An “Always Evolving” Brooklyn Rental’s Style Is “Chaotic Warmth”

Name: Nityasya Belapurkar and partner
Location: Crown Heights — Brooklyn, NYC
Size: Approximately 600 square feet
Type of home: Apartment
Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: This is the first space I’ve lived in where I really feel like I can shape it the way I want. Every design decision I’ve made is so that when my partner and I are in the space, we feel safe and comfortable. The colors are bright and there are a lot of textures and patterns to not just take us back to India (our homeland), but also to make the feel space vibrant and full of energy — on even the coldest winter day in NYC.

Ninety percent of the furniture and decor is bought secondhand or gifted by friends or through community. I loved knowing that my things had a life before they came to our home and I love seeing that history reflected in the actual pieces through visual wear and tear.

Each room (we have a main living/kitchen space and two bedrooms) has its own color story, which makes you feel like you’re going on a little journey as you exit and enter each room, separating sleep from work and play. Despite the distinct color stories, each room is layered with patterns and textures (that sometimes oppose each other). We love opposing patterns! In terms of art and decor, we like to be thoughtful about who made each piece. A lot of the artwork is made by South Asian and Asian queer and Muslim artists (I am queer and he is Muslim), affirming our own identities and reflecting imagery that feels close to our hearts.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or fewer: Chaotic warmth, always evolving.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is our bedroom, also known as the green room. I love how green is often associated with rebirth and renewal. It also feels so soothing on the eyes, which is exactly how you want to feel when you’re in your bedroom. I’ve layered different shades of green so that the room has depth, and added in small pops of warmer shades like red and orange to give the eye a break as you glance around. I love how the bed is centered in the room to truly make the act of resting and sleeping feel important and sacred.

Any advice for creating a home you love? I think patience is really important, as well as letting your home grow with you. When I moved into this apartment, I was moving from a sublet so I basically only came with clothes and a bed. I wanted to immediately furnish the entire apartment, but slowly picking out things over the course of the one-and-a-half years I’ve lived here was important, because it meant that I could wait to find the right things, as well as allow my own tastes and interests to change and then have the apartment decor reflect that.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
Share your style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form