Curbed - All Curbed.com House Calls storiesLove where you live2016-08-29T09:30:07-04:00http://archive.curbed.com/rss/stream/122526352016-08-29T09:30:07-04:002016-08-29T09:30:07-04:00Barn raising: Turning a family farm into a modern heartland homestead
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<figcaption><a href='http://www.carmentroesser.com/''>Photos by Carmen Troesser</a></figcaption>
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<p>In a Green Acres move, a couple says goodbye to city life</p> <p>Every week, our House Calls feature takes you into homes with great style, big personality, and ineffable soul. Today, we visit the Fayette, Missouri, home of Derek and Jamie Bryant. Five years ago, the couple left their life in the city to return to Derek’s family’s farm. When it came to agriculture, they had big ideas and little experience, but with a lot of work and determination, they made the land and the old house on it come alive again.</p>
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<div class="caption">From the front porch of the Bryant home, you can see the long gravel path that stretches to the public road. From time to time, you can also see chickens in the yard and cows in the pasture.</div> </div>
<p id="OlKw2J">When Derek and Jamie Bryant met and married, they were far from farmers. They lived in a loft in downtown St. Louis; Derek was a commercial construction manager and Jamie was an interior designer. "It never occurred to me to garden or grow food," Jamie says. That changed after they joined a Slow Food group, and began to consider how the contents of their plate got there.</p>
<p>The interest grew into something of an obsession. "We planted a large garden at our house, and started raising chickens," says Jamie. "We were definitely heading in a farming direction, when we got the news about Derek’s grandmother."</p>
<p>Derek’s grandparents owned a 300-acre farm close to Columbia, a portion of the acreage their ancestor, Federal Walker, had claimed in an 1812 land grant. It contained a farmhouse, which started life as two log cabins. Derek spent many happy days there as a child, and he faced a decision that would determine whether his daughter would have the same memories.</p>
<p>"My grandmother had been living on the place by herself, but with her health starting to slip, her daughter (my mother) and I had a choice to make: Would we sell it, or keep it? We decided to keep it, that we needed to keep it," Derek says. "But then the question became how to pay for it, and who would live there. Jamie and I decided to give it shot."</p>
<p>But for it to be a decent shot, they would have to change the farming game. "We knew that the farm couldn't survive and provide a living for us if we continued to farm the land conventionally with crops and chemicals," Derek says. "We wanted to both preserve and improve the land for future generations of our family. We were married in a restored river mill, and that planted the germ of an idea."</p>
<div class="c-wide-block"> <img src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6996545/House_Calls_Missouri_Blue_Bell_exterior_event_space.0.jpg"><div class="caption">Building an event barn was key to the new path the Bryant's envisioned for the farm. The building is new, but the form is classic. On any given weekend, you might find a wedding party in front, but here four-year-old Lillian plays her own game of chicken.</div> </div>
<p>In the simplest form, the plan was this: Build an event barn that could handle weddings, meetings, and gatherings of all kinds, while growing organic vegetables and raising grass-fed, free-range animals that could provide food for the guests. Believing they could make it work, they moved into the log structure Derek’s family had occupied for seven generations and rechristened the outfit <a href="http://bluebellfarm.org/">Blue Bell Farm</a>.</p>
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<div class="caption">One of the first orders of business: remodeling the bathrooms. The Bryants chose a new style that references a classic farmhouse style.</div> </div>
<p>By this time, Jamie had completed an internship at a local farm. The experience was enough for her to lay aside her designer’s tape measure, fabric swatches, and paint deck and pick up the hoe (although she did continue to work with some clients). After several months, Derek left his job and joined her. "We quickly realized we had bitten off a lot," he says. "There’s quite a bit of difference between gardening at home and growing for market."</p>
<p id="9cGwp2">The couple’s zeal was likely their saving grace, but it was also something of an obstacle. "We were so excited that first spring, we planted more than we could keep up with," Jamie says. "There were so many rows of beans, weeds took them over before we could get to them. We planted 600 tomato plants. Back then, we didn’t have experience with mechanical weeders or drip irrigation, so we did all the weeding and watering by hand. I could spend five hours working on the tomatoes alone."</p>
<p id="Lf2sMV">The fields weren’t the only thing they were finessing; they were also growing a barn. Working with architect Paul Fendler of <a href="http://fendlerworld.com/">Fendler & Associates </a>and Heather Garrett of <a href="http://heathergarrettdesign.com/">Heather Garrett Interior Design</a>, they designed a structure that looks like a traditional, gambrel-roofed barn in a children’s storybook, but works like a modern bride’s dream. "We did our homework," says Jamie. "We asked wedding planners what would be ideal, what couples need and want, and we included those things."</p>
<p id="YI78xq">That means it appears to be a hay barn on the outside, but the inside is light, bright, and outfitted with a modern kitchen and bathrooms. Livestock might not be completely comfortable in this structure, but wedding parties are flocking to it. By year’s end, they will have hosted 55 weddings. Jamie was running a more personal design project: Making the house a fit for the next generation (daughter Lillian was born in 2012).</p>
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<figcaption>Derek, Jamie, and Lillian relax in the kitchen that used to be dark yellow, but is now light and white. "Lillian is really happy here," says Jamie. "She's a real farm kid."</figcaption>
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<p id="zL0cDl">This was no ordinary farmhouse. When Federal Walker cleared a spot on the land and used the wood to make two cabins, he joined them by a dog trot. Over the years, the breezeway was enclosed and Victorian siding and trim was added sometime in the 1850s. "At that time, a log exterior was considered to be ‘hillbilly,’" Derek says.</p>
<p>But behind the Victorian facade beats a pioneer heart. In the entry, living room, office, hallway, and master bedroom, the original logs were visible, and Derek’s grandparents worked hard to preserve and restore them. "The white lines you see, that’s called chinking," says Derek. "Back in the day, my relatives probably mixed horsehair with clay to seal the space between the logs, which ranges from two to four inches. My grandparents used something that’s more like drywall."</p>
<div class="c-wide-block"> <img src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6996567/House_Calls_Missouri_Blue_Bell_master_bedroom_bed.0.jpg"><div class="caption">The strong, horizontal lines created by the chinking between the logs posed a design challenge for Jamie. She met it by using a simple blue-and-white palette. The headboard is from <a href="https://www.restorationhardware.com/">Restoration Hardware</a>, the duvet is from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.coyuchi.com%2F%3F%26gclid%3DCj0KEQjw0f-9BRCF9-D60_n4rKcBEiQAnXW4-zjqfNXDQAR9CP_x0-69RVpSLt_GSGfFEeuzeRwNf3QaAoZ88P8HAQ&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F8%2F29%2F12612662%2Fhome-tours-missouri-blue-bell-farms-jamie-derek-bryant" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Coyuchi</a>.</div> </div>
<p id="iGXdoM">The timbers weren’t the only legacy earlier generations left behind. "I was accustomed to starting design projects with more or less a blank slate," says Jamie. "That wasn’t the case here, the house was full of antiques and memories that were important to Derek and his mother. To be honest, changing it made me a little nervous."</p>
<p>The project became a process of editing and working with the strong wall pattern. "I found that more neutral palettes work best, so I stayed away from busy prints and went with a simple blue-and-white in the living room and the master bedroom," Jamie says.</p>
<p>Some of the antiques have been stored, allowing the pieces left behind to shine. New upholstery and paint (some of the rooms had been drywalled long ago) brought a cohesiveness to the home. "It made a world of difference," says Jamie.</p>
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<p>One thing that remains in place is a massive armoire downstairs. "It’s my understanding that it has always been here, that Derek’s family built it when they cut down a tree in front of the house," Jamie says. "Pieces like that, you just can’t change."</p>
<p>Holding on to the family legacy has helped both Jamie and Derek in their transition from city dwellers to a farm family. "I think about the people who were here before me, and it’s humbling. We are so lucky that this place survived—it hasn’t been blown away in a tornado, it hasn’t burned, it hasn’t been broken up by family squabbles," says Derek.</p>
<p class="c-end-para">"I look at the old photos, and I feel the presence of the people who lived here, and I think about how hard they worked. I feel like the steward of this generation, and I hope I leave it in good and profitable shape for my daughter, the next generation."</p>
