Name: Jorge & Dea
Location: Park Slope — Brooklyn, NY
Size: 1,780 square feet
Years lived in: 3.5 years — owned
Dea and Jorge's streamlined home is full of artistic surprises, and it's a successful example of how to mesh two very different aesthetics. By fusing modern furniture with eclectic art pieces, they've created an organized, sleek space that fits both of their tastes.
When Dea, a principle at a consulting firm who is currently launching iDea, an executive coaching business and Jorge, a Creative Director for his own graphic design firm, decided to move from the Upper West Side to Brooklyn, they both agreed that they would sell everything and purchase new furniture that would better fit their new Brooklyn digs. Throughout the home, their purposeful design choices compliment the artwork so near and dear to them - each piece is by an artist they personally know or have a direct connection to.
While Jorge's taste is marked by a minimalist aesthetic, Dea's love for the unexpected is found in the form of the artwork and accessories that seem to stand out against the subdued paint colors. With a collaboration with Brooklyn Architect, Jim Yohe, Dea and Jorge delved into the construction of their home, making sure that the apartment truly reflected their design vision. The clean lines of the furniture juxtaposed with Dea's folk art and that incredible African chair (!) demonstrate that when designing interiors, opposite tastes can truly make for a great thing.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Clean, contemporary, and stylish yet practical and comfortable. We enjoy making purchases that will provide us with quality and years of enjoyment.
Inspiration: Japanese minimalist modern aesthetic. Mixed accents of color, textures and comfort.
Favorite Element: His: B&B Italia Tufty-Time sofa. It's comfortable, unique and stylish, and can be highly customizable when ordering (fabrics, sizes and configurations) so it is essentially a one-of-a-kind.
Hers: All of our built-in cabinetry. It's great to have plenty of space for STUFF, but also to be able to put the STUFF easily out of sight with a quick close of the cabinet door. And that we have a very personal connection to each of the works of art on our walls.
Biggest Challenge: To successfully divide the lower level into office space for two, a guest bedroom/lounge area, a second bedroom and full bathroom, and laundry room. We are happy with the result, but in NYC you always have to make some compromises.
What Friends Say: Most are impressed by how well organized everything is, especially if they take a peek in the cabinets and see that almost everything is in a clear, labeled bin. Despite being a bit of a pack-rat, Dea is also an organization freak who keeps The Container Store in business. And, we're fortunate to live in a 25 foot wide lot - which is rare in Brooklyn - so it makes our condo feel loft-ish and many comment about the spaciousness.
Biggest Embarrassment: That our guest "bedroom" doesn't have a door. Or walls.
Proudest DIY: Two pieces or artwork: one large tryptic acrylic painting Jorge created 12 years ago, and a smaller dyptic watercolor abstract painting created with 6-year old daughter.
Biggest Indulgence: B&B Italia 's Tufty-Time sofa & Athos table.
Best Advice: Buy it because you want to keep it for at least ten years, don't buy it JUST because it's on sale.
Dream Sources: We attend International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City every year and always see things that we'll get "someday." We are also big fans of B&B Italia and Ligne Roset furniture lines (see Biggest Indulgence above).
Resources of Note:
OFFICE
- • Task Lamps: Artemide
• Chairs: Herman Miller Aluminum Management Chair
• Cabinetry: Custom
• Audience Chairs: Highschool in Atlanta
• Bicycle Print: Kendell Chambers
• Fireplace: Overstock.com
• Folk Art (Hank Williams Jr., Elvis, Shoe): Howard Finster
• Folk Art Disco Elvis: Tubby Brown
• Flensted Mobile: Guggenheim Museum
• Willard Kansas: Abandonded Gas Station
LIVING ROOM
- • Tufty Time Sofa: B&B Italia
• Throw: IKEA
• Floor Lamp: Knoll
• Photon Rug: DWR
• Curtains: Shade Store
• Artwork: Pamela Hadfield
DINING ROOM
- • Ceiling Lamp: George Nelson
• Artwork: Vince Contarino
• Athos Table: B&B Italia
• Vernor Panton Stackable Chairs: DWR
• Cabinets: Jim Yohe
KITCHEN
- • Lem Bar Stools: La Palma
• Fixtures: Elkay
• Fridge: Liebherr
• Microwave/Oven: Jen-air
• Fruit Bowl: MoMA
• Vase: Conran Shop
GUEST BEDROOM/ LOUNGE
- • Artwork: DIY by Jorge
• Sofa Bed: DWR
• Pillow: IKEA
• Mobile: IKEA
• Artwork: Nate Williams
• African Chair: Chelsea Flea Market
Thanks, Dea and Jorge!
