Whaaat? I love the things but hate how they seem to be piled up in corners of the house. I could not live there but (obviously) they can. Different strokes!

*resisting the urge to be negative* i really like their collection and how much they have amassed; however, re: design - this misses the mark for me.

My you two have a lot of stuff I wouldn't want to have yo dust your place. I love it though! It makes a welcome change from MCM.

You'd both have a field day in a British junk store (thrift). If you haven't been to Raffles in Singapore, go as you'd love it!

I like the colors, especially the turquoise as a backdrop for all the stuff.

The plural of Hovey is Hoveys, not Hovey's. It's in there twice, or I would have ignored it.

I love the taxidermy and the colors, and I totally agree with the "buy what you like, it will all work out in the end" sentiment. But I couldn't stand all the *stuff.*

it sort of looks like an upscale TGIFridays. I had an allergy attack just looking at all that dust collecting stuff. so are they planning on living together forever, and if not, how are they going to split up all the dead animals in boxes and pith helmets? and not to sound snide, but lots of people have traveled the globe extensively, myself included, and I've managed to decorate with my findings without it coming off as Sanford and Son chic.

At the risk of outing a couple fetishes of mine - I love all your shoes and where they are places as well as your kiehl's supplies!

My hat is off to you both for having a true vision and following through on it to such an extent.

Though I could not imagine myself living among all of your objects, I could absolutely see myself chatting with you over a cup of Yorkshire Gold in your sitting room / fireplace area!

gaaa I'm getting antsy sitting here looking at all of that. Besides the fact that all the dead animals make me terribly sad (I've seen the terrible videos of how most animals are 'hunted' to get these), there is just TOO MUCH. I love to collect things but once it gets to the point where you can't get to everything and can't truly appreciate all of the things you have, then what is the point? For instance: the corner of the first bedroom that is shown has piles of canvas bags in front of the nightstand, so much so that you can't even get to that lovely metal dresser in the corner, or nearly all the clothes on the bottom rack.

I love many of the pieces in these collections, but this looks cluttered. I think it needs some serious editing.

http://www.abbeycatchat.com

Hollister and Porter--great names! I'm imagining a Royal Tenenbaums sort of upbringing. I, too, love the turquoise--Pantone's color of the year!

I could see this space being amazing once the collection is edited down or put on rotation. So many interesting items to look at. But if anything else is brought into that home it will be nearing Grey Gardens territory!

What a unique space. I like your treasures - I bet this is a fun apartment to visit. Maybe not so fun to dust, tho'. That skylight is really cool - don't have many of those in our SF victorians. Thanks for sharing!

I like it. It has a touch of Bloomsbury.

loved the antiques. thought that in some areas it was a bit cluttered....but looking closely at each picture, i decided that these girls have a place for everything and for everything a place. it looks cozy, and, as usual, i'm a huge fan of the dyi shelves and hanging rod. these girls obviously like to read and appreciate history--and they seem to have built around that. this space says so much about them. also, very much liking their color execution.

unique zebras decal http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37238975

I love a lot of the pieces. The sisters seem like they would be very interesting people to meet and talk to.

However, do the Hovey sisters = 21st century Collyer brothers??

while it's SUCH a departure from my usual taste, I LOVE LOVE LOVE their space! Seen it before, but now I get a whole house tour! wee!!

And for some reason they remind me of Lily & Vivian, the Darling Mermaid Darlings from Pushing Daisies (a total compliment IMHO btw). :)

I love their blog and have always enjoyed their postings on their latest collections!! It's always fun to see the latest incarnation of their place. If I remember correctly, the living room used to be painted black or chocolate brown (?) - which I loved - but it's also fun to see it in turquoise. Unique style and a evolving decor -- lots and lots of fun. Don't stop!!

I love all the vintage taxidermy and hides! Plus, all those vintage leather bags are fabulous...

This is quite a departure for AT from their normal house tours- good going! Not everyone wants empty spaces and "edited" collections.

I like the chrome chairs but not in that sateen fabric; the chrome needs a soft, non-shiny foil.

oh my, I guess I'm the only one bothered by that many dead animals in one space -especially the bird over the door - that thing would give me nightmares. otherwise, very unique.