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<figcaption>Jamie admits that she sometimes misses living close to old friends and family and some of the cultural institutions St. Louis offered. "But, when I go to New York City, I find it mentally exhausting after three or four days," she says. "This is home now, and I love it here."</figcaption>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2016/8/29/12612662/home-tours-missouri-blue-bell-farms-jamie-derek-bryantMary Jo Bowling2016-08-22T09:30:03-04:002016-08-22T09:30:03-04:00Inside a photo stylist's picture-perfect Minneapolis home
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<p>Embracing color in the Mill City</p> <p>Every week, our House Calls feature takes you into homes with great style, big personality, and ineffable soul. Today, we visit the suburban Minneapolis home of photo stylist <a href="http://davidanger.com/">David Anger</a> and his husband Jim Broberg. Anger has decorated the home in the happy and (perhaps deceptively) colorful style that has graced the websites and catalogues of Crate & Barrel, CB2, Target, and more.</p>
<p id="iuknZb">Let’s be clear about one thing: David Anger and his husband Jim Broberg both love style and midcentury modern design, but Anger brings his work home with him (and vice-versa) to the 1,200-square-foot space they share. "My mother, who was very witty, visited us for the first time, and she entered our home and turned to Jim and said, ‘Now, let’s see the closet that David let you decorate.’" Anger, a self-described style hound, has had a way with furniture and objects since he was a young child, and his mother knew it.</p>
<p id="I5eqgp">Anger may be primarily responsible for the look of their townhouse that generates happy-making endorphins, but perhaps it’s a shared love of midcentury style that brought the couple together.</p>
<div class="c-wide-block"> <img src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6948683/HouseCalls_Minneapolis_Anger_entrance_livingroom_bench.0.jpg"><div class="caption">Left: Stylist David Anger admits to having a "thing" for yellow, so he painted the backside of his entry door and a stool from <a href="https://goto.target.com/c/482924/81938/2092?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2F&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Target</a> with the sunny hue. Right: Anger uses sculptural plants throughout his home. "I was inspired by the Eames house, and how they had something like an indoor garden," he says. "I thought: 'I could do this.'"</div> </div>
<p>"Years ago, back before Craigslist, I was looking for a roommate in City Pages, the alternative newspaper in Minneapolis," he says. "Someone placed an ad looking to share a place with a person who loved modern Danish style. I was interested, but it sounded like he was looking for a partner. A year later, I went on a date with Jim, and I realized that he must have placed the ad—and it turned out he had."</p>
<p id="eBeNpw">It’s that common aesthetic that sends the men to Copenhagen on a yearly trip that’s part vacation and part shopping jaunt, and there’s plenty of evidence of their journeys at home.</p>
<p id="j0lkoh">They’ve lived here for a decade, after they discovered the Southdale condominium complex in Edina, right outside of Minneapolis. It was built in 1956 as housing for employees of a nearby mall. "It’s just a few blocks away from the nation’s first enclosed shopping center," Anger says. "It was built by the Dayton family, who famously founded Dayton-Hudson and later Target. They were, and are, something like the Medicis of Minneapolis. They wanted employees to be able to live near where they worked. Both Jim and I knew it was the right thing for us when we approached the front door."</p>
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<img alt="A bright dining table with wooden dining table, wishbone chairs, and a pink and yellow print in the background. A white orb light hangs from the ceiling." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8xajMv8sj4At-a4WfSY_29XyRho=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6948851/HouseCalls_Minneapolis_Anger_diningroom_2.0.jpg">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="http://canarygrey.com/" target="_blank">Wing Ta</a></cite>
<figcaption>An Andy Warhol print of a sunset picks up the spherical shape of the light fixture from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ikea.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fcatalog%2Fproducts%2F60325794%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F8%2F22%2F12491798%2Fhome-tour-minneapolis-danish-modern-david-anger" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">IKEA</a> in the dining room. Classic <a href="http://www.carlhansen.com/products/chairs/ch24/">Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs</a> also have a curvy, rounded shape.</figcaption>
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<p>Anger started by painting the background <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.benjaminmoore.com%2Fen-us%2Fpaint-color%2Flinenwhite&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F8%2F22%2F12491798%2Fhome-tour-minneapolis-danish-modern-david-anger" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Linen White</a>, a Benjamin Moore color. Then, over time he added accent walls—a linen wall covering here, a pleasant orange there. "Accent walls can be so 1990s, but in this place they work," he says. "We needed to add some sort of interior architecture. A painted wall is a small thing, but it does the trick."</p>
<p id="K607OS">He layered in the couple’s collection of graphic (as in design) art. The works largely rely on typography, iconography, and bold fields of color. "I think we love it because it tells a story," he says. "I also think that during the darker Minneapolis seasons, the pale background and bright colors make the space seem lighter. To me, it feels light all year round."</p>
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<cite>Photo by <a href="http://canarygrey.com/" target="_blank">Wing Ta</a></cite>
<figcaption>After using this terra cotta shade in a photoshoot for CB2, Anger thought he would try the same color in his own home.</figcaption>
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<p>Asked if he would describe his style as colorful, Anger hesitates. "I’ve always liked color, I am an Aries," he says. "But really, it’s a white interior with several small bursts of color."</p>
<p id="mwV2qK">Given the couple’s shared style inclinations and frequent travels, it’s no surprise that MCM furniture plays a starring role. Anger’s claim as an early-on design freak when it comes to modern furniture is proven by his living room sofa story. He’s a Minneapolis native, and as a child, he openly admired his neighbor’s Danish sofa.</p>
<p>Years later, when he was an adult, they gifted it to him. Clearly, his youthful expression of design envy made an impression. "It’s a wonderful, custom piece," he says. "I reupholstered in in yellow fabric because I have a yellow thing."</p>
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<p id="P9Xcbs">When the men moved in, the kitchen was the only area that didn’t have an Atomic Era vibe. In fact, an earlier remodel had left it with quite the opposite feeling: something more akin to Colonial. The couple remodeled it with new white cabinet doors, white Corian countertops, and, of course, a shot of yellow in the island.</p>
<p>The statement copper range hood was original to the home. "The concept was to add as much shine as possible to an otherwise small, dark space," Anger says. "It now has that 1970s, Virginia Slims look."</p>
<p>Notably, there’s a human-scale kitchen sink, a rarity in an era when washtub-sized vessels are in vogue. The Smeg refrigerator, compared to what you find in many cooking spaces, is petite. For this couple, countertops and prep space are a higher priority.</p>
<p>"Kitchens with appliances large enough to survive the Armageddon drive me crazy. We actually downsized the existing refrigerator for something smaller. In my opinion, one or two people simply don’t need things that large," he says. "I may not be a great cook, but I’m an expert at arranging prepared food on a plate."</p>
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<figcaption>Rehabbing the outdoor space was an important piece of this remodel. "When it's warm in Minnesota, you want to be outside as much as possible and celebrate the season," he says. Here, he enjoys the space on a <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crateandbarrel.com%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F8%2F22%2F12491798%2Fhome-tour-minneapolis-danish-modern-david-anger" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Crate & Barrel</a> sofa with Harry, his cat.</figcaption>
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<p class="c-end-para">Given the list of clients on his website, it appears Anger is an expert at arranging most anything. You have to wonder: Does his life influence his work? "Oh god, yes—definitely," he exclaims. "Each job involves interpreting a brand’s vocabulary and sensibility. That said, I have a certain graphic, tidy style that I live with at home that I bring to my work."</p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/8/22/12491798/home-tour-minneapolis-danish-modern-david-angerMary Jo Bowling2016-08-15T09:30:02-04:002016-08-15T09:30:02-04:00A tiny cabin in an all-American town offers a designer respite
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<figcaption>The Narrowsburg, New York, home of designer Bridie Picot | <a href='http://www.markwickens.com/'>Photo by Mark Wickens</a></figcaption>
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<p>It's a small space with big ideas</p> <p id="q5OyzC"><em>Every week, our House Calls feature takes you inside homes with eye-catching style and big personality. Today, we visit the Catskills home of homeware designer Bridie Picot, founder of </em><a href="http://www.thingindustries.com/pages/about-us"><em>Thing Industries</em></a><em>. The petite cabin in Narrowsburg is just a three-hour drive from her weekday home in Brooklyn, but the transition is pronounced between city and country for the New Zealand expat, her British husband Harry Bugden, and their dog, Rabbit.</em></p>
