Sisters Nadia and Sabela Ralston, originally from Oakland, California, have found an uncommon living arrangement as roommates in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The two share a third-floor apartment in a four-story mixed-use building, with Sabela, 25, occupying the larger of the two bedrooms.
Nadia, 26, was the first to make the move eastward, relocating after graduating from Princeton University in 2022 with a degree in civil and environmental engineering. Following a Fulbright scholarship researching community-based energy systems in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, she settled in New York City to work at Dalberg, a consulting firm focused on climate technology and sustainable development. Initially living in Greenwich Village, Nadia moved to Williamsburg in early 2025, attracted by its calmer environment and familiarity compared to other parts of Brooklyn. A chance opportunity to take over a lease’s second bedroom led to her current residence.
Meanwhile, Sabela began attending New York University in 2019 but transferred to the University of Southern California due to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and her desire for a traditional college campus experience. After graduation, she worked as a strategy and design consultant at Deloitte in Los Angeles, often handling projects tied to East Coast hours. As her work shifted, she decided to return to the East Coast for a more manageable daily routine, arriving in Williamsburg last October to join her sister as a roommate.
The sisters split monthly rent of $4,300, with Nadia paying $2,050 and Sabela paying $2,250, reflecting the difference in room size. Their apartment features furnishings sourced from secondhand sales and friends’ castoffs, allowing them a comparatively spacious living environment uncommon among New York City dwellers.
Living together has presented adjustments typical of siblings sharing a home as adults. Sabela noted early challenges in navigating the familiarity of their sibling relationship, which sometimes led to friction, but both agree they have found a balanced dynamic. Their similar ages, jobs, and lifestyles facilitate mutual understanding, especially in managing shared spaces and responsibilities while working remotely.
Recreationally, the pair often spend time at nearby McCarren Park and enjoy their respective hobbies at home—Nadia painting and Sabela cooking. Their living situation has, according to Nadia, pleased their family, though their parents remain cautiously optimistic about the longevity of their cohabitation.
Despite occasional sibling bickering, Nadia and Sabela continue to adapt successfully to sharing an apartment in one of Brooklyn’s vibrant neighborhoods, balancing personal independence with their familial bond.