When a description of your style has to begin with all the things you are not, then you probably are. Reminds me of a spinster aunt's dusty attic.

I've been a Hovey fan from way back. I've loved this apartment with black walls and blue and delight in their sophisticated taste. More refreshing still is that their chic comes without a hint of ennui.

I read their blog fairly regularly and love a lot of the more historical and curated pieces they talk about. However, looking at the rest of the apartment it just seems like most of it is comprised of thrift store *junk*. And too much stuff, in general. A little disappointed.

wait, could AT please post photos of the apartment before the place was ransacked?

ladies! i love the space! i have a very specific question regarding one of the pieces - i was recently gifted a pheasant in the exact pose as the one to the left of the fireplace - but it is attached to a horrific homemade plaque (like, cardboard and bamboo skewer horrific.) how is that bird mounted?

Wow, very neat.

On a side note: isn't the term "chesterfield sofa" rather redundant? It's like saying "chair chair".

I like the concept but to be honest... I don't think I would want to live amongst so many dead things....

Love <3 ......

The apartment is most likely what mine would look like if I were not married! It's hard for me to pass up all the goodies at my local antique stores and I imagine they have the same problem. Although the style is not for everyone congrats! on staying true to yourselves......

HollisterHovey is one of my favorite blogs!! So happy you chose to show their apartment - it's incredible!

I love every single piece you have collected, just can't see them all happening at the same time. I feel like by displaying them all over the house (most of them right on top of each other) actually created a negative vision, 'cause it just feels so cluttered. Great job on the collection though.

Home as performance art. Why not?

Finally! I'm a big fan of Hollister's blog and to see the entire apartment like this is a real treat. That skylight is spectacular. I also like how they changed the wall color from black to blue, it's a totally different feel.

They definitely stay true to themselves and create a space that makes them happy. How they must love coming home to it everyday!

Some of these commenters are sippin on haterade but they're just jealous H & P keep doin what you do you I'd marry you both if they allowed it.

I, too, enjoy their blog. It is fun to finally see the full apartment and to see how they incorporate all their great finds. Bravo for H & P.

I'd call this place "heart of darkness"/// to me this is executed very well but lacks any critique or playfulness over its theme - colonialism and imperialism, responsible for countless deaths and the exportation of slaves, why this taxidermist style is celebrated to me remains a mystery.

it's cool... but it looks dirty. and like it would smell moldy.

Made me feel creeped out. BUT I do respect their love of *stuff*.

These two ladies are truly master stylists. They have undeniably captured a glamourous Ernest Hemingway "Big Game Hunter" vibe, and for that I commend them. That being said, it's a little hard to believe that they actually live in this space. It's......... overwhelming. But I do commend them for that as well. When you collect, when you have a lot of "things," you can either learn to edit, or learn to live with your stuff. The sisters chose the latter route (obviously)--and that's not always easy. Thankfully, they're experts at the fine art of display, so they're pulling it off. Curating and styling is as much a hobby as collecting. They could have let it all just pile up; instead, they've created a visual wonderland. It's sort of a masterpiece. (And I hope they enjoy it before either one of them has a kid or a dog.)

You have really captured the essence of a world traveler in your home. Ernest Hemingway would be proud.

As I went through the slideshow, I kinda felt like I was snooping around their place... looking at their stash, finding their hiding places. And then I got caught, red handed - in picture #21.

Shine on, you crazy diamonds!

While I am an unapologetic "stuff" person, and LOVE the colonial hunting lodge aesthetic, this one is a bit much for me. It feels a little too hoard-y. Like even though great-aunt Genevieve's antique shop closed 25 years ago, she won't let go of anything and can't resist the compulsion to keep shopping for it.

OMG. perfection.

Glad to see AT finally did a house tour with these lovely ladies!
I thoroughly enjoy their aesthetic, and was fortunate enough to have been able to photograph Hollister and her amazing decor (when it was black): http://rosecallahan.blogspot.com/2009/03/who-is-hollister-hovey.html

I love it. while there is a lot of stuff, it doesn't look that overwhelming to me. it looks like everything has a very specific place and things rarely get moved or messy. if I had to guess I'd say they're the types that put everything back just so after every use, never leaving anything lying around and putting it off until later. things aren't randomly piled; they were arranged in a very specific way, simply in a manner that appears haphazard at first glance. in fact, it kind of reminds me of an anthropologie store...