<p class="p--has-dropcap p-large-text" id="teL2sS">The loudest sound on this Narrowsburg, New York, property is birdsong, and on summer evenings a multitude of fireflies flicker in the trees that form a natural amphitheater around the back lawn.</p>
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<p id="iMmLGa">The hamlet earns its name from its location. It’s situated on the narrowest, deepest bend of the Delaware River, with a picture-perfect main street bracketed by an industrial feed mill and the bridge across the river to Pennsylvania. Climb under the bridge, and there are broad, flat rocks to dive off or sunbathe on<strong>. "</strong>It’s exactly how I imagined a small American town when I was growing up in New Zealand," says Picot. "It’s also home to some incredibly welcoming people, and there are lots of exciting things happening here."</p>
<p id="rfl3Eo">"The Shack", as she calls it, has a tiny footprint of just 502 square feet, and lies at the highest point of an eight-acre plot of land she bought in 2012, which runs from the unsealed access road along a ridge down to the river below—though most of it is so overgrown and woody she has only been down to the bottom a couple of times.</p>
<p id="BXSpHL">The Shack’s name is, of course, tongue-in-cheek. The structure, which comprises one bedroom, an open-plan kitchen and living room, and a narrow loft for a single bed located under the eaves and reached by a ladder, is actually a newly built "micro-cottage." Picot purchased it from <a href="http://thecatskillfarms.com/">Catskill Farms</a>, a design-and-build firm founded by Pennsylvania native Charles Petersheim.</p>
<p id="qK6EyD">The enterprise is responsible for building more than 100 properties in the Catskills and surrounding areas, including 11 on Picot’s road alone.</p>
<p id="fu8Un3">"I love how symmetrical it is," says Picot. "It’s like a kid’s drawing of a house. Charles and I originally talked about adding a second bedroom, but that would have messed up the symmetry."</p>
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<p id="8WwNMO">Typically, each homeowner chooses their plot of land first and then plans their home with Petersheim. But the Shack, originally a prototype for the smallest cabin available on his portfolio, was already in situ on this spot.</p>
<p id="CscERZ">"Charles works with an architect, so his cabins are high-spec," explains Picot. "He uses reclaimed wood and old barn doors, things that look like they’ve been there for a while. Also, he’s really smart about where on the land the houses sit, and how best to position them for the plot of land they’re on. Nothing has been just plopped down. In New Zealand, we’d try to maximize sun exposure, but that would be unbearably hot here. He is also conscious of the neighbors, and having a good distance between one house and the next."</p>
<p id="P9NeO8">She recently had the company add a small guest annex on the periphery of the lawn, with a pitched roof over a simple, white-painted space just large enough for a bed and a chair. The frontage is simply a glass sliding door opening onto a tiny deck, and frames a perfect view of the surrounding trees. Facing at right angles to the Shack, it offers complete privacy.</p>
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<figcaption>In the master bedroom, the bed is made up with Thing's <a href="http://www.thingindustries.com/collections/all/products/brick-blanket">Brick Blanket</a>. The <a href="http://www.thingindustries.com/products/sacrificial-chair">Sacrificial Chair</a> and <a href="http://www.thingindustries.com/collections/all/products/birdhouse">Birdhouse Bookshelf</a> are also from Picot's company. The photograph is by <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://jeffmermelstein.com/home.html">Jeff Mermelstein</a>, the "Bring Back the Golden Sunshine" print is by <a href="http://anthonyburrill.com/">Anthony Burrill</a>.</figcaption>
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<p id="KgqnWQ">One of the benefits of buying a readymade house, Picot says, is that all she needed to do was give it a lick of white paint and install appliances, and it was ready for move in. At the time of purchase, she had yet to meet Harry, and had recently sold her one-bedroom flat in London, where she worked as a producer at the British ad firm, Mother, before moving to the agency’s East Coast office in Hell’s Kitchen.</p>
<p id="pBWXbY">The contents of the flat were shipped straight to Narrowsburg and fitted neatly into the Shack’s dimensions.</p>
<p id="sUAmdQ">While she had originally considered buying a classic saltbox-style cabin with a central chimney and two-story frontage that slopes sharply to the rear, she quickly found most were dark and needed serious renovation.</p>
<p id="7IKL7J">"Because I was buying a cabin on my own, I wanted something small and easy, not to spend my weekends working on an old, falling-down kind of place," she says. "I’d been to this area once before for their July 4 celebration with a mini tractor parade, but when I saw the Shack I didn’t realize Narrowsburg was the closest town."</p>
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<p id="yG3Cbg">At the same time as the ink was drying on the deal, Picot was starting up her homewares brand, Thing Industries. Over her years of moving around and setting up different apartments in New York and London she had seen a gap in the market for smart, space-saving pieces designed with itinerant living in mind.</p>
<p id="6aLpMm">Thing Industries’ witty, whimsical first collection officially launched at the 2013 edition of the ICFF, and Picot has showcased subsequent collections at the Site Unseen Offsite show, which often feature collaborations with other makers and designers, including Helen Levi, Lazy Mom, and Amanda Jasnowski.</p>
<p id="1jnUV7">There’s a clear point of reference between the moment she bought her first house in the USA and founding the business. One of her favorite occupations quickly became puttering around the Shack on weekends and designing small "things" that made best use of the limited space—in fact, one of her most popular products, a wall-mounted "Birdhouse" bookshelf with a pitched roof that holds your place, even resembles the cabin.</p>
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<p id="VJRmmL">"I don’t remember which came first, actually," she laughs. "But what I found when I bought the Shack was that everything in my price range was either badly made or took itself far too seriously. My approach to design is based on an awareness of space, and ensuring the Things serve more than one purpose. They are neutral in the sense that they can be styled or work in different ways. For example, the <a href="http://www.thingindustries.com/collections/all/products/upside-down-shelf">Upside Down Shelf</a> is a mini display shelf that could be decorative or hold things in the bathroom, and it has soft edges so it can’t catch on your sweater if it’s in a tight space."</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="IfE0ef">Picot recently recently launched Thing’s third collection, and another collaboration, this time with New Zealand fashion designer Kate Sylvester, is poised for September.</p>
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<h3 id="2PurRh">Watch: Decor tips for living in a tiny cottage</h3>
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<div class="caption">Bridie Picot poses in the living room of her 502-square-foot cabin next to a print purchased from <a href="http://www.graffitiprints.com/artist/pure-evil/">Pure Evil</a>.</div>
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https://ny.curbed.com/2016/8/15/12417864/home-tour-new-york-narrowsburg-bridie-picot-thing-industriessameichblatt07003452016-08-01T09:30:03-04:002016-08-01T09:30:03-04:00Modern house rises in historic Tennessee neighborhood
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<figcaption><a href='http://www.gievesanderson.com/#1'>Photography by Gieves Anderson</a></figcaption>
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<p>How one couple made design-nice with their neighbors in Little Hollywood</p> <p>Every week, our House Calls feature takes you into homes with great style, big personality, and ineffable soul. Today we go inside the Nashville home of Brandon Miller and Jenn Yadon. This couple bucked convention and built a very modern home in one of the city’s revered historic neighborhoods. With the help of another couple, architect David Baird and interior designer Marcelle Guilbeau, they made a house so at home in its surroundings, it won an award.</p>
<p id="AOltHt">It’s not every day you see a very modern house win a prize from an organization dedicated to preserving historic character, but the home of Miller and Yadon is not your ordinary dwelling.</p>
<p id="9UkAxQ">The couple built their dream home in Nashville’s Little Hollywood neighborhood. The East Nashville community is populated with Spanish Mediterranean-inspired houses built in the 1930s and 1940s. Many of them feature stucco and flat roofs, giving the area a feel that’s more Golden State than Volunteer State, hence the nickname.</p>
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<figcaption>Art is an important part of the household, and it’s showcased in the entry. A painting called <em>Soul Brother 007</em> by Thomas Saliot hangs above a vintage Eames Eiffel bench. A pair of artworks called <em>Holder </em>were sourced through the <a href="http://davidluskgallery.com/">David Lusk Gallery</a>.</figcaption>
