(Photo provided by: kate jordan. )
“We want kids to feel like they can be themselves in our apartments,” he says. holly waterfielda Brooklyn-based interior designer and stylist. Brooklyn Home Company, is also the mother of 16-year-old Emmy and 9-year-old Bodhi. “I’m a busy single mom, so I want it to be easy. Our home is a combination of cozy textiles and kid-friendly art.” Here, Holly guides us…
living/dining area
Cloud painting: Paul Mareau Les Nuages. English garden painting: mary maguire. Whale painting: mary maguire. pink cushion: Injiri. White pillow and bench skirt: Made by Holly.
About making your own place: I found this apartment in 2017 when I was going through a divorce and looking for a new place to live. It was a large open studio with a loft bed. However, my friend who owns the building gave me free permission to make changes. So he added two new walls and a pocket door, creating three bedrooms. My goal was to make this space cozy and fun for the kids. We all went through difficult transitions, but everyone is truly happy in the end. That’s all that matters.
sofa: ABC Home.Cushion: Custom, included Jane Shelton fabrics. Rattan chair: vintage, resemble. Sheepskin: roman and williams guild. coffee table: moss. Mushroom side table: beck + cap. Floor lamp: IKEA, resemble. BLIND: matchstick. shelf: CB2.
In that swing: Back in 2012, my kids and I went to Anne Hamilton’s art exhibit at the Armory. There he had a room full of 42 swings. We stayed there for many hours. It was a great feeling to ride the swings as an adult. After that, I thought, “I’ll try swinging someday.” So when I moved into this apartment, I made this and everyone uses it all the time. My son likes to use it as a trapeze. It brings great joy.
Side table: Etsy; resemble. lamp: wooden box and barrel.Chair cushion: custom, included jane shelton fabric.
When finding your style: If you’re having trouble decorating your home, take a look at your wardrobe. What do you feel comfortable wearing? Is it mostly neutrals, a very bold pattern, or a lot of white? Start there. Sometimes I look at my closet and think, “This feels like home!”
kitchen
Flight: Serena & Lily. lamp: world market “In the shade of a tree at my grandparents’ house.”
About the joy of living together: I love the improvisational nature of Brooklyn. You can say to your friend, “Oh, you’re making dinner and I’m making dinner, so let’s have a potluck!” We love inviting people to events big and small, like watching the World Cup, and keeping our doors open. We just sit on the floor and eat around the coffee table.
Kitchen Runner: The Citizenry. Stool: click gallery, resemble. Wooden frame: Artist + Craftsman Supplies.
About children’s self-portraits: The children started making them when they were in kindergarten, and it’s amazing to see how their characteristics change over the years. When Emmy was in middle school, I noticed, “Oh, all of a sudden her eyelashes got really long,” and “Oh, her cheekbones got higher.” And when Bodhi was a baby, he had enamel hypoplasia and his first two baby teeth were all yellow and brown. So he drew this yellow, bumpy tooth in his self-portrait in his kindergarten. He wasn’t shy about them at all.
Rattan pendant lamp: Serena & Lily. Painting: Vintage. candle holder: association, resemble. Wooden vessel: “My grandfather made it” Lamp: school building.
About building a realistic house: I love incorporating natural materials like rush rugs, wicker chairs, and woven blinds. Rustic materials are durable, long-lasting, and add an unpretentious feel to your space. You won’t have to worry about cracks and you’ll feel more grounded.
Bodhi’s room
Garland: Etsy; resemble. Lobster: London, resemble. Lug: do good things.
About reuse hacks: When Bodhi was younger, I built him a toddler-sized bed frame. Once he outgrew it, we clung to it and realized it would slide perfectly under his twin bed. I now use it as a drawer for his clothes. I just added a small wooden handle.
plaid pillow: Injiri. blanket: Injiri. Bookshelf: IKEA, resemble.
On having maximalist kids: Bodhi is a collector. He still has the Valentine’s Day card he got from kindergarten and he won’t let go of it just yet. He’s a complete more-is-more maximalist.
pink ship kite: Haptic Lab. White wall sconce: IKEA; resemble. Floor Pillow: Handmade by Bodhi and Emmy. Yellow lamp: world market. Wooden house shelves: “Christmas display set for a store that is about to go out of business”
About the bond between siblings: Bodhi is seven years younger than Emmy and really respects her. He even sleeps in her T-shirt! So every time she disposes of something, he collects her castoffs. When she was about to let go of the pink ship kite, he said, “I want to put this in my room!” He’s a total hottie, so I love having a bright pink ship in his room.
emmy’s room
Floor pillow: Injiri and Intia Earth. Desk Chair: Thrifted. Sheepskin: ikea. BLIND: matchstick blinds.
About the weekend ritual: Emmy does what she calls the “Sunday Reset,” where she gets a facial, folds all her clothes in her closet, and gets ready for the week. She’s just like me and needs things to be organized so she can think straight.
Desk: “Homemade” ikea butcher block And a filing cabinet. ”
About timeless decor: As children grow, they discover things they like, such as colors and characters. But I don’t want to decorate their rooms according to those themes. intention change. Emmy has loved purple for a long time, but she can’t stand it now.
About mother-daughter hang-ups: With young children, they do whatever they want. Luckily, Emmy and I like to do the same things, like riding bikes and being thrifty. She’s a big reader, so I sometimes climb into her bed and cuddle her while I drink her tea at night. She’s great company.
Master bedroom
Comforter: Chelsea textile, resemble. Throw a pillow: Maison de Vacances. Wicker Candlesticks: World Market. stool: ikea. Sailing Painting: Vintage. Desk lamp: school building. BLIND: matchstick blinds.
About cats: During the pandemic, we fostered our kitten Pillow. [behind the yellow cushion!] He ended up adopting her. She’s basically a teenager who sleeps all day, stays up all night, and runs laps around her house.
Chair: Vintage. Sheepskin: Land route. Beach photo: “A gift from a friend”
In creating a sanctuary: I like to keep my bedroom very quiet and just have a few pieces of art in it. I believe that a person’s bedroom is a sacred space. By keeping it to a minimum, you can relax at night. Sometimes I feel the urge to add more, but even just adding a rug or decorative pillow feels like too much.
Square wicker basket: Mujirushi Ryohin. Corrugated wicker basket: IKEA; resemble.
Regarding the reasons why the house is not completed: When I’m working on a project, people always ask, “Are you done yet?”That’s what I think Oh, actually it’s not over yet.. My personal home is constantly evolving. And I don’t think you should feel like your space is completely finished just because your life isn’t. Hopefully, you’ll travel and find some cool driftwood or seashells that will inspire you. And there’s a lot of joy in searching.
Thank you very much, holly. We love your place!
PS More home tours, including a Connecticut home that defines coziness and a colorful farmhouse built for the joy of black people.
(Photo provided by: kate jordan (for joe cup)