This Brooklyn Apartment Gets the Paint Colors Exactly Right
Do you remember Elizabeth and Kyle’s pandemic wedding at home in Brooklyn? The couple had such a pretty apartment that lots of people requested a full home tour. So! Without further ado, here’s a peek inside…
DINING ROOMfchande
Paint color: Kensington Green by Benjamin Moore. Butterfly prints: Chairish. Map print: vintage, similar. Leather chair: vintage from Lodestone Home. Throw pillow: vintage, similar. Dining table: vintage from Craigslist. Dining chairs: Serena and Lily. Black floor lamp: Lamps Plus. Rug: Ballard Designs, similar.
On moving away: We actually moved out of this apartment in February. We’re expecting a baby and wanted to be closer to our families in Seattle. But we lived there for two and a half years and really loved it. We’ll miss the tin ceilings, the natural light, even the old radiators — every single morning they made huge banging noises. It was our alarm clock at 6:30 a.m.
On choosing paint: If you’re choosing paint colors, I recommend finding rooms that you love in design books, magazines and on Pinterest. Even if the homes are much grander than yours, it’s fun for inspiration. For our dining room, we chose Benjamin Moore’s Kensington Green.
Black lamp: Lamps Plus. Record player: Crosley.
On blending styles: Our stuff is mostly hand-me-downs (like our sofa) and less expensive things that I found on Craigslist or Target. I found our French dining table on Craigslist. (I have luck when I search for specific keywords — ‘French antique dining table’ versus just ‘table.’) We have a mix of old, new, fancy, not-so-fancy. Then we splurged on pillows and window treatments to make the rooms feel special.
On homey activities: We bought a used record player last year and that was really fun. We don’t have many records yet, and the ones I picked up were in a dollar bin — our Beatles one gets a lot of play! And there’s always NPR on the radio, especially when we’re both working from home. We also play a lot of backgammon.
KITCHEN
On cooking at home: We love to make a classic roast chicken — we just do good seasoning and a bed of vegetables underneath. My husband likes to make food that’s a process, like a potpie or pot roast. After work, chopping is a nice way to unwind.
LIVING ROOM
Paint color: Benjamin Moore HC-29 Dunmore Cream. Sofa: vintage hand-me-down, similar. Blue lamp: Safaveih, similar. Chairs: Ballard Designs. Coffee table: Pottery Barn. Rug: Alexander Home, similar.
On needlepoint: My grandmother taught me to needlepoint when I was young, and now I’m always making coasters and pillows. It’s so relaxing, and you end up with something you actually want. I get the kits from Elizabeth Bradley.
Chandelier: Chairish.
On swapping things out: When we moved in, the living room had an ugly ceiling fan, which you could see from every point of the apartment — it was the major focal point. So, I swapped it out with an antique chandelier I found, which changed the feel of the whole room.
Artwork: Target. Dresser: vintage from Craigslist.
On a mini makeover: We found this dresser on Craigslist. The previous owners had painted the top with thick black paint, but we stripped it and did an oil rub. We took it outside and did it ourselves. It was easier than I had expected.
On TV shows: We’ve watched so much over the pandemic! I’m a big Jeopardy fan. I was so sad about Alex Trebek. I watch all the Bravo shows, which is a little embarrassing. We also love cooking shows — Chef’s Table, Mind of a Chef, all of them.
BEDROOM
Paint color: Benjamin Moore HC-29 Dunmore Cream. Bedding: Roller Rabbit. Rug: Safavieh, similar. Round mirror: Target.
On pregnancy: We are so excited to welcome our baby this July. We got an envelope from our doctor saying the sex of our baby. It feels like a private moment, so my husband and I will open it at home together. There’s such build up, though — my parents are like, when are you going to open it?!
Cloud painting: vintage, similar. Wine and cheese print: Jamie Beck. Nightstand: Ikea.
On the wine and cheese poster: During lockdown last spring, photographer Jamie Beck did an ‘isolation creation’ series. She took a photograph every day, and she ended up doing 60. Each week, she came out with things that were more and more beautiful. I love following her life in France on Instagram.
Paper flowers: John Derian, similar.
On nostalgia after a move: I miss everything already. Honestly, I loved how our neighborhood had everything within walking distance — the fish shop, the meat shop, the cheese shop. We’re still in an urban neighborhood, but it will take some adjustment to have to drive places. I’ll even miss the subway — my husband would laugh!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth!
P.S. More home tours, including a Maine house with a view and a family’s dream home in Sacramento.
(Photos by Alpha Smoot for Cup of Jo.)