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<p id="SlSjYB">When building a new house in a historic district like this, modern might not be the first aesthetic to come to mind. But the couple had longed for a contemporary home since they left their newlywed digs, a loft in downtown Nashville. They loved the location, the look, and the feel of Little Hollywood, but they desired a 21st-century house for their growing family. They turned to Baird and Guilbeau, partners in life and at <a href="http://www.building-ideas.net/index.html">Building Ideas</a>, for an answer.</p>
<p id="jS4Gls">It wasn’t the first time the quartet had collaborated. The architect and designer worked on the Miller-Yadon family’s previous house, a much more traditional residence due to the context of the neighborhood. This time around, Baird believed that they could go much more modern, because of the lines of the existing homes. "The Mediterraneans there are blocky with flat roofs," he says. When, in his mind’s eye, he stripped them of their Spanish ornamentation, he saw the simple forms that inspired the design for the new home.</p>
<p id="77pu4X">"The new house is fairly simple, with a flat roof, a stucco exterior, and a large wooden trellis," Baird says. "It seems in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood."</p>
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<figcaption>Jenn Yadon sits between daughters Dylan (left) and Townes (right) in the living room. The sofa is from <a href="http://www.roomandboard.com">Room & Board</a>; the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/http://www.dwr.com/living-accent-coffee-tables/atlas-coffee-table/451.html?lang=en_US" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Atlas table</a> is from Design Within Reach, and the rug was purchased at <a href="http://shrugs.com">S&H Rugs</a>.</figcaption>
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<p>So in keeping, in fact, that the architect won a design award from the Metropolitan Historic Zoning Commission, a division of the Nashville Planning Department. Of course, accolades weren't the goal when designing the structure. Baird says the aim was to create the home his clients wanted in a style that wouldn't give commission members "heartburn." The approval process took six months.</p>
<p>Yadon says reasons for creating the home were to give the family more square footage and a better layout. At 4,100 square feet, their house is bigger than most of its neighbors, which hover in the 2,000-square-foot zone. Baird made the larger home look smaller by stepping it back. A trellis in the front lines up with the roof of the next door neighbor, and the upper story is set back from that. "Most people are surprised to see how large it is on the inside," says Baird. "From the outside, it appears smaller."</p>
<p id="OvyVXf">The exterior relates to the classic lines of the neighborhood, so it makes sense to carry echoes of a Spanish-Mediterranean aesthetic inside. Those historic notes include a rustic wood floor and ceiling that warm the space. They mingle with contemporary features such as concrete floors and a largely open floor plan. In other words, it’s a balancing act.</p>
<p id="91hXXn">"When it comes to modernism, I am into the warmer midcentury look. I like symmetry, clean lines, and no knickknacks; but I do like a place that feels like a home," Yadon says. "Brandon prefers a more stark modern look with no frills, curtains, or pillows. Marcelle helped us find a middle ground."</p>
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<cite>Photo by <a href="http://www.gievesanderson.com/#1">Gieves Anderson</a></cite>
<figcaption>Yadon says that in their home, as in homes across America, the kitchen is the gathering hot spot. A long table (its base is from <a href="http://www.roomandboard.com/?Camp=knc_brand&gclid=Cj0KEQjwlNy8BRC676-W0JezxbwBEiQA4Ydg0ZYRrrg82DxUnlNn6Mm-2V4YuxBWZO31CFbN6TtSzpgaAnXx8P8HAQ">Room & Board</a> with a fabricated-to-order marble top) and a supersize island makes entertaining a crowd comfortable. The tile is thin glazed brick from <a href="https://www.fireclaytile.com/brick/">Fireclay</a>.</figcaption>
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<p id="eJEgF9">That midpoint between warm and stark modern includes features like an entry with gallery-white walls and contemporary art, a long marble kitchen table that relies on a pillow laden wooden bench for seating, and bed enshrouded with ceiling-hung curtains for a fresh take on a canopy bed.</p>
<p id="As83Qt">"We call the style Modern Mission," says Yadon. "We wanted it to be sharp, but a bit soft; timeless and warm; cozy, but without a lot of stuff."</p>
<p id="2Li6Bg">Add to the mix two other priorities: Spaces designed for (and tough enough to stand up to) gatherings and kids. Children were actually the impetus for the project. The couple started considering a new house when their second daughter was born (Dylan is now six, Townes is three).</p>
<p id="l6b3Eb">"We wanted furniture we could truly live on," Yadon says. "For example, we wanted fabrics that a child could make a mess on and we wouldn’t be devastated. We aren’t the kind of family to have chairs we can’t actually sit on or finishes that are so precious you have to be careful with them. We have a home that’s for living."</p>
<p id="iQY9Mb">And that living, in part, includes having family and friends over often. In addition to frequent visits by their parents, this family uses happenings as a cause for gatherings. "It seems like most of our guests come for some kind of event—Super Bowl, World Cup, or the Oscars," Yadon says. "Once here, they break into two camps; those who want to watch the event in the media room, and those who could care less and want to socialize and congregate in the kitchen. In this house, we installed a barn door between the two rooms. That avoids an audio battle between the television and the talking, because we can close the areas off."</p>
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<figcaption>Yadon wanted a modern take on a canopy bed, and found ceiling-hung curtain rods on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a> to create a draped effect. Curtains are from <a href="https://www.restorationhardware.com/">Restoration Hardware</a>, the rug is a vintage Oushak from <a href="http://persianhomedecor.com/">Persian Home Décor</a>, and the side tables are from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.westelm.com%2F%3FKenshoo%3D69beca3c-dbcc-4582-a5c1-7b9d307638e9%26cm_ven%3DBrandSearch%26cm_cat%3DGoogle%26cm_pla%3DBrand_Search_Exact%26cm_ite%3Dwest%2520elm%26gclid%3DCj0KEQjwlNy8BRC676-W0JezxbwBEiQA4Ydg0eRCBdPURetoK3edtVa71qaZSsVtmk8_1HQRD76UU84aAr0q8P8HAQ&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F8%2F1%2F12278632%2Fhome-tour-nashville-tennessee-david-baird-marcelle-guilbeau" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">West Elm</a>.</figcaption>
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<p id="kRJOda">The question that remains: What does the community think? Given the building approval and ensuing award, you have to believe planning officials embraced the idea of a 21st century home in a early 20th century neighborhood, but how do the residents feel about the concept?</p>
<p id="z10C7A">Yadon allows that contemporary isn’t the prevailing look in Nashville. "Styles are changing as the city has more transplants, but still most builders are creating classic homes," she says.</p>
<p id="zxKqDA">That said, she notes their home has generated a lot more curiosity and compliments than complaints. "We actually get letters in the mail that tell us that the house is cool and ask about the building materials," she says. "We also have cars stopping and people taking photos of it. Of course, there are some people who don’t like the style. And that’s the thing about style, everyone has their own."</p>
<p id="DsSYwh">But as far as this family and the city’s Historic Zoning Commission is concerned, there’s a new star in Little Hollywood.</p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/8/1/12278632/home-tour-nashville-tennessee-david-baird-marcelle-guilbeauMary Jo Bowling2016-07-18T09:30:02-04:002016-07-18T09:30:02-04:00A furniture designer turns ailing midcentury cabin into rustic family retreat
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<figcaption><a href='www.ballandalbanese.com'>Photography by Ball&Albanese</a></figcaption>
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<p>Furniture designer Ben Erickson turns a ramshackle cabin into a refined rustic retreat</p> <p></p>
<p id="JVU4JY"><em>Every week, our House Calls feature takes you into homes with great style, big personality, and ineffable soul. Today we look at Ben Erickson’s weekend home in Montague Township, New Jersey, where </em><a href="http://www.ericksonaesthetics.com/"><em>the furniture designer</em></a><em> has created a rustic family retreat near High Point State Park and on the bank of a pond teeming with bullfrogs.</em></p>
<p class="p--has-dropcap p-large-text" id="tN5iU0">During the week, Ben Erickson, his partner Ayana Leonard, and their son August live in the <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/neighborhood/1333/bed-stuy">Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood</a> of Brooklyn, but on the weekends they make a pilgrimage to the wilderness of northern New Jersey. It’s merely a two-hour drive, but the lifestyle and mindset are a world away.</p>
<p id="NHsrwY">In Bed-Stuy, the family lives in a brownstone on a street where the background noise is composed of hip-hop and reggae music wafting from the windows of passing cars and the wail of fire truck sirens. Looking out their front windows, they see a row of brownstones across the street that mirrors their own home. "In our New Jersey house, it’s the polar opposite. It’s total country living," says Erickson. "Here, it’s just the sounds of pure wildlife. We see and hear woodpeckers, turkeys, deer—even bears are fairly common. At night, there’s a chorus of bullfrogs from the pond."</p>
