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My Houzz: Fun and Fashionable in Manhattan
Lively color and eclectic artwork energize a young fashion professional's apartment in a hip city neighborhood
Houzz Contributor. I am a New York based photographer, designer, and architectural enthusiast.
Houzz Contributor. I am a New York based photographer, designer, and architectural... More »
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Carrie Hammer's bright-colored apartment is an energy-filled home in one of Manhattan's coolest neighborhoods, the West Village. It's an ideal location for a young creative professional like Hammer, founder and CEO of her own fashion line tailored for professional women. From an intricate copper painted ceiling and blue walls to eclectic artwork and furnishings, Hammer's apartment mirrors her love of fashion and her own artistic aesthetic.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Carrie Hammer and 2 housemates
Location: New York City
Size: About 900 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Carrie Hammer and 2 housemates
Location: New York City
Size: About 900 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
by Chris A. Dorsey
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"I love what I do now, and I love that my apartment is full of color and life," Hammer says. She's had housemates over the years, but the decorating is all a reflection of her personal style.
Her favorite piece in the apartment is the chandelier. "I’ve always wanted one," she says. "It was my life dream. I even had a sticker chandelier in my room in L.A. Now I have a real one, so that’s very exciting."
Chandelier, rug: Overstock.com; coffee table: Ikea; couch: Door Store (now closed); pillows: Target
Her favorite piece in the apartment is the chandelier. "I’ve always wanted one," she says. "It was my life dream. I even had a sticker chandelier in my room in L.A. Now I have a real one, so that’s very exciting."
Chandelier, rug: Overstock.com; coffee table: Ikea; couch: Door Store (now closed); pillows: Target
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by Chris A. Dorsey
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| Hammer previously worked in ad sales. She would go to work and think, "What we wear is so boring; it’s all just versions of black and white with no color." Wanting to come home to an energizing haven, she decorated her space with vibrant colors. Frame: Ung Drill, Ikea; mirror: Empire Gallery and Framing; paint: Benjamin Moore |
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by Chris A. Dorsey
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| Hanging on almost every wall in Hammer's apartment are framed fashion posters she picked up during Fashion Week in 2009. "This random subway guy was handing out these posters. I took a few and thought, 'One day I want to be doing this.'" She put the posters away, then brought them out when she quit the sales job and started her fashion line, as a reminder of her desire to do something more creative. "I framed them, and now I get to see them every day," she says. Frames: Westside Frame Shop; candleholders: Ikea; mantel clock: Linens n Things |
by Chris A. Dorsey
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Her mother, artist Jean Wells, also had a hand in the decor. "My mom is an artist, so I've grown up around art my whole life," Hammer says. "She mainly does oversize art, like mosaics and things. She actually did the silver wings above my TV."
Hammer painted the iconic power sign herself.
Hammer painted the iconic power sign herself.
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by Chris A. Dorsey
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| Hammer shares her apartment with two housemates. "I call my space the bachelor apartment," she says. "It’s funny: When anyone moves out, it’s to get married!" The dining table is a gift from an old housemate, and the mannequin is from the city's Garment District. Frames: Ikea |
by Chris A. Dorsey
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Mannequins do double duty as dressmaking forms and design elements throughout the main living spaces.
by Chris A. Dorsey
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These display mannequins, including one covered in a toile pattern, have found a home in an unlikely area: the kitchen.
by Chris A. Dorsey
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Also in her colorful kitchen are oversize fork and spoon decals inspired by local restaurant Good on Greenwich. Hammer commissioned the artwork from Etsy vendor Household Words.
"I sent them the color I wanted and they matched it and sent them to me," she describes. Good has these huge framed forks, spoons and knives that I just love, so when I was decorating I pulled those out of my arsenal."
Table, chairs: Overstock.com
"I sent them the color I wanted and they matched it and sent them to me," she describes. Good has these huge framed forks, spoons and knives that I just love, so when I was decorating I pulled those out of my arsenal."
Table, chairs: Overstock.com
by Chris A. Dorsey
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Hammer applied vinyl artwork by Etsy vendor Household Words to personalize a simple Ikea Malm dresser in the bedroom.
Bedding: Bed Bath & Beyond
Bedding: Bed Bath & Beyond
by Chris A. Dorsey
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The New York weather also inspires Hammer. She says of her native California, "There is no punctuation of seasons. Everyone should experience switching coasts."
A bright purple quilt adds life to the space even on the coldest winter day.
Mirror: HomeGoods
A bright purple quilt adds life to the space even on the coldest winter day.
Mirror: HomeGoods
by Chris A. Dorsey
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The painted oversize playing card holds special meaning for Hammer, whose great-grandfather was an artist and a prisoner of war in World War I.
"In his camp the prisoners would make little trinkets and trade them with each other to get cigarettes, extra food or blankets. My great-grandfather took to painting the backs of playing cards to trade," she says. "The general saw a deck of cards he made and moved him to a room in the camp with other artists, [who would] get sent into town to do things like paint murals on churches."
After five years Hammer's great-grandfather was given a visa to go home. "I think all the time that had it not been for a deck of playing cards, I literally would not be here today," says Hammer.
"In his camp the prisoners would make little trinkets and trade them with each other to get cigarettes, extra food or blankets. My great-grandfather took to painting the backs of playing cards to trade," she says. "The general saw a deck of cards he made and moved him to a room in the camp with other artists, [who would] get sent into town to do things like paint murals on churches."
After five years Hammer's great-grandfather was given a visa to go home. "I think all the time that had it not been for a deck of playing cards, I literally would not be here today," says Hammer.
Comments
kennedytarheel Pure fun! Such a breath of fresh air! Thanks for sharing!
5 months ago · Like
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Darzy What a wonderful space full of color and personality! Love the queen of hearts on the door and the story behind it. Silver leaf would look great in your fireplace arch! Those wings are fabulous that your mother created.
5 months ago · Like
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jcanost I love the story about your great-grandfather - thanks for sharing your space, and memories, with all of us :)
5 months ago · Like
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Tile-Stones Love the ceiling in the living room!
5 months ago · Like
Peter Hassler, Design Vidal Great story about your great grandfather. That's what design should be about. How perfect that it was a deck of playing cards - itself a symbol of chance and fate - that you're great grandfather painted on and now symbolizes the recognition of your own fate.
5 months ago · Like
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jenross671 So tell us more about the ceiling.... Looks like tile... But is it regular heavy tile meant usually for walls and floors? Or something different? I'm wondering how you would lay tile on a ceiling and keep it there... Gravity and all....I mean, even floor and wall tiles pop loose now and then.
5 months ago · Like
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davesmac I too have a large fork & spoon on the wall in our dining room area. I put them on the wall space under the bar counter. I get many nice compliments on them. They are self stick wall stickers that I had gotten from the clearance isle of Marshalls. I believe the clearance price was $9.99. I found this to be a great bargain. 
5 months ago · Like
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zanzi1 This is so New York, nowhere else do you get such an interesting mix of ideas. Also, the apartment itself, people would kill for it.
5 months ago · Like
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zanzi1 To Jenross - In New York it is very common in old buildings to have tin tiles. The are stamped tin and usually come in sheets. Very light weight. You can find them now for sale in many home stores or hardware stores.
5 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Dec. 10, 2012.
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