I have similar taste and knew what I would be seeing when I clicked on the tour...but um...that second bedroom is ghastly!! seriously, replace that bedspread immediately.

love most of it, though, especially the taxidermy, hides, old leather, books, etc....interesting to find out that their apt is a rehab loft-y modern space, and not the old Brownstone that I'd always imagined.

http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/

hip hip hipster hooray! ok, the sisters are soooo cool and eccentric. not really honey. total junkshop style. not to over-analyze but these ladies need to chill. they have painted themselves into a corner with their "originality". Stale... BUT one thing I will say... THANK you for not being ikea and west elm whores!!! that puts a smile on my face. at least this is interesting, not cookie cutter catalog assembly line imported bullsh..

Boy, some people think their S**t don't stink. But this place sure does. I can smell the mold already and my allergies are flaring up at the dust. Seriously, those bedspreads have got to go. And why do these "girls" think people want to see their anemic food items and over-priced kiehl's crap? This place is not original. It embodies, as someone so eloquently put it, death, desensitization and destruction of all that is good in the world. All that colonialist and racialist garbage - guess it's only "decor" when your ancestors weren't the ones being subjugated.

You live in a world of illusion
Where everything's peaches and cream
We all face a scarlet conclusion
But we spend our time in a dream

Jungle love it's drivin' me mad
It's makin' me crazy
Jungle love it's drivin' me mad
It's makin' me crazy!

wow, I am surprised this made it on AT. I love the fact that they have their own style, its definitely not cookie cutter. I am not a fan of dead animals but I am a fan of mixing it up on here. Thanks for sharing a tour that's not oozing MCM.

If the dead animals are dead anyway (found in thrift stores, grandpa's basement or wherever) why not honor what's left as art?

Ugh. I found this totally pretentious and self-conscious. It was actually exactly what I expected from their names. It's just trying WAY too hard. And I would be terrified of tripping over the shoes or books or having tubs of expensive creams fall into the toilet.

catmama: you are dead on. And I do mean DEAD.

I haven't read the comments above but I'm sure I won't be the first to say this place is cluttered beyond efficiency. How do you walk in this place?! How do you clean it? To be brutally honest, this kinda reminds me of Hoarders.

That being said, there are many peices here I would die for. That couch is fabulous. The first bed- stunning. I love the taxidermy (that goose rules!) and the animal paintings are gorgeous.

@Joan A.

Seriously, correcting the spelling of a last name that's no even yours. It's a blog, about apartments and decor and projects and.. stuff! Not a Harvard thesis. Geeeeeez!

Actually, she wasn't correcting the spelling of the name. She was correcting the pluralization of the name.

So I give the points on this round to JoanA.

Design blog or not, writing should be correct (sorry Geoff!)

I think these two sisters need a bigger apartment!

http://www.mydesigndreams.com

I could not help but think that this place must smell like moth balls... It's so cluttered, especially with those shoes lined up next to the bed... and also all the "stuff" piled up next to the first bedroom.

Wow! This tour reminds me of "Interior Alchemy" by Rebecca Purcell. Both of you appear so sleek and stylish that your apartment reads as an "other" personality or, as an earlier poster, perfidia, put it: "performance art."

I love AT House Tours and feel privileged each time that the owner lets me view their home. Thank you for sharing your space! I bet you two would be great fun to go with antique or junktique shopping.

Too much stuff
Too many dead animals

I think their asthetic is amazing, but as an avid reader of Hollister's blog, I really thought their space would be much tidier than this. I knew the sisters had a mass quantity of treasures, but there is simply too much stuff. It reads 'hoarder'. I do wish this tour had taken place when the walls were black, though I can't imagine living in a dark box surrounded by ALL of these things. Editor, anyone?

While I'm not so big on the taxidermy/safari aesthetic, I do like the juxtaposition of industrial and more traditional elements--like the stairs that lead into the bedroom and the fireplace facade.

