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Name: Pete & James
Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,000 square feet
Years lived in: 1 — rented

Skulls and neon lights transcend the biker bar look in the fun and eclectic Brooklyn apartment of Pete and James.

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When I first saw Pete and James's apartment featured in a House Call back in March, I knew I was going to love the space. I was doubly excited when I learned they were my neighbors and that I pretty much just had to cross the street to pay a visit and tour their spacious and playful Williamsburg loft.

Moving in less than one year ago, and starting from scratch, Pete and James managed to pull together quite the impressive assortment of furniture, art and other treasures that makes you feel like they've been collecting forever. James, a creative consultant, and Pete, who works in visual marketing both have a natural eye for cool and unusual finds. In fact, Pete's been lucky enough to walk away from more than a few jobs with amazing props, like the various neon pieces scattered about and even a giant marquee-style "X" marking the spot next to their bed. The white walls throughout the apartment provide the perfect gallery setting for the prints by the artists like Banksy and Faile. Succulents and other plant life from Sprout Home keep the place feeling fresh, while personal touches, like Pete's LEGO portrait and the framed, handwritten translations his Grandfather jotted down when he made his way to America, definitely make this place feel like home.

The high ceilings and skylights not only keep the space bright and airy, but do well in highlighting all the colorful accents and bold mixes of patterns that keep their apartment feeling fun and cheery.

As is often the case with New York living, there's usually some compromise that must be made. Though they wouldn't change much about their space, the new deli that moved in down below provides them with a bit too much of a good thing. "It frequently smells like breakfast," they laugh. Though I was excited about the much needed little bodega that just opened up on our side of town, I promised never to order and bacon and egg sandwich again.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Eclectic borderline hoarder

Inspiration: I think we both learned a lot about design and style from watching our moms growing up.

Favorite Element: The bookshelf wall print or the blue couch and Navajo rug combo, which really inspired the mood of the whole place.

Biggest Challenge: The apartment didn't have closet doors and was not a standard size. We hated the idea of using curtains so had to figure out a plan that would be functional and look cool. We opted to use salvaged mismatched doors and had them cut and installed to fit perfectly. We think it adds a subtle cool detail.

What Friends Say: Are those real books?

Biggest Embarrassment: The slanted toilet — and the egg and cheese smell that wafts in from the new deli downstairs.

Proudest DIY: Probably the shelves in the bathroom. We didn't want to drill into the tile walls so we found these large suction cup handles that are used to carry glass. We stuck them to the walls and got some plexi glass cut for the shelves.

Biggest Indulgence: The custom dining room table.

Best Advice: Don't try to do everything at once. It took months before our place actually started to come together. If it's an organic process then your place will really feel like a home. And don't be afraid to mix patterns and colors.

Resources of Note:

ENTRY


LIVING ROOM


DINING ROOM


BEDROOM


BATHROOM

    • Shelves: Canal Plastic and glass plungers
    • Shower Curtain: Fabric from African fabric store

Thanks, Pete & James!

Images: Mat Sanders

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