Name: David
Location: Brooklyn Heights
Size: 1200 sqft 1-bdrm coop
Years lived in: 1 year
When David moved out of his studio apartment and into this gorgeous high-celinged one-bedroom apartment, he was overwhelmed, to say the least. Most fortuitously, his former neighbor and friend in the East Village was none other than David Cafiero of Cafiero Select. He gave David a call and made a plea for help...
While David knows what he likes in terms of nostalgia and cool kitsch (fueled by his position as Director of Communications at Housing Works), he claims no confidence in breaking up a large space or in picking out a couch. Mr. Cafiero came to the rescue, took David on a couple of important shopping sprees and forged an incredible space that was really a collaboration between these two great minds.
The first stop was the NY Design Center where Mr. Cafiero pushed David to be very bold in the wallpaper department. He assured David that using such a dark wallpaper in the dark entryway would only make the light, open feel of the main space feel even lighter and more open. Mr. Cafiero also knew that it was more than ok to continue with the same pattern in the bedroom to add a feeling of regal living.
Next stop was the Stamford Design Center where they found a vintage outlet full of what some people might refer to as 'junk.' There David was able to pick up the dining room chairs.
Big tips for David from Mr. Cafiero included putting the sectional couch in the middle of the room (Mr. C helped David choose the couch from Mitchell Gold--it's faux suede that works very well with the cats) and to use a giant sisal rug to delineate that area. The desk on an angle in the corner was a classic interior designer intervention and came straight from Mr. Cafiero's shop.
David found Pippin Home all on his own and bought some great old photos there as well as some vintage furniture. He refers to it is his hidden gem.
In all, the pieces work wonderfully together. The colors and the light invite one in and make it hard to leave.
AT Survey:
Style: Eclectic WOW!
Inspiration: 19-century French textile design, my high-school bedroom, my father, Speed Racer
Favorite Element: Wallpaper, obviously
Biggest Challenge: How to divide large living room.
What Friends Say: “Wow, you’ve really upgraded.” “I want to lick your wallpaper.” “Great place.”
Biggest Embarrassment: Big chair with ottoman shredded by cats and my edge-of-death plants.
Proudest DIY: Seducing decorator-to-the-stars David Cafiero into working with me via brunch.
Biggest Indulgence: Wallpaper. Not cheap, and it ain’t coming with me if I leave.
Best Advice: Big sisal rug. It’s a more or less blank slate that allows you to use whatever furniture you like but still organizes the room.
Dream Source: Sotheby’s so I could buy a series of David Hockney paintings to hang from the currently unused picture rail over my bed. Not only do I love Hockney, his palette would go with my wallpaper!
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
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This is suppose to be a 1-bedroom apt but is there a den or some alcove off the living room? I'm assuming that's where your TV is but it isn't clear from your pics. Otherwise, the place looks great!
view illegal danish's profile
how high are your ceilings? after yesterdays Domino Mag idea of hanging prints near the ceiling and seeing your space, am thinking of trying in our reno/redecorating project--we have 16-18' ceilings.
Thanks!
view cherrybomb's profile
wow, I love this place...you did a beautiful job
view hanako66's profile
So fun, and so well-executed. I love that quilt!
Also, I am compelled to give bonus point any time I spot a Smiths album or poster in someone's house. Yay!
view Anna at D16's profile
That quilt makes me itch...I don't like this place, but cheers' to the fact you're in Brooklyn Heights. Beautiful out there...
view recon1's profile
Time out..Let me restate that..I like the shell and the huge windows..I just think something is not working with the decor and style. It is kinda of girlie no? The lame girlie type too...You know big glasses trying to project a style from a magazine.
view recon1's profile
I love the Asian details and velvet touches. Very warm. :)
view RQinGeorgia's profile
David...the movers arrive on Friday morning....I hope you room for a little more stuff. I've found my man and my home...
Do you snore?
view hdtex's profile
A very personal apartment. I am sorry it does not really appeal to me. The living room furniture looks too crowded together on the sisal mat and some of the great space seems under-used. I would want a bigger rug or perhaps a couple of rugs for furniture arrangements. To me, the grand ormolu mirror looks odd off-center next to the kitschy portrait and photo collection and I don't think this attempt at eclecticism really works. Maybe use the elements in different places. Love the orange cabinets though. Thank you for showing this home.
view Georgina's profile
very lovely and serene!
view timmy jr.'s profile
the wallpaper makes me dizzy.Love the kitchen cabinets and wall color
view kmg's profile
The couch area looks claustrophobic! the sofa doesn't have to fit perfectly inside the border of the rug - move it off just a little bit to open up the space!!! I'm with Georgina - the rug looks like an island that the furniture is clinging to for dear life. I like the dramatic effect of the dark wallcovering, but might have gone with a larger scale pattern. The green headboard is chic! Just get rid of the quilt and find something to compliment the wallpaper!
view mellow yellow design's profile
Where can I find those vertical scroll 3 plant holders on the wall by the windows?
view Kristine8's profile
Nice place.
Is that an aqua-colored demijohn lamp in your livingroom there on the side table? Purchased or DIY? Love more details of you care to share on that lamp!
view callbob's profile
It seems like every photo is blurry.
There's definitely a sense of humor in this apartment, which I enjoy.
view first5times's profile
I prefer to look at thumbnails rather than the individual shots and I'm having a difficult time with this Tour, it's like the advertisement is interfering with the controls.
I really, really miss the old slideshow set up, *sigh*.
view jendavid1000's profile
Nice apartment overall although not exactly my style.
I really like the wallpaper and that you were not afraid to put some colors on the wall. However, I think the furniture in the bedroom should be then more modern and "clean" as it may easily create a bit of a crowded atmosphere.
I like the way you put the sofa on the carpet as this puts some structure in the apartment but I would have perhaps opened it up towards the window to create more usable space and to separate it even more from the dining area. The "media room" seems really nice and cosy. Would have loved to see some more pics.
view Kay_Brooklyn's profile
I love that the couch etc aren't clustered around a TV like groupies at a pop concert... some of the rest isn't my style, but it looks cohesive, and like somewhere it'd be cool to hang out and live your life.
view yeti3a's profile
This is very belated - but I felt compelled to comment.
Out of the 8 Brooklyn house tours featured on AT today - this is the one that moved me.It is a beautiful space with several personal choices that make the space both physically and aesthetically comfortable. I love the ornate details on alot of your vintage pieces and the dramatic choice in the dark wallpaper - it's type of place that would mesmerize me with the discovery of each charming, discreetly placed detail. gorgeous!
view dmoney's profile