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<figcaption>If asked his name, Ben Erickson's five-year-old son generally provides a full answer: "August Khali Erickson." Seen here on his dad's shoulders, August is experiencing all country life has to offer. "I want him to have the kind of childhood kids had generations ago here," his father says.</figcaption>
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<p id="qBqrsG">How they got there, and how they turned a dilapidated sauna into a modern-yet-rugged cabin, springs from the wish of his once-hippie mother.</p>
<p id="Z2lH00"><a style="width: 300px; float: right; margin-left: 20px;" href="http://www.curbed.com/furniture-week"> <img src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6804701/furniture-week-logo.0.jpg"> </a></p>
<p id="HFPe5P">"When I was born, she and my dad were hippies in Vermont," Erickson says. "They raised me in Hackettstown, New Jersey, but I think she always wanted to get back to the land." That desire led her on a year-long search for a wilderness property she could share with her family. With her son’s help, she looked in the Catskills and Upstate New York, before she discovered this property: a wooded, 30-acre plot Erickson describes as being "in the middle of nowhere."</p>
<p id="9Vi33A">Besides natural beauty and plenty of wildlife, the property included a rundown cabin with a sauna in the back that was built in the 1950s or 1960s. It was here Erickson decided to stake a claim for his family.</p>
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<figcaption>The bedroom shows the blend of old and new that exists here, as well as Erickson's craftsmanship. The knotty pine paneling and the beams on the ceiling are original to the structure. Erickson created the headboard from a slab of hackberry wood, he designed the <a href="http://www.ericksonaesthetics.com/xx-ottoman/">ottomans</a> at the foot of the bed, and he reimagined the vintage bedside tables. The matte white paint is by <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.benjaminmoore.com%2Fen-us%2Fwelcome-to-benjamin-moore&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F18%2F12159804%2Fhome-tour-midcentury-cabin-new-jersey-ben-erickson" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore</a>.</figcaption>
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<p id="KD9UQj">His plans for the one-bedroom, one-bathroom, 850-square-foot structure preserved the spirit of the building but advanced its aesthetic far into the wilds of modern territory. "I wanted something minimal and severe, nothing predictable," says Erickson. "That’s just my style; I gravitate away from the run of the mill." (After all, this is a designer who created <a href="http://www.ericksonaesthetics.com/wormhole/">Wormhole</a>, a hand-polished brass coffee table that's a 3D representation of a wormhole diagram discovered in an old physics textbook.)</p>
<p id="20spie">In this case, that unconventional thinking translates to a house that’s black on the outside and white on the inside with a deck that unfurls into the landscape.</p>
<p id="sY0rQq">The first step was to make the place less knotty, in other words, remove much of the knotty pine panelling. A lot of Erickson’s furniture is wood, and he loves the material. "But there can definitely be too much of it, and it can get predictable, heavy, and dark," he says. "I felt like the furniture and art would pop if we put it against a calmer background." He covered the highly textured panelling with drywall, but he left the ceiling and the beams above alone. He repurposed the paneling as molding throughout the house.</p>
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<figcaption>"If a chair is not functional, it's just an object," says Erickson. From left: <span>His </span><a style="text-align: inherit;" href="http://www.ericksonaesthetics.com/lounge-chair/">lounge chairs</a><span> are comfortable and attractive; a version of his </span><a style="text-align: inherit;" href="http://www.ericksonaesthetics.com/tripod-stool/">tripod stool</a><span> (a take on a three-legged stool) involves traditional lines and a touch of metal; metal also makes an appearance on the lounge chair.</span> </figcaption>
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<p id="dIcooc">In the living room, Erickson’s love of making furniture, collecting vintage finds, and art is on display. A tufted sofa, scored at an estate sale, is fronted by a custom-made live-edge table and two EÆ (<a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.ericksonaesthetics.com/home/">Erickson Aesthetics</a>) <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.ericksonaesthetics.com/lounge-chair/nux54nkw5clovap0sfdnj8htd90gmi">lounge chairs</a>. The angle of a crane-like light fixture (Erickson calls it a Jean Prouvé knockoff) matches the lines of the ceiling.</p>
<p id="HVmyHo">Large sliding doors reveal a deck without rails that melts into the green landscape. "I wanted it to disappear, to make the indoors and outdoors seamless," says Erickson.</p>
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<p id="kHCVOz">In the adjacent kitchen, the designer created an island from a vintage grand piano with a square case that he restored and topped with marble. "It was a 100-year-old piano I found at an estate sale," he says. "I built the whole kitchen around it, sourcing Brazilian Rosewood veneer for the cabinets to match the piano." When asked if he knew he would use the piano for this purpose, Erickson laughs and says: "No, I didn’t. I’ve had it for a long, long time. I didn’t know what I’d do with it, I just knew I liked it."</p>
<p id="sm66BC">In the bedroom, Erickson, who also does a lot of custom work, created a massive headboard out of a piece of spalted hackberry wood. "Spalted" refers to the gray lines caused by fungus that grows when a tree starts to decay. "When a piece of wood like that is milled, it causes crazy lines and textures," says Erickson.</p>
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<figcaption>Left: To match the color and texture of the spalted hackberry headboard, Erickson refinished a pair of vintage side tables and refaced their drawers with walnut veneer. Right: A midcentury armoire and an antique Kilim rug provide style, storage, and comfort.</figcaption>
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<figcaption>A rotting sauna became the site of the modern bathroom. From left: The sculptural tub sits against the back of the fieldstone fireplace; <span>a rug, an African mudcloth, and an antique stool add "graphic and bold" notes; Erickson carved a sink from a walnut slab and had it sealed to last. The mirror is from </span><a style="text-align: inherit;" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ikea.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fcatalog%2Fproducts%2F30289387%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F18%2F12159804%2Fhome-tour-midcentury-cabin-new-jersey-ben-erickson" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ikea</a>.</figcaption>
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<p id="scegIO">The vintage nightstands have been bleached, refinished, and given French walnut drawer faces by the designer to better match the new headboard. At the foot of the bed, the couple placed a pair of <a href="http://www.ericksonaesthetics.com/xx-ottoman/">EÆ XX ottomans</a> he created that can fold into magazine racks.</p>
<p id="aH9RXM">The bathroom was once the sauna, and it was in an extreme state of disrepair. "My vision for this space was a chic minimalism," says Erickson. He added a poured concrete floor, striated white oak marble tiles, and a large skylight. The crowning glory is a sink carved out of a slab of wood. To make it stand up to water, he had it coated with polyester resin. "It’s held up beautifully," he notes.</p>
<p id="qckLCL">The family’s love for the cabin is also built to last. One of the biggest benefits for Erickson is that he gets to see his son grow up in nature. "It’s important to me that he have the kind of childhood that kids had generations ago," he says. "I want him to experience grass stains, bug bites, and finding a snake."</p>
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<figcaption>Erickson (seen here with August) says that the remote location (the driveway alone is a quarter of a mile long) makes unplugging easy. "I rarely take phone calls or look at emails here," he says. Instead they spend time together with family and friends.</figcaption>
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<p id="sMnA9r">Equally as important is the chance for the couple to relax into the environment. "I find that my design thinking has shifted a bit since we’ve lived here," Erickson says. "I’m looking at making furniture with the capability of living indoors or outdoors, things that have multiple uses and span two spaces."</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="fgSjiy">And, while there are definitely four seasons here, for the family it’s a year-round retreat. "I love the balance of city life and country life," says Erickson. "I love the culture of Brooklyn, it’s phenomenal. But I also love the privacy, fresh air, and nature up here. I don’t believe in cliches or live my life by them, but it’s true that it’s the best of both worlds."</p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/7/18/12159804/home-tour-midcentury-cabin-new-jersey-ben-ericksonMary Jo Bowling2016-07-11T09:33:04-04:002016-07-11T09:33:04-04:00Modern meets classic in an eclectic Brooklyn home
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<p>A lifestyle maven keeps it real—and simple—in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood</p> <p id="JAebfD">Every week, our House Calls feature takes you into homes with great style, big personality, and ineffable soul. Today we look at <a href="http://carlosays.com/carlo/">Carlo Geraci’s</a> home in Brooklyn, where the tastemaker has made good living his art form.</p>
