Ken and His Belle of New York

Name: Ken Yang & Pattra Belle Bumrarb
Location: Upper West Side; New York, New York
Size: 850 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented

Our story begins with a boy named Ken and his beauty Belle,
who once lived far away in a modern glass cell.
From the Capitol steps our lady Belle escaped,
by train and by coach to a life freshly-shaped.
Yet love cannot stand so many miles apart,
so Ken closed the gap, and thus began a fresh start.
United as one in the Big Apple’s embrace,
a chance to begin anew, to put on a fresh face.
And thus Ken’s style, once sterile and meek,
engaged with his lady, turned glamour and chic.

We first met Ken and his stylish apartment in Maryland almost three years ago. Fast forward to today and he’s grown into a new life and aesthetic in New York City. Moving into a new shared apartment with his girlfriend Belle’s glamorous and chic design aesthetic was a defining moment for Ken, whose prior sterile minimalist approach was at the opposite end of the spectrum. Growing into New York and their new merged style, he finally realized that homes are meant to be more than just looked at and should be livable. A touch of whimsy here and there adds colorful flavor to the mix.

My Style: Modern mixed with whimsical touches of barnyard chic.

Inspiration: New York restaurants, luxury hotels, modern clothing retail store designs, fancy barns.

Favorite Element: We love staying in luxurious hotels, so we did our best to make the bedroom as glamorous and inviting as possible.

Biggest Challenge: Finding a cohesive design that successfully merges our two wildly different tastes was quite a challenge, both from a design, and relationship, standpoint. Who knew that compromise was the key to everything?

What Friends Say: Which one of you decorated this place? The answer may vary depending on who you ask.

Biggest Embarrassment: Realizing that we wrote Sir Reginald Moose on a wall that has a deer head on it.

Proudest DIY: Designed and fabricated a temporary wall out of wooden posts to extend the living room wall without blocking out light. Chalkboard paint focal wall with a mounted paper mâché deer head and hand-drawn elements.

Biggest Indulgence: Choosing to live in New York.

Best Advice: Once you choose an aesthetic, make sure to follow through. A sparse, mishmashed room looks unfinished. Take your time furnishing your space. Hidden gems can be found at inexpensive stores like Home Goods, and at street markets.

Dream Sources: Restoration Hardware, Houzz, Jesse Homes, BO Concept, Z Gallerie, “Divine Design” with Candice Olsen

• “Deer”est wall: Benjamin Moore Chalkboard Paint
• Bedroom Stripe Accent Wall: Benjamin Moore Acrylic Glaze N405 00 & Benjamin Moore Eggshell Pastel Base N319 1B

• Sofa: Z Gallerie Benny Sofa
• Rug: Z Gallerie Casablanca Dhurrie Rug
• Lamp: CB2 Big Dipper Arc Floor Lamp
• Chair: Ikea Tirup Swivel Chair
• Coffee Table: West Elm Richard Velloso Coffee Table
• Desk: Crate & Barrel Spotlight Desk
• Office Chair: Restoration Hardware Barrelback Chair

DINING ROOM

• Table: CB2 Teepee Dining Table
• Chairs: Ikea Gilbert Chair
• Light Fixture: CB2 Firefly Pendant Lamp

BEDROOM

• Bed: Z Gallerie Leslie Bed
• Mirrored Nightstand: Target

Thanks, Ken & Belle!

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