For Indonesian-American couple Nita and Eka, choosing a diverse neighborhood topped their list of priorities when searching for their forever home.
After living in New York for more than two decades, the couple knew the Big Apple inside out. Despite the bright city lights that Manhattan offered, Nita and Eka were drawn to Queens.
“Queens has a special place in our hearts. With its cultural diversity, we are constantly learning and being surprised with discoveries,” says Nita.
Queens is literally the gateway of New York City, as it is situated close to the city’s major hubs: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
Additionally, it offers access to a wide variety of cuisines around the world. It also allows the jovial couple to meet and build relationships with people from all walks of life.
When it came to choosing the actual home, it was love at first sight for the couple. They came across a townhouse in Jackson Heights surrounded by large and matured canopy trees. Furthermore, the townhouse is located within a beautiful historic residential district.
With a young child in tow, Nita and Eka felt the neighborhood checked all of their boxes. They knew their 5-year-old would have lots of fun outdoors in the park and multiple playgrounds.
Nita and Eka were also thrilled to know the neighborhood offered authentic ethnic restaurants, 24/7 pharmacies, and organic grocery stores.
As a vegetarian, Nita was delighted to know that there was a green market within walking distance. Every Sunday, farmers from all over New York state would gather in the market to sell fresh produce.
With public transportation readily available, Manhattan and the other boroughs were just a short bus or train ride away.
“The neighborhood is a big melting pot. Even with all the cultural differences, we can feel a strong sense of community here. Ultimately, Jackson Heights is a hidden gem for young working families with children such as ourselves,” expresses Nita.
Sounds like this beautiful family just won the real estate lottery!
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Name: Nita and Eka and our 5yo daughter, Serena
Location: Jackson Heights, New York
Type of home: Townhouse
Number of rooms: 1-bedroom ground floor apartment in a 3-storey townhouse
Size: 600 sqft
Years Lived In: 3 years
Rental / Owned: Owned
How would you describe your home style?
We have always wanted a style that represents both classic and modern. This way, we can cherish artistic influences from past generations and also embrace current trends.
We have also always loved infusing styles such as Mid-Century Modern and modernized Art Deco. Their influences are currently evident in our ground floor space. The rest of the home is gradually transitioning with the influences from those styles as well.
With that being said, we have a very young child. While there is a certain aesthetic we want to include throughout our home, we tend to lean into design elements that do not compromise the safety and comfort of our daily lives.
What inspired your home decor?
Living in New York City is a true blessing. We are surrounded by landmarks and beautifully designed venues such as galleries, museums, and parks. These spaces continue to inspire us every day!
We always get our inspiration just by taking walks in the city and visiting a few such places.
Besides that, we do subscribe to various design magazines and periodical catalogs. We’ve definitely gained more references and broadened our perspectives through them.
Did you renovate your home?
Yes, our ground floor space has recently gone through an extensive renovation. First, we pieced together the layout. Then, we worked on the details we wanted in the bathroom, kitchen, living area, and backyard.
While we envisioned the new space, we also selected the materials and fixtures such as doors, windows, flooring, lighting, kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, etc.
We were very hands-on throughout the renovation and worked closely with our contractor. The whole process took approximately one year.
We did the interior design and styling ourselves.
Tell us about your favorite room or element in your home.
We have two favorite rooms! The first is our bathroom. We worked extra hard to make sure it’s both beautiful and functional. We wanted a bathroom that works well for young children too. So we put special attention on the fixtures, such as adding a hand shower feature.
We also LOVE our backyard. Some of the activities we enjoy doing with our child include watching different types of birds and squirrels in the morning during breakfast. We also like spotting the moon and stars during the evenings.
During warmer weather, we spend a lot of time reading and enjoying quality time as a family in the backyard. Since the pandemic and lockdown started, we grew to appreciate our outdoor space more.
What is the best investment you’ve made for your home?
The renovation of our ground floor space is definitely the best investment that we made for our home.
Although our main living space is on the upper floors, we spend a lot of our time on the ground floor, especially during the weekends.
Besides that, we often host our family and friends here. The ground floor has its own entrance and direct access to the backyard. So, it feels like we have a Pied-à-Terre that’s located within our home.
Name one thing you would like to change about your home.
We regret not going with a range oven for our kitchen on the ground floor. We currently have a cooktop installed. While it works perfectly fine, we wish we had an oven to bake cookies!
Where do you shop for furniture and home decor pieces?
We buy most of our furniture and home decor pieces from CB2, Wayfair, West Elm, Anthropologie, and Etsy.
We also use a combination of live and faux plants to decorate our home, which we purchase from local florists in our neighborhood. Plants are a great way to add color and textures.
What is your next home project?
We’re looking forward to renovating the bathroom on the third floor and the kitchen on the parlor floor.
Any advice you would like to share with others?
Home is where memories are made. It is where you begin and end your days. That’s why It’s so important to choose a place and neighborhood that you feel comfortable enough to spend quality time in.
What do you love most about this modern and traditional townhouse in New York?
Lucky us! Nita and Eka are looking for short or long-term tenants for their beautiful ground floor apartment. If you’re interested, you can send Nita a DM on Instagram here.
What a dreamy backyard! 😍