<p id="7b9dPh">Carlo Geraci sits for an interview fresh from the roughly seven-hour flight from London to New York City, but he’s far from jetlagged. The tastemaker and lifestyle expert was doing the makeup for a wedding party in the British countryside and, judging from his bio and the offhand way he mentions the event, it’s not an uncommon assignment. At any rate, he has a foolproof anti-jetlag formula. "I take a 4 p.m. flight out of London, and arrive about 7 p.m. I force myself to stay up until 11 or so, and then I go to bed," he says. "I get up and I feel fine."</p>
<p id="kdp2iY">That’s just one of the many tips Geraci drops during a conversation. He is a font of answers for seemingly any question surrounding his specialties: dwelling, table (food, settings, and flowers), and beauty. Those are the cornerstones of his business, <a href="http://carlosays.com/">Carlo Says</a>, and the foundation for his pleasant Park Slope loft apartment and garden.</p>
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<figcaption>"Everything that comes into my apartment is something I love," says Geraci. "I don't like placeholders." He entertains at a <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/http://www.dwr.com/dining-tables/saarinen-oval-dining-table/7202.html?lang=en_US#lang=en_US&start=1" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Saarinen oval dining table</a> surrounded by <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/http://www.dwr.com/dining-chairs-and-stools/bertoia-side-chair/6859.html?lang=en_US" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Bertoia chairs </a>he had powder coated with a soft gray color.</figcaption>
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<p id="uFZ8Dd">He arrived at both his profession and residence by chance. "I decided at a very young age that I only wanted to work doing something I absolutely love," Geraci says. "I didn’t want to work in something like finance or accounting, sitting at a desk and looking at numbers all day. I wanted to do something creative." He learned about food, gardening, and entertaining from his Mexican-Italian family, and an adoring Italian landlord he grew up calling Nana. "She didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak Italian, but we had a kindred relationship," he says. "She would start cooking shortly after 4 a.m., and the family would come by in shifts for bread, pasta, and pizza. She didn’t stop cooking until she died at age 83."</p>
<p id="TPZYge">Eschewing college ("I was never that into the curriculum."), he went to San Francisco where he studied makeup artistry under one of the city’s cosmetics divas, and later went to beauty school. Eventually, he was written up for his skills in <em>Allure</em> magazine, and that nugget of fame sent him to New York, where he had long wanted to live.</p>
<p id="gDBCix">In the years that followed, he worked in beauty at Barney’s and built a loyal and celebrity-studded clientele who followed his advice on makeup and eventually started asking him about his ideas for flowers, food, interiors, and entertaining. In 2007, he launched <a href="http://carlosays.com/">Carlo Says</a> to address a variety of aesthetic needs. "I would hear my clients talking and they would say ‘Carlo says to do this...’ and ‘Carlo says to buy that...’, so I decided to use the phrase for my business name," Geraci explains.</p>
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<figcaption>Geraci knew from a young age he wasn't cut out for a desk job. Instead, he's made a career of making things, people, and experiences beautiful.</figcaption>
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<p id="FVeUjW">Around that time, his Upper West Side apartment building was sold, and he needed housing. A client offered up an apartment in Brooklyn’s Park Slope. "She kept telling me it was a hot neighborhood, but I didn’t want to make the commute," he says. "Eventually, I decided I’d try it out for a year, and that was 11 years ago."</p>
<p id="IjDfMv">What lured him across the bridge was the interior space and outdoor area, although it was merely a patch of dirt when he moved in. "I knew I’d never find something like it in Manhattan," he says.</p>
<p id="7rZZlQ">He set about fixing up and decorating the three-level unit as if he were the owner rather than a tenant. "I have put a lot of effort and money into my apartment. I may not own it, but it’s my home and it is important that I feel comfortable where I live," he says.</p>
<p id="IaxgD3">He started by painting the place. "By painting it, I get to know it," he says. "You see how the light moves across the space." After a few tries with other shades, he’s settled on <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.benjaminmoore.com%2Fen-us%2Fpaint-color%2Fantiquepewter&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fny.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F11%2F12118148%2Fhome-tour-brooklyn-new-york-apartment-carlo-geraci" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore’s Antique Pewter</a> (Carlo says: Remember the name of your paint color by writing it behind a light switch in the room). He sealed the exposed brick to make the masonry’s hue richer and keep the mortar from crumbling.</p>
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<figcaption>Left: Geraci loves to entertain, and keeps the necessities for basic cocktails on hand at all times. Of this liquor cabinet, he says the party begins when the doors open. Right: He likes to use black as a grounding element, he painted the newel post and bannister in a dark shade.</figcaption>
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<figcaption>This vintage Grundig stereo system still works. "I was just playing some Nina Simone when you called," Geraci told us.</figcaption>
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<p id="Pbv4QX">He furnished the space with an eclectic mix of modern and classic pieces. "My style is warm, inviting, and comfortable," he says. In the living room, "eclectic" includes antiques, vintage, and new pieces living together. A 10-foot-tall antique mirror (he obtained it in a trade with a client) leans against an expanse of brick. A vintage midcentury leather-and-walnut chair (Carlo says: Only clean wood with furniture oil, such as Howard's Feed-N-Wax), and a contemporary sofa sit around a Regency brass-and-glass table.</p>
<p id="HTBCuI">In this room, a fully stocked midcentury modern bar is at the ready. The Danish piece is sober wood on the outside and lined with glitzy mirrored panes on the inside. "When the doors open, the party starts," says Geraci. When it comes to cocktails, or anything really, he likes it simple, and he keeps the ingredients for classic Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and martinis at the ready. In fact, spontaneous gatherings are one of his ways of life. "I love to entertain," he says. "I find preparing for a gathering of 10 or 12 people very relaxing." (Carlo says: Tonics from the Jack Rudy Cocktail Company can elevate a simple cocktail to a sublime drink.)</p>
<p id="aK1fkV">The bar itself was discovered at a store called <a href="http://www.horsemanantiques.net/home.php">Horseman Antiques</a>. "My friends joke and say that they go into thrift and antique stores and see dusty boxes of stuff, and I go in and come out with gorgeous things," he says.</p>
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<figcaption>Geraci is known for making a flawless bed (his trick is to use very, very slightly damp sheets, fresh out of the dryer). "I used to buy fancy, very expensive sheets," he says. "But I’ve found the brand doesn’t matter, it’s a high thread count that counts." The bed linens are from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.macys.com%2Fshop%2Fbed-bath%2Fcharter-club-bedding-bath%3Fid%3D7515&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fny.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F11%2F12118148%2Fhome-tour-brooklyn-new-york-apartment-carlo-geraci" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Charter Club</a>, the bed frame is from <a href="https://parachutehome.sjv.io/c/482924/1110616/14093?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.parachutehome.com&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Parachute.</a> </figcaption>
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<p id="6Fsr9Y">One thing that’s constant in the space is change. "I have different linens, tableware, and pillows for each season," he says. "In warm weather, the fabrics and colors are light; in the winter they are darker and heavier." Seen on the sofa are the summer pillows. (Carlo says: Keep the pillow label inside the case. If something is spilled on it and you need to replace it, you’ll have the manufacturer information close at hand.)</p>
<p id="6uzro9">Upstairs, Geraci removed carpet and installed a hardwood floor, being careful to match the existing floor downstairs. "The key is to check everything with the landlord," he says. "I feel that I’ve only made the space better, and she loves what I’ve done."</p>
<p id="LvCo3E">Many people ask Geraci how he keeps his bed perfectly made and, of course, he has a tip. Carlo says: Dry the sheets to the point where they are dryer than damp; they are simply humid. Make the bed with the sheets in this condition and smooth them out. If there is an odd wrinkle, iron it out in place with an iron on the lowest medium setting. The result is a photo-worthy bed.</p>
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<figcaption>Geraci removed the upper cabinets and installed shelves. The room is painted an off-white called <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.benjaminmoore.com%2Fen-us%2Fpaint-color%2Fwindsbreath&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fny.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F11%2F12118148%2Fhome-tour-brooklyn-new-york-apartment-carlo-geraci" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Wind’s Breath by Benjamin Moore</a>.</figcaption>
