Around the Web
enter your email


powered by FeedBlitz

Around the Web
Design Sponge
May 27th, 2009
sneak peek: ann wood

annewoodpeek1
the super talented ann wood was sweet enough to share a special diy project with us, but now she’s back with an incredible sneak peek into her brooklyn home/studio near prospect park. ann typically works with vintage or salvaged materials for her work, describing the certain tenderness in the re-use and re-purposing of things that were once personal and perhaps treasured possessions. funny how the same can definitely be said for her home as well. i don’t know how you all feel, but to me, this peek into her home feels like a look into a mythical dream world (complete with castle!), so don’t miss additional images here. [thanks so much, ann!] -anne

[above: I started pinning lace and dissected antique garments to the linen drapes about a year ago, to keep track of tiny pieces and be aware of and inspired by what I have.  It has grown sort of accidentally into something I love.]

annewoodpeek2

I live and work  in a small place in Park Slope Brooklyn that I like very much. It is an ideal place for making birds and owls and bats and ships, cardboard castles and other things.

annewoodpeek3

The chest of drawers  was part of my father’s workshop.

annewoodpeek41

A  shipwreck on  a roiling, boiling, frothy sea of antique wedding gowns!  And a very old table, I found it last year at the Park Slope flea market  ( 7th Ave and between 1st and 2nd ) I love the curly legs and it was almost free.

annewoodpeek51

annewoodpeek6

The paper snowflakes  over my bed were cut by my friend David Doernberg .

annewoodpeek7

I can’t function without  a big bulletin board for reminders,  plans and  experiments.  The little pile of fabrics are wonderful vintage and antique kimono sleeves, a gift from Stephen Szczepanek.  The cake stand is made from  paper mache over an armature of cardboard and a bleach bottle..

annewoodpeek8

I store my patterns, buttons, tiny pine cones,  acorn caps and other important little things in business card boxes.

annewoodpeek9

I’ve had the little velvet lamb my whole life.

img_8182

Blog Widget by LinkWithin
121 comments
Kirsten said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:14 pm

My God, what a mess!

susie said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:17 pm

Awesome sneak peak! Lovely, lovely! Links to the additional photos doesn’t work…set to private.

May 27th, 2009 - 12:20 pm

Oh, wow, I love this sneak peek! It’s by far one of my favorite ever; it really helps me understand the working context of your aesthetic vision [and, I love your work; I wrote about it a few months ago!]. Thank you so much for sharing!

Jezebel said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:24 pm

Absolute, unadulterated magic.

Ashley said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:29 pm

The sneak peaks this week are blowing. me. away. This apartment is a giant ball of creativity!

cassandra said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:33 pm

what a completely dreamy space! i love the use of the old wedding gowns and the floating ships. like a grown-up fairly tale!

alyson said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:33 pm

I love that curtain so much!

nath said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:33 pm

i love ann’s work , and her living working creating space is just as i had imagined it! that cardboard castle is such a thing of beauty.

oh and i’d love to go flea market shopping with her!

May 27th, 2009 - 12:33 pm

LOVE it! OMG! Yeah…I keep scrolling over and over the pics! Just so much fun, personal, quirky…awesomeness. And the ships are just makin’ me swoon!

Allison said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:35 pm

Absolutely enchanting.

What a beautiful and inspiring space!

Ashley said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:37 pm

wow! I wanted to ask about every single little piece in there…like the teacup hanging over the bed? and the lamp on top of the old table (with the twisty legs). Oh, to live with all these beautiful treasures must be such a special treat.
Great Sneak Peak!

Paige said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:38 pm

I really love ann wood’s home. Also as a sneak peak I see someone living here. And I want to meet her. It’s not just a show home it’s beautiful, unique and lived in. Thank you for sharing.

Emma said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:51 pm

Her home reminds me of that Michel Gondry movie “The Science of Sleep.” Interesting and surreal.

Beth S said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:53 pm

:( the link to view additional images tells me the flickr page is private.

Jessica said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:59 pm

This is Wonderful Anne! The boats floating in the air make me happy. And i love seeing you your collections scattered through your space. I too need a bulletin board to hang everything i find, need, write down, if i see it, i remember and am inspired. That chest of drawers from your father is incredible.