Images: Mat Sanders
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Glad to finally see toy storage in a kid's bedroom.
I love the window in the bedroom. I am the Anti-curtain.
I love the design in general... somewhat minimalist with pops of unique elements and artwork.
My only issue is that there's too much empty space in the center of several of the rooms (but that's probably just because I'm used to living in smaller spaces)
Beautiful home :)
I love everything about this house tour.
I really dislike this. It looks like a cold hotel, overpriced restaurant or office building. Doesn't reflect the vibrancy, warmth, or creativity of Park Slope. Lots of unused/wasted potential.
Gorgeous--just like the couple that lives there. I love all the smart, thoughtful detail. P.S. Mat, great photos!
Gorgeous--just like the couple that lives there. I love all the smart, thoughtful detail. P.S. Mat, great photos!
This is beautiful, however I disagree that there is anything unexpected in this space.
I think I may have just found my dreamhome!
Beautifully done. happy to see another Finster collector!
I like the guest room/area—is the rug just cut and bound carpet? It reminds me of the stairs with the carpet that pretends to be a flood of blood... in a good way! if anyone know what I'm even talking about.
Loved the bedroom window too. I live on the first floor and am looking for something just like that - can somebody tell me where I can get it? is it just window privacy film?
Lovely.
Thanks for your kind comments everyone!
-rlb0525, the window film is made by 3M. It's tinted and also protects from break-ins or storms. The funny part about it is that you catch people on the street fixing their hair all the time.
-lepidoptery, you're right, the carpet is cut & bound, but not attached to the floor for easy removal. Originally we thought of green, but it would've looked like a golf course.
-ComfortSeeker, sorry to hear about the table. That was actually my proud first purchase. It's from Ligne Roset and designed by Pascal Morgue.
-leadingedge, glad to hear you enjoy Finster. Dea has a huge Folk Art collection, many different artists.
Ooooh, coffee table smackdown! ;^) (teasing!!)
LOOOVE the bedroom! Everything is nice, but that sings to me.
Beautiful home! Would you mind sharing the paint color used throughout the home?
Very enjoyable tour--I loved the marriage of minimalist+unexpected sensibility.
Where is the bedroom mirror from?
I'm with lepidoptery - I love that red carpet that appears to be oozing like a lava flow across the tiled floor. Very clever!
I love the uncluttered but warm feel. It looks much bigger than the square footage. Just because you have some space doesn't mean it has to be filled!
I love that you framed your child's artwork! Where did you get the frames? The closest I've seen to them are those clip frames but yours are much classier.
what is the item is photo 36?
-souk1501, we used Benjamin Moore. There are six different colors throughout the home, we basically picked a different one to compliment each room.
-susanfireside, I mostly appreciate your comment. I personally need space to breath and cannot live in a cluttered or busy spaces.
-jennyp, we got the frames at the Conrad Shop. We went back to get more but unfortunately they stopped carrying them. They're easy to use because they're magnetic and the artwork can be changed everyday.
-creative*type, that's a fireplace. It's portable, runs on denatured alcohol which burns clean, so there's no need for venting, there's no smoke, or smell.
-see, we got the mirror at a store in Chelsea (8th avenue around 17th Street) 11 years ago, not sure if the small home decor store is still around.
Recent studies have shown that childhood creativity is stunted by hyper-organized, ultra-clean, corporate modern-inspired interiors and leads to a high percentage of interior designers/architects with this aesthetic in later life...