But here's my biggest concern: If I lived with my sister (or anyone, for that matter), I'd want more than a curtain separating my bedroom from the rest of the apartment. What about times when you want some *ahem* privacy?

I am so disappointed that I will not be there first person to allude to this, but two words: Grey Gardens

I once had to crash for a few days with my roommate's great aunt's house while moving from Boston to NYC. The house was stuff with 50 years of interesting vintage goods & "bads". She was a nice little old lady...but the house smelled like death.

This tour was Great Aunt's revisited. Though this house-tour displays many true objects of desire. I had no desire to view this tour with either interest or admiration.

How do you clean? How do you dust? My biggest question is how does anyone find the space or passion to become amorous in a house like this?

@sally305: While I can understand readers' comments that they don't like the home, I fail to see how judging someone's home based on what you'd "expect from their names" is in any way a valid statement at all.

Really like the exterior door...

I'm a big fan of safari style, but this misses the point of a safari which is to live elegantly with less. The photo of the hats was an example of baffling exceess. Why would you need identical green hats unless you were planning to dress alike.

Also, what's with the crappy photography? These photos failed to capture the romance of the vignettes. The lighting was awful and the photos looked flat.

I love the names Porter and Hollister - but that's all. I agree with whoever said Sanford & Son. I just see piles of junk. And now the theme song is stuck in my head...

d4kk1tt3n, I would agree with you except for the fact that the writer made their names a focus of the first paragraph. I wouldn't have commented on them otherwise.

too many "props."

I think it looks a bit like superficial accumulation...

I follow the modernist dictum : form follows function. that doesn't mean everything should look like a white cube, but this rampant accumulation and crowding on the part of 2 twenty/young 30 somethings (I'm guessing...) seems a bit mindless.

the meaning that things have to someone is what makes them meaningful... and i risk sounding rigid when i say that objects accumulate their meaning with time and love... it's not just about grabbing everything dusty and old in your nearest junk shop and stacking it everywhere...

like that bar in park slope on union street with the walls lined with bookshelves lined with fake books...

REAL books take longer to procure...

i don't have the feeling that the owners of all this have given any real thought to what the meaning the stuff has to them, which makes it all seem sort of cold and pretentious, but very seductive to people seeking to project things about themselves...

Old English hunting boots that aren't worn artfully leaning against the chesterfield - gimme a break. it's really very cynical - "you know that we don't use these and we know that we don't ha ha ha"

they were already mentioned in a NY-times article about hipster style...

i feel like it's a model for how i don't want my house to look.

unkempt bush.

Too many dead things. Too much stuff in general. But to each their own.

Sally 305 couldn't have said it better. The place is wannabe old money, just like the names are wannabe upper class. It's all so phony it's embarrassing.

I'm not sure why this tour seemed to have struck such a negative chord with so many people! I personally love it, but of course the large chunk of AT readers that love their clean, organized MCM might not appreciate it as much. But for people to go beyond a simple "I don't care for it" to commenting on the occupants names (?!!) and saying it's "pretentious"? Where are everyone's manners?

I love going into houses with lots of stuff. It's more fun to look at than someone's well "edited" space. So many people's advice is to only buy what you love and it will all work. Some people just love lots of things, and you shouldn't have to edit that in your own house!

Wow, lots of negativity here! Even though I'm not a fan of taxidermy, I can appreciate the look that they were trying to accomplish. Seems like they enjoy the space and that is whats most important, especially since they have to live with it. I always feel like I have to edit my belongings after viewing house tours and yet this post has inspired me to keep what I love and make it work somehow. Its refreshing to see something that is not the typical MCM house tour *yawn*. Also, why pick on their names? Its not like they were given a choice! Plus I think their names are fantastic! These rants seem more like jealousy.

yes suzy. negativity, but warranted. you may call it personal attacks or what have you, but critique seems to be the stage anyone who presents their home in this venue is asking for (if not feeding the ego and tooting their own horn). a home is a direct reflection of those who live in and have "created" the environment. therefore, those chiming in on this forum of opinions have a right and more importantly a duty to get at the root of the beauty (or in this case the superficiality schwag) of the personalities behind the dwelling of consideration. perhaps it's a ny thing, but anyone around since pre-guiliani era have seen this dime a dozen hipster transplant willy-b gentrified wackness too often to turn a blind eye to the destruction and erosion of the soul of this city. and this is what these sisters unfortunately and obviously lack. soul. only those with a personal deficit of naturality, humanity, style, taste and love would be offended by offenses taken by this filth. peace y'all!