Polly said:
May 27th, 2009 - 12:59 pm

Ahhh I love your home! It’s all so vintage and so very personal and creative. I love all the little things you have on your walls. I love pinning random little things up to inspire me. You are so lucky to have such beautifully high ceilings.
Did you make the cake stand? Could you possibly tell us how??
Polly R

Jem said:
May 27th, 2009 - 1:00 pm

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful work. I followed Ann’s link to her site and her creations are unique, quirky, and very lovely. Simply amazing!

judith banon said:
May 27th, 2009 - 1:02 pm

I love the dreamy delicacy and the creativity that thrives here. And the apartment’s original shutters (painted or dark, dark wood?) and plaster garland are tooo sweet. They find their match in your quirky mix of things. Your place is a fairy tale and yet so real-life! A definite switch from the Danish Modern look that often prevails here (which I love too!)

May 27th, 2009 - 1:13 pm

This space is like a creative floaty day dream. I love that is so unique and undefinable. The ships make me smiley.

May 27th, 2009 - 1:14 pm

Holy Mackerel! This is the most charming and delightful Sneak Peek ever! I love it… and have also very much enjoyed exploring Ann’s blog and etsy shop. So cool!!!

Sarah said:
May 27th, 2009 - 1:16 pm

The aesthetic reminds me a bit of The Science of Sleep (especially the ship on waves of fabric and the cardboard castle). There is so much great stuff going on in there!

enhabiten said:
May 27th, 2009 - 1:47 pm

one of my absolute favorites. i’m completely inspired.

judy said:
May 27th, 2009 - 1:54 pm

what a lovely and refreshingly unique apartment to feature on this blog. i love especially the hanging bats and the unmade bed. beautiiful.

May 27th, 2009 - 2:04 pm

i love this space! just looking at all these lovely photos makes me feel like creating something.

Eliza said:
May 27th, 2009 - 2:14 pm

so pretty and magical! and interesting.

katherine said:
May 27th, 2009 - 2:22 pm

this is absolutely my idea of heaven.

Mrs. Johnson said:
May 27th, 2009 - 2:23 pm

Nice apartment, Mrs. Wood!! XO

nic said:
May 27th, 2009 - 2:32 pm

the link to the additional images on flickr says, they are private? anything I missed, or is that a mistake?..

becky said:
May 27th, 2009 - 2:34 pm

Does she style Anthropologie catalogs? Some of the spaces remind me of they way they style their curtains/home accessories/furniture/linens. That curtain is so beautiful and full of history and thus meaning! It’s so cool that you can imagine the history of it just by looking at it, and that all of the different stories behind it are woven together.

sandra said:
May 27th, 2009 - 2:50 pm

i love the whimsy. tv looks great in the non-working (i assume) fireplace lit up by a yellow bulb lamp.

May 27th, 2009 - 2:53 pm

I’m speechless. Nicest sneak peak in months, perhaps ever.

Amanda said:
May 27th, 2009 - 2:56 pm

Ann Wood is my hero. I have a little bird from her at home, Rebecca, that sits next to me as I work.

Thank you for posting this, I love that it’s messy and wonderful. I look at the homes on this site daily and wonder how long it took them to clean and put things away before getting out the camera – or if anyone even lives there! That’s not how artists live, THIS is how artists live – with supplies and wonderful little messy work areas out where you can see them!

Love it!

May 27th, 2009 - 3:11 pm

SWOOOON.
This feels like what I would imagine Wendy’s apartment would look like after coming back from Never Neverland.

silentfragrance said:
May 27th, 2009 - 3:14 pm

I want to know more about the castle on top of the dresser!!!!!
did you make that? your room looks like a dream. wow!

PJ said:
May 27th, 2009 - 3:20 pm

Wow. I’ve got to say, I’m with Kirsten on this one, it’s a cluttered mess. It’s stuff piled upon stuff piled upon even more stuff. Yikes.

Jesse Lu said:
May 27th, 2009 - 3:34 pm

In love…. I totally thought of The Science of Sleep also, how magical. It’s a little like Where The Wild Things Are as well, just a little daintier and more ladylike. I’m so inspired.

And yes, please make the Flickr set woork, I want more!

Anna said:
May 27th, 2009 - 4:21 pm

wow, such a beautyful creative space…

bliss said:
May 27th, 2009 - 4:22 pm

this is my most favorite sneak peak! it’s cluttered and beautiful at the same time. looks real.

Sarah said:
May 27th, 2009 - 4:57 pm

Does anyone know where the bed is from? LOVE IT!

Jana said:
May 27th, 2009 - 5:15 pm

Love the TV in the fireplace. We just put ours in our fireplace too and we love it!

stella quinn said:
May 27th, 2009 - 6:00 pm

so quirky. it’s refreshing to see someone’s home that is so very original. I appreciate that she marches to the beat of her own drum and unlike so many other homes we see, decorates just how she likes instead of perhaps how she think she is supposed to. Although I love Eames chairs, white painted furniture, and mod-screen prints, they too get old and expected. It’s really nice to see something so different. Bravo.

