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Sophia Wood, 28, tells PEOPLE her 1920s apartment lacks amenities like AC and in-unit laundry, but its original craftsmanship makes every compromise worth it
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Sophia Wood, 28, fell in love with her nearly 100-year-old apartment because of its original details, from a butler door to built-in cabinetry and push-button light switches
While the apartment lacks conveniences like central air and in-unit laundry, Wood tells PEOPLE she’d choose its historic charm over modern amenities every time
After sharing the home on TikTok, Wood says she’s loved seeing so many people appreciate the craftsmanship and character of older homes
Apartment hunting often comes down to a checklist: stainless steel appliances, updated finishes, central air and in-unit laundry. For Sophia Wood, one feature mattered more than all of them combined: character.
When the 28-year-old shared a glimpse inside her 1920s apartment on TikTok, viewers couldn’t get enough of the original details tucked throughout the space, from a butler door and built-in cabinetry to push-button light switches, crown molding and a transom window.
But as Wood tells PEOPLE, those charming features aren’t just fun to show off online — they’re the reason she signed the lease in the first place.
“I’ve always been attracted to older homes because they generally hold so much character and beauty without any furniture at all,” Wood tells PEOPLE. “Hardwood floors are always a non-negotiable for me, but the built-ins in my dining room and the butler door definitely sold me. It’s the not-so-common features and funky quirks that really bring out the personality in a space.”
The video gave viewers a room-by-room look at many of the apartment’s original features, including its fireplace, vintage pendant light, original floor tiles, built-in linen closet and even an original electrical outlet. Wood summed up her approach to apartment hunting in the caption: “Charm over amenities everytime!!”
That philosophy has held up even after living there. While she admits there are moments when modern conveniences sound appealing, she’s never questioned whether she made the right decision.
“There are definitely times I miss the more convenient amenities like central AC and in-unit laundry,” she says. “However, the charm of my space brings me so much joy on a daily basis that I don’t feel like it’s a huge sacrifice.”
Rather than trying to modernize the apartment, Wood says she’s approached it with the mindset of preserving what made her fall in love with it. Most of the updates she’s made have been renter-friendly, allowing the apartment’s original craftsmanship to remain the focus.
“I’m always really careful to respect the space and preserve the original craftsmanship where I can,” she says. “I did get a look into the walls at one point and seeing the sheets of dried plaster on the other side of the walls inside really gave me perspective as to how old my building really is.”
Some of her favorite details aren’t the ones visitors notice first. A milk delivery door, now hidden behind the refrigerator, and old cabinets in the back stairwell that once served as refrigerators have become reminders of how differently people once lived.
“We have a small milk delivery door that is now boarded up and covered by our fridge in our kitchen,” Wood says. “It makes me wonder about how the people who lived here in its earlier years got milk deliveries on a daily basis, straight into their kitchen! There are also cabinets in our back stairwell that I’m told served as refrigerators.”
Those small discoveries have also made her curious about the apartment’s former residents. Although she’s tried researching the building’s history, she hasn’t uncovered much, leaving her to imagine the families, couples and routines that once filled the same rooms she now calls home.
One feature, in particular, continues to puzzle her: the primary bedroom’s three closets. It’s an unusual layout for a two-bedroom apartment, she says, and one that makes her wonder what life looked like for the people who first lived there.
Living in an older apartment isn’t always picture-perfect, though. Wood says creaky floors, cracks in the walls, drafty windows and loud radiators are simply part of the experience, but she’s grateful she hasn’t had to deal with any major repairs.
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“If these walls could tell one story, I’d imagine they’d tell the story of all the people who have called this apartment home for the past century,” Wood says. “Loving families, couples and friends who filled it with everyday moments, celebrations and traditions.”
Now, Wood hopes she’s adding a chapter of her own. “The story I hope we’re adding is one of a young couple beginning their life together, along with their two cats,” she says. “We feel incredibly fortunate to be part of its next chapter, and to share its beauty, charm and legacy with others who can experience what makes it so special.”
Read the original article on People