This is the first place I've ever seen where a zebra skin rug fits perfectly. More importantly, I suspect theirs is real.

Also, any place where a resident can be out shopping and reasonably think, "Hm, I need to pick up a few more pith helmets" is OK by me.

Finally an apartment I can really get behind. Bravo Apartment Therapy!!!! It's actually the best things I've ever seen on here. I LOVE IT! PLEASE PLEASE keep profiling unique places like this. I love everything about it! I love their names . . . I love the chesterfield . . . the vintage boots . . . the pith helmets!!! All this hate is shocking and people should be ashamed -- please get a life. These ladies aren't saying you should live like this. It's a choice they have made and I personally would like to come over and drink cocktails with them. It seems like a great place to hang out in. Must I remind everyone too that modern furniture gets dusty too . . . you clean things the same way.

And . . . @ smackwaterjack . . . are you 12 years old? Commenting on grooming habits on a decorating blog? Really??

Amazing. As mentioned, very Tennenbaum-esque.

A beautiful recreation of a 19th century hunter's lair or a zoologist den loved all the objects. The pictures are absolutly adorable the green on the walls is brilliant. The deer heads and the leopard carpet are a little bit of a turn off for me, do not like stuffed animals. However the bird on the living room wall is indespesible and is one of the best features in this place. The place is over crowded and thus it becomes hard to really see the beauty of the many objects. Take care if you continue this way of hoarding everything the house will loose its charm. You can have too much even of a good thing.

My, how the claws come out. I can't exactly put my finger on why but I strongly suspect that if the sisters were named, say, Mary and Jane, there wouldn't be so much shade thrown in their direction. Likewise, if they lived in flyover land rather than in Brooklyn I doubt there would be quite so much seething anger in the comments. I happen to like their style (and Hollister's blog) a lot but I can see how others might not go for it at all . . . but there is nothing interesting or articulate about the attacks on it in some of these comments. If you actually feel threatened by someone who decorates their apartment differently than you do, maybe take a step away from the internet for a while and quite a few good deep breaths.

At least one photo was removed the slideshow. Just curious....

anonniemuss....totally agree with you!

ok i took a second look at this tour just to make sure i wasn't missing something all the positive reviewers were seeing. I wasn't. this place looks even more ghastly the second time around. what exactly am i looking at in the photo with the dead bird, corn huskers lotion and nail polish? is that fashionable decorating to you people? really? i can see what they were going for, but i really think they missed the mark. but, more power to them if they wish to make their home look like a dime store trophy room. i don't know them and won't pass judgment on them as people, but i will give my opinion freely on their apartment they posted on the internet for the world to see. tasteful is one thing, cramming a brooklyn loft full of junk is another. even Elvis had enough decorating sense to keep the safari theme to only one room.

anonniemuss, here's the thing: just because people don't like someone's style doesn't mean they are jealous or threatened by them. I look at this place and I feel sad for the owners, seemingly having to live in character all the time.

I also think they have missed the mark trying to so literally implement a single theme throughout the home (as catmama said so well). There was a post last year (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/house-tours/house-tour-michele-new-york-086302) that in my opinion executed this concept far, far better, making it inviting instead of rigid and claustrophobic.

yeah, it's a little Jeffrey Dahmer.

OMG... all those dead animals.

NOT hoarders? Um... if you say so.

Too much even for me, and I'm a "maximalist". And I see I'm not the only one who thinks "Grey Gardens" when they look at the bedrooms.

But... with that said, it's a very interesting place. Very definite style. Just needs editing, as others have said.

Yes! Not a "Keep Calm" poster or Eames knock off to be seen. Hurray!

I would love to hang out in this place ... too bad I can't live like this... Im a minimalist.

Ah Hipsters! :)
Its a creative place