This New York City Artist’s Pattern-Packed Home Feels Like Living Inside a Painting

Seventeen years ago, artist Carly Beck was looking to buy a place in the West Village to be close to where she worked, at the time for Diane von Furstenberg. “A former co-worker at DvF had left fashion and got into real estate and she started showing me places in the West Village,” begins Carly, who says that many of the first batch of one-bedroom apartments she saw in her price range “had tiny bedrooms, no closets, limited light.”

This place — a 525-square-foot space — caught Carly’s eye immediately. “Even though the space had limited charm left and blue indoor/outdoor carpeting in the kitchen I saw the potential,” she writes. “The bedroom was a nice size, there were two closets, and most importantly it had the most beautiful natural light. The apartment is perched on the top floor of a five-story walkup, and the tree-lined streets give you a feeling of being in a nest. The building is from 1900 and has many quirks, but the simplicity and the durability of the design is to be admired.”

Carly, who began her career in fashion and even started her own handbag line called C.A.B., switched to full-time painting about 10 years ago, where she specializes in “custom pet portraits merging my love of animals and fashion into one world onto the canvas.” Carly has also illustrated several children’s books, has a wallpaper collaboration with WALLSHOPPE, and a paper goods collections with Barnes & Noble. Her apartment she’s owned for 17 years is both home and a painting studio; it’s an inspiring space she’s filled with color and patterned wallpaper, including her own designs!

• Kitchen Walls and Trim — Farrow & Ball “Whirlybird”
• Cupboards — Farrow & Ball “Breakfast Room Green”
• Living Room Wood Trim Accents — Farrow & Ball “School House White “
• Living Room Wallpaper — Wallshoppe “Gallery Room Floral”
• Bookshelf — Farrow & Ball “Pitch Black”
• Bedroom Walls, Trim, and Ceiling — Farrow & Ball “Hazy”
• Bedroom Door — Farrow & Ball “Pitch Black”
• Bathroom Ceiling — Farrow & Ball “Fruitfool”
• Bathroom Wainscotting and Cabinet — Farrow & Ball “School House White”
• Bathroom Door — Farrow & Ball “Brinjal”
• Bathroom Wallpaper — Wallshoppe “Ann’s Garden in Black”

• Sofa — John Derian
• Nesting Side Table — Pottery Barn
• Large Ottoman — The Inside
• Garden Bamboo Accent Chairs — Pottery Barn (no longer available)
• Farm Table — Crate and Barrel
• White Secretary Desk — Pottery Barn
• Accent Pillow — ABC Carpet & Home (no longer available)
• Curtains — West Elm
• Rug — Miss Amara
• Standing Bird Cage — Vintage from Antique Prop Store in Los Angeles
• Throw — Wallshoppe
• Geometric Chandelier — Neiman Marcus
• Kartell Bourgie Lamp — 2Modern
• Bronze Glass Table Lamp — Vintage

• Oven SMEG 24” Gas Range — A.J. Madison
• KitchenAid Under the Counter Refrigerator and Freezer Drawers — A.J. Madison
• Clear Acrylic Bar Stools — Similar style can be found on Amazon
• Ceiling Crystal Leaf Motif Chandelier — Horchow (no longer available)
• Cafe Curtains — Custom Made
• Stained Glass — Custom Made with Scrap Glass

• Mirrored Nightstand — Pottery Barn (no longer available)
• Antiqued Mirrored — Horchow
• Patterned Curtains — Pottery Barn (no longer available)
• Butterfly Motif Lamp and Crystal Pendant Lamp — Antique from Grandparents
• Small Table Lamps — Murano Glass Antique
• Chandelier — Antique Shop in Boise, Idaho
• Wall Sconces — Antique from Grandparents
• Rug — Horchow (no longer available)
• Delmar Velvet Channeled Headboard — One Kings Lane
• Duvet — Sferra
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Two Interior Paintings — Carly Beck

• Shower Curtain — West Elm x Heather Taylor Home

Thanks, Carly!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

Share your style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form