. The table and chairs in the adjacent dining area came from Buy Nothing, a platform where neighbors can give and receive items free of charge.

The green spice rack from Wayfair, made of wood and glass, is attractive and convenient for cooking, a pastime Osipov enjoys. In the dining room, a poster by local designer Mitch Wiesen depicts local dive bars.

“I go to some of them occasionally, but I like the print and wanted to support the awesome illustrator,” Osipov said.

A short flight of stairs leads down into the multipurpose sunroom, which also serves as the living room, home office, gym, and entertainment space. Osipov’s desk sits in a corner nook in front of windows that offer expansive views of Center City.

The large room has space for her to practice yoga and also entertain. Comfortable couches are set up for a conversation pit vibe.

“We have friends over for movie nights,” she said. “It’s a nice room to just relax and hang out. It’s bright and airy but also cozy at the same time.”

Osipov has played classical piano since she was 5 years old, but she’s unable to get an upright piano up four flights of stairs, so her keyboard is the next best thing. She is also learning to play guitar.

Given the eclectic design of the apartment, Osipov has carried that style into the decor. She enjoys thrifting and collecting, finding treasures on Facebook Marketplace, Habitat for Humanity, and vintage shops.

She recently found a vintage table lamp at an antique store with a beige shade. She painted wide maroon stripes for a retro look.

The home is filled with green plants, thriving in the abundance of light. The windows present a drawback in winter however, when the cold temperatures seep in. Then, Osipov moves the plants into warmer spaces in the apartment’s center.

For Borgerding, who moved in last summer, the natural light was the biggest draw.

“I work from home and getting to experience the light at different hours of the day is special,” she said. “At sunset, the whole apartment will turn orange.”

When the weather permits, the small patio is perfect for catching some rays while enjoying the view. With the window open, it’s a special spot for Olive to sunbathe, coming and going as she pleases.

The roommates enjoy all that Bella Vista has to offer: the community feel of the neighborhood, the small businesses including bookstores and coffee shops, and their friendly neighbors and their pets.

But home is their happy place.

“My apartment feels like a retreat, a cozy safe space,” Osipov said. “It’s a grounding place where I get to recharge.”

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