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<p id="bqHxVA">Downstairs, in the kitchen, Geraci removed the upper cabinets in favor of shelves, and retiled the countertop and floor. The space is decorated with a framed dishtowel from Italy, Fornasetti plates, and (in the adjacent entry hall) <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.areaware.com%2Fproducts%2Fbestow-hand-hook&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fny.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F11%2F12118148%2Fhome-tour-brooklyn-new-york-apartment-carlo-geraci" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">hand-shaped coat hooks</a> by Areaware that act as sculpture when empty.</p>
<p id="cplQM9">Perhaps the star of the show is the garden, the aforementioned dirt plot. "That was a key selling point for the place, I really wanted to transform it," says Geraci. He started by hiring someone to help him cut down some ailing trees and excavate and remove years of broken bottles and other junk. Once the space was flooded with light, it started to come alive as long-dormant plants blossomed, and he added more.</p>
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<figcaption><span>Geraci wasn't ready to leave Manhattan, but the chance to rehab this garden tempted him. A decade ago, it was merely a dirt patch. After years of care, it's an urban paradise.</span></figcaption>
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<figcaption>Left: A potting table also makes a great serving buffet. Right: An herb garden in containers provides the flavor for food and cocktails.</figcaption>
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<p id="qzgJNM">The clearing of the lot unearthed large pieces of flagstone, which he had installed like pavers. Pea gravel makes up the rest of the "floor." A tiered herb garden in pots provides flavor for food and cocktails. A potting table is more often used as a buffet for the nearby table. "I didn’t really know much about gardening at first," Geraci says. "But I learned by asking a lot of questions at nurseries and at the <a href="http://www.chelseagardens.org/">Chelsea Botanical Gardens</a> and reading Martha Stewart books and magazines."</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="X77NZT">Looking at the time and work that’s been put into the project, you have to ask: Would he regret the effort if he had to leave? "Not at all, it’s been totally worth it," he says. "I sometimes wonder about how I would feel if I had to move, or if I decided to live in Europe for a bit. If something like that happened, I wouldn’t regret a thing. I can’t tell you how much money I’ve spent on things I can’t take with me. But if I had to leave it behind, I’d go feeling like it was a job well done and that I enjoyed every day of my life here."</p>
https://ny.curbed.com/2016/7/11/12118148/home-tour-brooklyn-new-york-apartment-carlo-geraciMary Jo Bowling2016-07-05T10:00:03-04:002016-07-05T10:00:03-04:00Midcentury meets maritime at Rhode Island home
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<figcaption><a href='http://www.vancrafted.us'>Photography by Kelly Shea of Vancrafted Studios</a></figcaption>
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<p>After an epic road trip, Kelly Shea and Brendan Banks found the simple life</p> <p>Every week, our <a href="http://www.curbed.com/home-tours">House Calls</a> feature takes you into homes with great style, big personality, and ineffable soul. Today we look at the Watch Hill, Rhode Island, home belonging to Kelly Shea and Brendan Banks, a couple who took the long way (15,000 miles, to be exact) to get there.</p>
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<figcaption>Kelly Shea and Brendan Banks were drawn to the classic New England shingle style and the garden that surrounds their current home. The apartment in the building’s lower level met their most important criteria: It was near the beach and a few hours from New York City.</figcaption>
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<p id="0fLvAW">Kelly Shea and Brendan Banks's journey is quite a story. The preface was written in New York City two years ago, when Banks, in a move straight out of a romantic Rob Reiner film, knocked on Shea’s door without warning and proposed that they buy a van, see the country, and "tell stories that we are proud of." Shea agreed on the spot.</p>
<p id="oJ5e8G">The couple (he's a filmmaker, she left a corporate job at Ralph Lauren to become an art director and writer), purchased and restored a 1984 Volkswagen van (it was rickety and worn, and the curtains fell apart in their hands) and set off with no clearer plan than to travel the country in a counter-clockwise pattern and document the experience. "We did want to see as many of the national parks as possible," says Shea.</p>
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<figcaption>Shea (left) and Banks (right) say that living near green spaces and the ocean are things they "love and value."</figcaption>
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<p id="Uf9LQG">Six months and countless campfires and fly fishing expeditions later, they had explored a good portion of the United States and learned to live the slow life (in a van whose top speed is 65 miles per hour, there’s little choice). They decided to continue that lifestyle in Rhode Island, where the creative spark for the trip was born months before as they explored a cold and windy beach.</p>
<p id="T7vihQ">"I grew up in Newport, Rhode Island, and frankly, the state is last place I thought I would end up," says Shea. "But we wanted to live within three hours of New York City, where we could keep collaborating with creative people we’d worked with before."</p>
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<figcaption>"What really drew me to this place was the water access," says Shea. "Our backyard is very close to the cove, and within minutes we can be paddle boarding or boating."</figcaption>
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<p id="bA9QyF">After landing in temporary housing, they secured their current apartment on the lower floor of a classic shingle house in Watch Hill. "We loved the clean white walls, the hardwood floors, and the old architectural details," says Shea. "We thought the screened-in porch and all the greenery outside was wonderful."</p>
<p id="rHnwEW">After so long on the road, they were mentally ready for a home base, but their furniture and accessories coffers were empty. "I had gotten rid of most of my stuff, but I did have a love seat and a mattress," says Banks. Shea adds: "I had no furniture, just a mirror."</p>
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<figcaption>Left: A friend made the easel that acts as an art stand. The <a href="http://sanborncanoe.com/">Sandborn Canoe Company</a> paddles are decorative and functional. Middle: A driftwood wall vase from <a href="http://mainland-studio.com">Mainland Studio</a> accents some of the couple's art collection. Right: A thrift-store-find clock covers the vent for a wood stove.</figcaption>
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<p id="KW9eSN">Around this time, the couple decided to launch a design and content production company called <a href="http://www.vancraftedstudios.com">Vancrafted Studios</a> in homage to their epic road trip. At the same time, there was a private collaboration at home: They had to furnish their place. "Initially, we needed a lot things," says Banks. "But we used a lot of Craigslist placeholders until we found the right pieces."</p>
<p id="YTgScS">"We wanted to have a cozy feeling and we wanted to use some coastal elements, but we both like clean, modern lines," says Shea. "After seeing our place, one of our friends dubbed the style ‘midcentury modern clam shack.’"</p>
<p id="Ya1umF">In a space where modern chairs and antiques mingle, the moniker is an apt one. For example, in the living room, a brand-new sofa, a vintage midcentury chair, an antique cobbler’s bench reborn as a coffee table, and a couple of oars (used for both decoration and canoeing) furnish the space.</p>
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<figcaption>When Shea couldn’t find nightstands to fit the tight spaces on either side of the bed, she made her own. The linens and sconces are from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ikea.com%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F5%2F12031422%2Fhome-tour-new-england-rhode-island-watch-hill" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ikea</a>.</figcaption>
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<p id="erc71i">In the bedroom, a duvet crafted from a simple ticking fabric is flanked by side tables made by Shea in her father’s garage workshop. "Kelly has a way of making things and making things work," Banks says.</p>
<p id="63AWVV">They made the existing vintage kitchen theirs with personal touches. "We put an eclectic mix of accessories on the shelves," says Shea. "We have a copper antique bowl, a candlestick made of marble from the quarry where the material for Michelangelo’s <em>David</em> came from, and lots of cookbooks." Plants decorate the kitchen and other parts of the home. Shea says it’s their way of bringing the outdoors inside.</p>
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<figcaption>Plants in the kitchen and elsewhere are Shea's way of bringing the outdoors inside. The couple painted the kitchen a color called <a href="http://m.valsparpaint.com/color-detail.php?id=70494&g=70015">Biscuit Crumbs</a> by Valspar.</figcaption>
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<figcaption>The screened-in porch is a fresh-air living room, dining room, and sometimes office. "In the summer, it's a lovely place to have breakfast," Shea says. "At night, it's a magical place to relax—without the bugs."</figcaption>
