Internet Obsessed With How Woman Designed Her ‘Dreamy’ Studio Apartment

When decorating their home, many people opt for neutral tones that create a calming environment to help them unwind. But one Philadelphia resident has garnered attention for her very vibrant apartment—and there isn’t a hint of beige in sight.

Interior design is a chance to have fun and be creative, and that is exactly what Alex Danko, 33, has done with her 1,650-square-foot studio apartment, which she has lived in since March 2023.

Rather than going for mundane home interior that is easily forgotten, Danko told Newsweek she wanted something that was “dreamy and whimsical.” There is no doubt she created just that, since her pink- and rainbow-themed home gives the Barbie Dreamhouse a run for its money.

Danko’s apartment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, features silver disco balls, plenty of pastel tones, a variety of paintings adorning the walls, and bouquets of vibrant flowers everywhere you look.

“When I moved in, I had an idea of how I wanted to decorate, but it happened really gradually,” Danko said. “I could tell it was an amazing canvas from the photo on Zillow. Almost every detail is DIY, thrifted, or what I found on the curb. I made the flower lamps and chandeliers myself, as well as the pillows and wall art.”

Danko continued: “A lot of people describe it as a grown-up Lisa Frank [a colorful American apparel and design company]. I grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, and there’s a huge influence there, but it’s mixed with some 60s and 70s.”

Perhaps the most-striking parts are the large windows, which Danko, owner of handmade jewelry company Blush Daisy, has covered with cellophane to create a stained-glass window effect. As the natural light pours in, it bathes the studio in a rainbow of color, which is like “living in a big jewelry box.”

Of course, achieving this interior hasn’t always been easy; there has been plenty of trial and error along the way. Danko has also had to do a lot of problem-solving to achieve the desired outcome, but, sometimes, she found that the “limitations gave [her] new ideas.”

“I love making candles and sun-catchers and fake cakes and really anything to customize the space. Most of my furniture is secondhand from Facebook Marketplace. I’ll drive five hours for a cheap find,” Danko continued.

After spending years creating the perfect home to match her vision, Danko has shared clips of the colorful studio on social media (@blushdaisyhome on Instagram). Many of the videos have gone viral, with one clip even amassing over 31.7 million views and more than 1.9 million likes on Instagram at the time of writing.

Before revealing the dreamlike interior, the video shows the apartment prior to Danko giving it a new lease of life. The home looked quite dull previously, with white walls and a gray carpet—a far cry from its current aesthetic.

The online reaction to Danko’s videos has been incredibly overwhelming, as people can’t get enough of her unique style.

Danko told Newsweek: “I think a lot of people get a little dopamine boost from seeing it. I poured my soul into it, and I think people can really tell. Some people are strangely triggered and less than polite, especially men and people with migraines who seem to hate it.”

Plenty of social-media users were mesmerized by the apartment and even wanted styling tips for their own homes, leading to more than 9,200 comments on the Instagram post so far.

One comment reads: “Where can I get a space like this?”

Another Instagram user wrote: “I’m obsessed with your apartment.”

A third person added: “An empty canvas painted BEAUTIFULLY.”

A fourth posted: “Imagine losing your earring there.”

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