Love the home and the aesthetic.
Buster1, my thought is that most children would benefit from stunting if this is what a stunted environment is. My apologies if this is a tongue-in-cheek comment.
I admire the apartment and the design but honestly you can't look at the daughter's bedroom (with all of the furniture pushed against the wall and everything in boxes) and not laugh at yourself (and much of the work on this blog) and think of the unhappy hipsters website. http://unhappyhipsters.com/
Buster1 -- I completely agree! (and thanks for reminding me of that hilarious site)...I'm fairly certain that Jorge's extreme need for a minimalist environment and my extreme need to categorize and put things in boxes will result in at least a few years of therapy for our daughter. I guess I'll start the savings account now.
jenny p -- Those frames ARE great. They are thick plexiglass that is held together with super magnets. I love that I can easily change out our daughter's artwork. I bought them several years ago -- from The Conran Shop, I believe -- but I haven't been able to find them since. <sorry>
creative*type -- it's an indoor ventless fireplace
Love the artwork in the living room. I think you said it is Pamela Hadfield. More information please!
Love the big open, uncluttered spaces. Also love the art in the kid's room and the bed...can you tell more about this? Where you got the bed? Thanks!
I love the colors and would like to know the names of colors in all rooms.
would be like living in a hotel. even with the art there is no personality is this house
jvjones13 -- Thanks for the nice comments. The art in our daughter's room is by
Nate Williams -- www.n8w.com; the bed is Ikea and the bedspread was from Target, I think.
-PAShah, sorry, but I do not typically save color numbers. I bought the paint at Benjamin Moore, and just picked something what I felt complimented each room (versus picking them out from a magazine or catalog). This is what I'd suggest for everyone, just go by what feels great, each room's light is different. Perhaps when it's time to repaint, I'll pick out something entirely different. Heck, I'm already thinking midnight blue for the bedroom :^)
lovely place!
where did you get the bedroom furniture? i love the side tables.
Love the artwork, you've managed to display it rather than Display it - the art is visible but the place looks extremely livable.
"When Dea, a principle at a consulting firm..."
A person is a princiPAL. An idea is a princiPLE.
Sorry.
I love it! Especially the artwork behind the couch, the uncluttered kitchen, the simple bathrooms, and, yes, the African chair . . . I could go on and on. I have a question about the prints above the bed in the daughter's bedroom, since I've recently been trying to figure out picture height. Apartment Therapy guy says put centers at 57". Other places say anywhere from 57 to 63". Those above the bed seem kind of high. Are they in line with the rest of the house?
I would like to know where you got the colorful containers in your daughters room?
Goddess -- Ikea!
The red curved carpet is lovely. I don't like carpets -- allergies -- but this one I like.
All in all, a great looking place. I like the uncluttered, spacious look of the place as well. Seeing well lit, big spaces stuffed full of furniture and bowls of wing nuts just look like big dust catchers to me. Awesome place!
Love the small bathroom, can you tell me where you got that (rift cut?) oak vanity from? I've been searching for one like it...here's to hoping it's affordable.
I have been searching everywhere for those frames. Has anyone come up with a DIY solution?
I think I have and idea but how do they hang on the wall?
I should have been more specific. The frames I am talking about are the clear magnetic ones in pic 33
Money, occasional good taste but no imagination and no eye; even the original art looks institutional, hotel-like. And the kid's room is a pure disaster, as is the "guest room," with everything pushed against the wall.
I love the wall colors, artwork, cabinetry, and lighting. This little bathroom is a dream. (Everything off the floor--yes!)
The coffee table worries me 'cos I'm shin-shy and fear glass tables. The child looks old enough though to be safe around those pointy bits.
the sofas look horribly uncomfortable. They look a little flimsy for a house with kids. Diningroom looks like a corporate boardroom. too many b grade department store showroom appointments. Carpeting. Ugh.
Could I ask you what the light is in Pic 13, the one that looks like a white water drop? It's beautiful, as is the rest of the apt!
I mean pic 14 - sorry!