House Tour: A Cheery Condo in Brighton

Annabel Joy, co-owner of Trim Design Co., strives for a balance of old and new in her breezy two-bedroom.

By Madeline Bilis· 9/24/2018, 2:40 p.m.

Welcome to House Tours, where we peek inside creatively designed dwellings around town. Want to invite us into your home?
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Photos by Annabel Joy

The Snapshot
Name: Annabel Joy
Neighborhood: Brighton
Type of home: Condo
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Size: 900 square feet

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When designer Annabel Joy and her husband decided to make the leap from renting to owning in 2015, they couldn’t pass up putting an offer in on this Brighton condo. It had everything on their list: hardwood floors, old-fashioned radiators, in-unit laundry, a gas stove, a wood-burning fireplace, and most importantly, a dog-friendly policy. That allowed them to adopt their French bulldog, Mona, just a month after moving in.

Now, three years later, Joy has put a bright, breezy touch on every room—and the place has continued to keep her busy. She completely overhauled the kitchen last summer, and this year, she founded her own firm, Trim Design Co., with designer Jen Dulac.

Ahead, hear from Joy about her cheery two-bedroom abode.

Photo by Annabel Joy

Describe your style in three words.

Organic, modern, eclectic.

What’s your favorite part of your home?

Probably the kitchen, since I spend so much time in there and it looks out onto a courtyard filled with greenery.

Least favorite?

The guest room, but only because it’s the space I’ve put the least amount of effort into—it will likely become a nursery in the next couple of years. I love designing nurseries, so I’m really looking forward to doing a major transformation in there.

Photo by Annabel Joy

Photo by Annabel Joy

Where do you find your design inspiration?

All over the place. Recently I found myself super inspired by a color combination in this very postmodern factory in the Seaport. I’ve definitely been influenced by the places I’ve visited and lived in: Washington, D.C., Florida, Martha’s Vineyard, Italy, Rwanda, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Greece, to name a few. But living with a dog and a partner in a small city apartment also forces me to get creative with space and functionality, which has lead to some of my best breakthroughs.

Photo by Annabel Joy

Name your top three favorite places to shop.

Etsy for vintage rugs and textiles, CB2 for affordable furniture, and Chairish.

A sentence of advice, please.

Curating a sophisticated and personal home takes a lot of time and work—do it yourself bit by bit or hire a professional, but always strive for a mix of old and new with plenty of your own personality reflecting through.