May 27th, 2009 - 6:18 pm

Oh my my my – what can I say? It’s more ME than my own home is.
That’s all :-(

Erica said:
May 27th, 2009 - 6:35 pm

i am drooling over that chest of drawers!

ann wood said:
May 27th, 2009 - 7:00 pm

Thanks so much everyone for checking out my little place and the generous and kind comments. And thanks to Grace and Anne for inviting me.
polly the cake stand is paper mache over part a bleach bottle and cardboard -tip- fill the base with pennies for stability
silentfragrance – you can read about the castle here:
http://annwood.net/blog/category/cardboard-castles/
Sarah – I got the antique iron bed at a flea market

Thanks again -ann wood

Elyse said:
May 27th, 2009 - 7:11 pm

How great! Kinda messy, but in an organized way. Looks super-cozy and liveable…=)

May 27th, 2009 - 7:30 pm

just gorgeous! I live just like this !

Amanda said:
May 27th, 2009 - 7:55 pm

Okay this really nice to see. An unpretentious, creative, lived in, dreamy space that is a direct result of her spirit. That’s a home to me. I’m really inspired.

ali said:
May 27th, 2009 - 8:09 pm

oh god, its such a beautiful place… i love love love it!

Renae said:
May 27th, 2009 - 8:22 pm

I’m also totally into decorating with vintage and found objects–it’s so much more environmentally friendly and there are so many great old pieces out there! I absolutely loved the pirate ships just floating through the air!!!

Martha said:
May 27th, 2009 - 8:40 pm

I am in LOVE with the ships. Where oh where are they from? Homemade? An artist? I must know!

Yoli said:
May 27th, 2009 - 9:23 pm

I love those set of drawers from her Dad. This is such a treat! I love all of the dreamy things she has created around her. Her home is as lovely and interesting as dear Ann herself.

Kathryn said:
May 27th, 2009 - 9:28 pm

the first thing I thought of was this must be a magician’s shop. where is the pot for her potions?? love it!

Noel Garingan said:
May 27th, 2009 - 9:34 pm

Your creative womb remoinds me of Wendy Addison’s “Theater of Dreams”.
Thanks for sharing!

Mouse said:
May 27th, 2009 - 9:49 pm

GAAAARGH…you’re killing me with all these old card catalogues!

Killing me in a nice way.

Geri said:
May 27th, 2009 - 9:58 pm

It speaks to me with a sweet memory…at age 4 or so, I was hanging around my mom’s kitchen chair while she played canasta…bored, gazing out the window, I vividly imagined a beautiful clipper ship sailing across the night sky…I have never forgotten that childhood “hallucination”. An observation:
Can it be that the reason I’ve never really made much use of the tiny pine cones, scraps of paper, pebbles, seeds, etc. that I’ve been collecting all my life is bc I don’t organize them? And to think that there is organization in this lovely, inspiring fairytale environment is very odd indeed.

Amanda said:
May 27th, 2009 - 10:55 pm

This space has the look and feel of something so personal, I almost feel like a peeping tom! Everything in Ann’s home has meaning and memory attached. I love the old set of drawers especially.

Kristie said:
May 27th, 2009 - 11:01 pm

although i applaud the fact that this sneak peek is unique, i can’t say that i’m a big fan.

Rach said:
May 27th, 2009 - 11:18 pm

LOVE the chest of drawers, just love. I join erica in the drooling. it’s fantastic to see a space that is obviously lived in, loved and absolutely a reflection of Ann.

blair said:
May 27th, 2009 - 11:24 pm

Ann’s place is just as I imagined. Just as with what she creates, I could wander and explore her place for hours and still keep finding new beauty. Thanks for sharing.

May 28th, 2009 - 1:45 am

Lovely original home. I am happy to see someone with a truly unique style like this.

PURPLEDAB said:
May 28th, 2009 - 2:19 am

wowwwwwwwwwww…..

Joanna said:
May 28th, 2009 - 3:22 am

reminds me of my grandmas house. she teaches dance all around the world and always comes home with weird and wonderful souveniers, her house is full of them.

anne said:
May 28th, 2009 - 3:54 am

is this the best house ever? maybe..!

