My Houzz: Black and White Is Right for a Brooklyn Studio
High contrast makes for graphic style in the home of a creative couple, filled with original art and custom furniture
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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With a simple black and white color palette and a good eye for custom furniture pieces and flea market finds, artists Sarah Reynolds and Charlie Nesi transformed their blank-canvas studio into a stylish and welcoming home. The space in former pillow factory in an artsy Brooklyn neighborhood offers a change of pace from the city as well as a gallery-like space for their artwork. "If you live in and work in Manhattan, sometimes it's hard to get that separation where you can turn off work mode," Reynolds says. The couple appreciates how their space allows them to pursue their creative endeavors in the comfort of their own home.
Who lives here: Artist Sarah Reynolds and Charlie Nesi, also an artist and director of marketing for a mobile-app company
Location: Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: About 700 square feet
Who lives here: Artist Sarah Reynolds and Charlie Nesi, also an artist and director of marketing for a mobile-app company
Location: Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: About 700 square feet
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by Chris A. Dorsey
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| The couple spent a lot of time at the Brooklyn Flea hunting for their furnishings; it's a great place for both repurposed items and custom furniture. “We initially saw the coffee table at the Flea," Nesi says, "and thought it looked cool, so we took a gamble and asked the vendor who made it to make us a dining room table. He put the entire thing together for us, all using reclaimed wood, and it turned out amazing.” Locker: Sandusky, Staples; dining table, custom coffee table: Joel Voisard; rug: eBay; couch: Innovation Living; ceiling: existing metal panel, painted silver |
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by Chris A. Dorsey
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| This huge 48-star American flag was another flea market find Nesi had to have. “We walked in, and one of the first vendors we saw was using this flag as a backdrop for her unit. It wasn’t even for sale, just decoration.” Nesi asked about purchasing it, and despite the vendor's initial unwillingness was eventually able to persuade her to part with it. “She was still holding onto it as I was taking it away," says Nesi. Shelf: Expedit, Ikea; rug: eBay |
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“We saw this lamp at a coffee shop below our apartment, and we just loved it,” Nesi says. “We begged them to make one for us.” Its metal-pipe construction echoes that of the dining table across the room.
Lamp: custom; artwork: Slim Aarons
Lamp: custom; artwork: Slim Aarons
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by Chris A. Dorsey
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| The lamp to the right was the couple's first attempt at building their own custom lighting. This space, bathed in natural light from the huge factory windows, is inspiring to wake up in. Lamp: White on White; bed: Hoffman, Room & Board; artwork: Sarah Reynolds; clothing rack: eBay; bedside table: Antiques Garage on 25th Street in Manhattan |
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by Chris A. Dorsey
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| The dining table also serves as a huge work surface. “We love it,” Reynolds says. “We both work out here, so it’s usually covered in art supplies.” Dining table: custom, Joel Voisard; artwork: Sarah Reynolds (middle and left), Charlie Nesi (right) |
by Chris A. Dorsey
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A brick firewall divides the living space from the kitchen and bathroom and is a subtle reminder of the building's industrial beginnings.The skull above the entrance was an early birthday present for Reynolds. “I’m from Texas, so this feels like home to me.”
Artwork: Sarah Reynolds
Artwork: Sarah Reynolds
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Reynolds loves the long kitchen area. After living for a few years near Washington Square Park in Manhattan in an apartment with a tiny kitchen, she is finally able to have some space to cook in.
Artwork: Charlie Nesi
Artwork: Charlie Nesi
by Chris A. Dorsey
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The next project will be the bathroom, which is currently in the same state as when the couple moved in. The plan for now is to paint it blue and put clouds on the walls.
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by Chris A. Dorsey
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| Reynolds' favorite piece in the apartment (the artwork on the left) is aptly named "The Charlie." For Reynolds, "this piece symbolizes my first time back doing charcoal," she says. "I scribbled this image on a napkin one night and was determined to draw it on a larger scale. When I was done, I loved it but didn’t know how others would feel about it. It has so much emotion. I eventually got brave and showed a few of my friends, and they all loved it.” |
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| The pieces around the dining area are all from Reynolds’ first solo show, called Frames on Frames. She is hoping to mount a mirror inside the frame piece someday but is holding out at the moment, noting that “it’s going to cost a lot.” |
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Sarah Reynolds and Charlie Nesi at the dining table. While the color palette in the studio is mostly black and white, the eclectic mix of custom furniture, great flea market finds and original artwork brings the space to life.
Your turn: Share your creative home with us
Your turn: Share your creative home with us
Ideabook updated on Jan. 7, 2013.
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I don't see why they need to change the bathroom; it fits with their current aesthetic.