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<p id="vfeXjL">Inside and outside are almost indistinguishable on the screened-in porch, a big selling point at the time of the lease signing and currently a favorite. "The previous tenants left the glass table, and we sanded and stained the base and surrounded it with white chairs," says Shea. "We love to sit out here and look at the sky and greenery." In the summer, the space serves as a place to relax, eat, and work.</p>
<p class="c-end-para">The all-American look might bring to mind the classic aesthetic of Ralph Lauren, Shea’s former employer, but she considers her own past to be the biggest inspiration. "Growing up in the Northeast was my influence," she says. "Living in the van also shaped the look. It was a great practice in stoicism. Now we are devoted to living with less."</p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/7/5/12031422/home-tour-new-england-rhode-island-watch-hillMary Jo Bowling2016-06-29T06:30:00-04:002016-06-29T06:30:00-04:00An Oakland musician makes her home sing
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<figcaption><a href='http://www.carloschavarria.com/''>Photography by Carlos Chavarria</a></figcaption>
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<p>Zena Carlota’s household is a concert of instruments, travel artifacts, and vintage finds</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap p-large-text" id="xuPTvQ">Listening to Oakland, California, musician <a href="http://zenacarlota.com/#home">Zena Carlota</a> play the kora, a 21-string West African harp, is a hauntingly beautiful experience. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPi6nHS9PC8">melodic sound</a> of the instrument—which is handcrafted from wood, a large calabash gourd, and cowhide—is hard to describe, but it’s kind of like hearing a medieval European harp and an acoustic guitar perform a duet.</p>
<p id="wCp6Bm">”Although there’s only one person playing, it actually sounds like several instruments being played at the same time,” Carlota says. “It’s delicate, and intimate—it’s an angelic sound.”</p>
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<figcaption>Zena Carlota started playing the cello as a child, but found the kora later in life. She says that, upon hearing kora music on a record, her connection to it was both "sonic and emotional." Today, she has three koras, three ukuleles (one is seen here), and a single guitar.</figcaption>
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<p id="PTh9yy">A music concert is an apt analogy for the style and decoration of Carlota’s apartment, where three women (all of them creatives) came together under a year ago to make their home. Each roommate has her own discipline. Carlota is a musician and visual artist, Grace Kibreab is a designer, and her sister Esther Kibreab is a vocalist. When they signed the lease for the three-bedroom cottage near Mills College in Oakland, they each brought furniture, art, and the trappings of artistic lives (everything from a sewing machine to kora harps).</p>
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<figcaption>Working in a Los Angeles record store led Carlota to the kora and gave her a "deep respect" for vinyl.</figcaption>
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<p id="XPdEVX">"Honestly, we were really surprised when we moved in, because our stuff matches," Carlota says. "Grace went to design school, and she has impeccable taste. We talked about it, and then we went through every space and very intentionally placed everything."</p>
<p id="ESJn2a">With so many artists literally in residence, it’s natural that a creative salon would be planned for the living room. "I think one of the most important things for us was to create a great gathering space for friends and family. We wanted a living space that was cozy," Carlota says. "We've had a lovely dinner with traditional homemade Eritrean food, and because we have such a large music community that we are connected to, we are planning small house concerts."</p>
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<figcaption>Left: A rolling cart makes for mobile music. The vintage record player belongs to a roommate, but many of the wax tracks are Carlota's. Right: A tea cart shows the home's look in miniature: A little nature, some art, and vintage style.</figcaption>
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<figcaption>Left: When first viewing the apartment, the vintage range was something that drew the women. "When Esther saw it, she said that she could picture herself cooking here," says Carlota. Right: The lines and the comfort of the Victorian armchair are a magnet for many, and Carlota says it has frequently appeared on the Instagram feed of friends.</figcaption>
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<p id="KqvEvp">In fact, with three koras, three ukuleles (one electric), a guitar, and a pair of bongo drums, it looks like a performance could start at any moment. And while that might be the case, it’s also a decorating strategy. "I think the koras are beautiful, and I like to have them out where I can see them and they are accessible," she says. "I want my home to reflect to me what’s beautiful and inspiring in the world."</p>
<p id="mc4pFR">The kora has been inspiring the artist since she heard a snippet of its music while working in Los Angeles’s Amoeba Records. The sound of the instrument sent her on a journey that led to Gambia, where she studied the kora and its environment. "My first teacher taught me that the culture feeds into the music, that it’s not just the notes that are played—it’s the food that’s eaten, the stories told, and the customs and traditions that surround it."</p>
<p id="zjqZNV">The kora and its music aren't the only things that came back from West Africa with her; she’s filled her home with art from her journeys around the world. "My mother is an anthropologist, and she always brought back things from her travels that she had fallen in love with," Carlota says. "I also collect things from where I’ve been, like paintings from Haiti, baskets from Ethiopia, and embroidery from Panama."</p>
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<figcaption>The bedroom is Carlota’s personal realm, and she likes to keep it simple, dreamy, and peaceful. She eschews a bed frame for a mattress on the floor that’s partially draped by a mosquito net. "I like to sleep on the floor, or close to the floor," she says. Pillows from <a href="http://shaver-ramsey.com/default.asp">Krimsa</a>, indigo bedcover and macrame wall weaving by <a href="http://www.mirablackman.com">Mira Blackman</a>, dresser from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ikea.com%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fsf.curbed.com%2F2016%2F6%2F29%2F11996050%2Foakland-california-home-tour-apartment-zena-carlota" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ikea</a>.</figcaption>
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<figcaption>Left: The roommates bring the outdoors inside through nature imagery and branches and greenery from the surrounding gardens. Right: With three sculptural kora harps in her apartment, music is always close at hand for Carlota.</figcaption>
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<p id="Z6mwX0">She also gathers and displays items from the natural world closer to home, most of them uncovered on long hikes in the California wilderness. Her love of nature is one of the things that drew her to Oakland after living in Los Angeles and San Francisco. "It seemed like a refuge from the noise and busy-ness," she says. "I need quiet, and here I can hear the crickets and birds, because they aren’t drowned out by city noise."</p>
<p id="ITWzib">Carlota’s father and grandparents are from Oakland, and she grew up spending summers and holidays in the community. As an adult, the diversity and the culture drew her back. But, as the headlines have blared, the forces of gentrification have crossed the Bay Bridge, along with people seeking housing that (when compared to neighboring San Francisco) is more affordable.</p>
<p id="0NoQGv">"I’ve been lucky with my housing, but I’ve seen other artists and people who are trying to contribute lose their homes. We had a lot of people come from San Francisco because they couldn’t afford it. Now some of those people are wondering if they can afford Oakland," says Carlota. "With people being rapidly pushed out, it brings up the question of what’s next."</p>
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<figcaption>Left: Carlota's doll collection includes childhood favorites, cherished gifts, and travel souvenirs. Right: The owner of the property decorated the garden and building walls with colorful mosaics.</figcaption>
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<figcaption><span><span>Carlota says her home is a quiet refuge. The surrounding gardens ground her, and she loves to listen to the sounds of crickets and birds.</span></span></figcaption>
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<p id="1vLmYY">What Carlota would like to see is a balance that protects the diversity and artistic community that she cherishes. "Change and development don't have to be bad things—but now it comes at the expense of long time residents and the lives they've built here," she says. "I would encourage new people coming to the area to be mindful of the beautiful history that exists here, and to do their part to understand the people of Oakland, so they can fully appreciate and participate in the culture."</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="H4v7Nn">While societal tensions may roil outside her front door, the artist has created a peaceful haven inside her home. "We set out to make this a place for us, and for the people we love.</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2016/6/29/11996050/oakland-california-home-tour-apartment-zena-carlotaMary Jo Bowling