Ross and Patrick’s Beach-Inspired City Home

Name: Ross Garner and Pat Hicks
Location: Upper East Side — New York City, NY
Size: 700 Square Feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented

This carefully curated home reflects the love of a traditional, nautical style that Ross and Pat share. Making an effort to co-design their apartment helped them find a balance that resulted in a lovely and inviting home.

Ross: We are always at the water and I think that it’s really apparent in our style. We find blue and whites to be very relaxing and refined. I tend to lean more towards a traditional style but I love throwing in pieces that are unexpected.
Pat: Relaxed and nautical with a young, vibrant flare.

Ross: My inspiration stems from what I think works best for us as a couple and what works best for entertaining, which we do as often as we can.
Pat: The beach. Ross and I both grew up near the water and have always been drawn to decor that is classic, bright, and nautical. We wanted to incorporate a lot of those elements into our apartment while still keeping it urban and fun.

Ross: The windows! The apartment is flooded with natural light. A little secret, none of the lamps are even plugged in — we don’t need them!
Pat: The built-ins because I love how versatile they are. Not only do they provide us with extra storage and add character to the apartment, but they are also the perfect place to really showcase our personality. Ross and I have a lot of fun filling them with our favorite photos, books, and knickknacks.

Ross: Our building was originally a prewar hotel. While we love all of the features that have been preserved, the kitchen is small. We love cooking together but it’s hard to fit both of us in there. I keep saying we should renovate the kitchen, and Pat keeps reminding me me can’t do that in a rental.
Pat: Like most New Yorkers, we have a small kitchen. We have some great storage solutions utilizing the high ceilings but it is difficult having two people in there cooking at the same time.

Ross: As soon as I am done with one iteration of the apartment my mind starts spinning on what to change next. It’s safe to say something it always changing.
Pat: Are there any openings in the building?

Ross: I can never decide on bedding. Duvets come and go more often than I would care to admit.
Pat: Ross’s monogram. When we were unpacking the apartment I realized everything he owns has his initials on it. Guest are usually drinking out of a JRG glass and placing it on a JRG coaster. I’m slowly working on balancing it out.

Ross: We needed new nightstands and went to Pinterest for ideas. We came across the “Ikea Rast Hack” and decide to give it a shot. We were both responsible for our respective nightstands. Needless to say, Pat isn’t the handiest so he needed a little help. In the end it was extremely fun and definitely worth a try!
Pat: We did an Ikea Hack on a set of nightstands that came out looking great. I’m admittedly not the handiest and was intimidated by the project, but the end result looks great and we saved a ton of money.

Ross: I love coffee table books! I can’t stop buying them. They are perfect for decor ideas and for decor itself.
Pat: The dining table. When we moved in it took us a long time to find a table that fit well from both a size and style perspective. When we finally found this table the apartment really turned into our home. We take the time every night to sit and eat together before the phones come out and Netflix marathons start.

Ross: When you move in with someone, don’t go to sleep with boxes still unpacked. Moving is one of the most stressful experiences a couple can go through together. We made it a point to not go to bed until every box was unpacked, art was on the walls, and we felt at home.
Pat: Collaborate. When two people move in together it’s important to make sure both personalities and styles are represented. Don’t be afraid to be honest about that rug you hate. It will feel more like home if you make decisions together.

C Wonder (RIP). I miss their home section which was well-curated at a great price point. When my boss and I heard the store was closing, we ran to the Columbus Circle store and purchased everything from monogrammed trays to the store’s furniture. The navy velvet slipper chairs in the living were bought from the store’s floor when it closed.

• 1890 image of a fox hunt: antique store in Millbrook, NY
• Sideboard table: Nadeau Furniture on 57 E 11th Street
• Queen Mary Delft vanity tray: Historic Royal Palaces

• Velvet slipper chairs: C. Wonder
• Coffee table: Pottery Barn Tanner
• Rug: West Elm Andalusia Wool Dhurrie
• Sofa: Ikea Ektorp
• Trays: West Elm
• Butler’s Bar (gold bamboo bar stand): C. Wonder
• Entertainment unit: Nadeau Furniture on 57 E 11th Street
• Vintage oars: Etsy
• Candle: Diptyque Figuier
• Stereo system: Sonos Play:3
• Reef table lamp set: One Kings Lane
• Coasters: Smathers & Branson, Mark and Graham
• Topiaries: Restoration Hardware
• Ginger jars: Pearl River
• Monogrammed ice bucket: Tuckernuck
• Decanter: Tuckernuck
• Books: The Big Book of the Hamptons, Ralph Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small Cool Places, Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Interior Decoration

• Drop-leaf table: antique (perfect for dinner for 2 but easily expands for dinner parties of 8)
• Chairs: antiques from Hunters Alley (RIP)- they arrived looking very rustic so we sanded and re-stained them in a high-gloss black.
• Ashes and Snow print: Gregory Colbert

• Mason jars: Ball
• Ralph Lauren Mandarin Blue china: Macy’s
• Shoe butter dish: Jonathan Adler

• Romsey poster bed: One Kings Lane
• Antique Federal-style convex mirror: One Kings Lane
• Chippendale side chairs: Jonathan Adler
• Small red chest: Nadeau Furniture on 57 E 11th Street
• Stereo system: Sonos Play:1
• Duvet: Pottery Barn
• Nautical flag blanket: Anthony Baratta

• Soap: Sabon Patchouli Lavender Vanilla

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