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Erica Feldmann home reflects the personality of the people who live there: bright, practical, and full of playful details. Erica and her boyfriend, Dave, share a two-bedroom apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts, with their cats, Moscow and Salem. Natural light, original French doors, and two porches made the apartment appealing, while its price fit their budget in an area where finding an affordable home can be challenging.
Inside Erica Feldmann’s Somerville home
Humor is an important part of the couple’s shared style. Their decor includes lighthearted artwork and small arrangements that bring a sense of fun to the rooms. The apartment also balances different tastes: Dave gravitates toward classic, traditional pieces, while Erica prefers bright, Scandinavian-modern design.
When combining styles, a useful approach is to start with items both people already enjoy, then bring in contrasting colors or shapes through smaller accents. Erica and Dave have taken a budget-conscious approach, making use of what they own while saving for meaningful pieces they both love.
Meaningful finds and personal artwork
Two belongings stand out to Erica. A Felix doll sits on a living-room chair. It belonged to her as a child but stayed at her grandmother’s home until it became a farewell gift when Erica moved to the East Coast, about 20 years later. Its place in the apartment gives a treasured childhood object a new role in everyday life.
Another favorite is a large painting that combines bird and panda imagery. It was a gift from a close friend and was created by artist Derek Erdman. Personal objects and gifted artwork can make a home feel distinctive without requiring a complete redesign; displaying a few items with a story can give a room a clear focal point.
A one-of-a-kind chair with a family story
The most unusual piece is a North Wind Chair in the bedroom. Erica’s mother found it at an estate sale in Milwaukee before Erica was born. As a child, Erica was fascinated by the chair, which is said to protect a home from evil spirits. Her mother later gave it to her as a protective keepsake when Erica left the Midwest for graduate school.
Estate-sale pieces can add character and history to a room. When choosing one, consider both its story and how it will fit into the space, so an unusual find feels intentional rather than out of place.
Flexible rooms for work and everyday life
The apartment’s size gives Erica and Dave room to work from home without using the same area for every task. Erica usually blogs from the dining room, while Dave uses the office and guest room for his film work. Of the two porches, one is mainly for relaxing and the other serves as a dedicated spot for Erica’s DIY projects.
Creating separate zones can help a home support several activities, even when rooms have more than one purpose. A dining table can double as a work surface, for example, while keeping a project area distinct can make it easier to switch from work to downtime.
A spacious kitchen with a large island has also changed Erica’s relationship with cooking. She now enjoys spending time there and trying new recipes. After busy days that include work at home and outside it, she and Dave value quiet evenings watching films or reality television together.
How the apartment became home
During their first year in the apartment, the couple worked on bringing their different decorating preferences together while keeping spending in check. Their approach shows that a home can develop gradually: practical furniture and existing belongings can serve as a starting point while residents decide which lasting pieces are worth saving for.
For Erica and Dave, welcoming their kitten Salem made the biggest difference. The experience is a reminder that a home’s feeling is shaped not only by furniture and decor, but also by the people and pets who share it. Overall, Erica Feldmann home combines personal keepsakes, flexible spaces, and humor to create a warm, functional apartment.
Photos by Samara Vise.