Annie May said:
May 28th, 2009 - 4:01 am

I would love to go to her house for a rummage sale. I’d snag up her father’s work chest, the gorgeous white frame, the bat sculptures that look like pencil drawings on my screen, and the curtain and bedding are just fabulous!

quelo said:
May 28th, 2009 - 4:45 am

It reminds me of Charlotte Gainbourg’s flat in The Science of Sleep!

claudia said:
May 28th, 2009 - 5:34 am

it’s not a house, it’s a dream!!!

Laura said:
May 28th, 2009 - 6:02 am

I second the similarity to the room in the Science of Sleep!

May 28th, 2009 - 7:26 am

cluttered home, cluttered mind.

then again, organized chaos is
inspiring for some, but not for me.

still, I can appreciate the space.

Laura. said:
May 28th, 2009 - 8:38 am

totally science of sleep! and i love the unmade bed. i wish i could work in spaces that are overflowing–i need organization and neatness before i can think clearly! but this is enchanting.

Cat said:
May 28th, 2009 - 9:19 am

What a magical dream. It’s practically the apartment version of Sarah Ryhanen(Weeder’s Digest)’s bouquets. So personal, wilty, decadent, musty, inspiring and bloody gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing occasional sneek peeks that don’t feature that dang Eames rocker!
;o)

Josie said:
May 28th, 2009 - 10:29 am

FINALLY a space that looks like somebody LIVES and creates there. So often the photos of featured houses are SO immaculate and though beautiful a bit sterile. I love this sneak peek. Ann Wood you rock.

Emma said:
May 28th, 2009 - 12:03 pm

You have such whimsy and talent… the most inspiring work/live space I have seen in months! You are a gem.

patty said:
May 28th, 2009 - 12:39 pm

The ceiling height, ribbon plaster detail, old floor – LOVE it. All the stuff is fabulous stuff – not “mess” as some call it – it has to be there ready to be inspired by or transformed into beautiful birds, ships and other wonderful whatevers! Thanks so much, Ann, for letting us see it.

moodboard said:
May 28th, 2009 - 1:23 pm

gorgeous, reminds me of a home in Europe

leigh said:
May 28th, 2009 - 2:16 pm

moving in!

becky z-dub said:
May 28th, 2009 - 3:12 pm

love the horsies! where ever did you find those?

becky z-dub said:
May 28th, 2009 - 3:14 pm

do it yourself horsies! i see now!

brooke said:
May 28th, 2009 - 3:32 pm

i LOVE that curtain. what a lovely idea ann! you really made your place a creative wonderland!

May 28th, 2009 - 3:56 pm

wonderful…I just love your house

mia said:
May 28th, 2009 - 4:07 pm

Absolutely magical!
I`d die for a drawer chest like that! :) and that card box storage arrangement..adorable!

elsie said:
May 28th, 2009 - 5:20 pm

This is maybe my favorite sneak peek ever!

Sandy said:
May 28th, 2009 - 6:15 pm

Each to his own but I find this style to be pure chaos. Where is the serenity. Looks like a giant case of “one of everything”. I guess I’m just one for edited and pure design.

ERNA said:
May 28th, 2009 - 6:30 pm

O.M.G,WHAT A TREASURE TROVE ,ALADIN HAS NOTHING IN HIS CAVE …………
LUV IT

Estelle said:
May 28th, 2009 - 6:33 pm

I think this home/studio is perfectly fit for purpose. We are afterall looking at the home/studio of an artist who works in found objects NOT a designer who sits in front of a computer all day. Im not sure Brad Dufton was being at all kind when he made his “cluttered home, cluttered mind” comment, but then Im sure Brad has probably never produced a great work of art, a good website maybe, but not a great work of art.

May 28th, 2009 - 6:54 pm

This isn’t meant to sound as gloomy as it did when I first thought it…lol!
BUT I love all of this. It screams youth, independence, freedom…print all these pics out and do not lose them or youth (at least in spirit), the indepence, the freedom.
Don’t succumb to ‘growing up’ no matter how young or old you are.
(print this comment too…keep it with your pics!)

Sadie said:
May 28th, 2009 - 9:34 pm

Ditto others–this is exactly how I imagined Ann’s house. I was lucky enough to have a pair of Ann’s bird cake toppers for my wedding cake, and I have loved her work since. Thanks for featuring the Sneak Peek of Ann’s wonderful home!

ann wood said:
May 28th, 2009 - 9:42 pm

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to comment on my place, thank you for the encouragement, also, I can certainly appreciate that it’s not for everyone, it’s not meant to be – it’s for me. This isn’t a style of decorating – it is my life and my process of working, it’s where I think and work and it is work I truly love so I am happy and grateful.

lululand said:
May 28th, 2009 - 10:51 pm

I appreciate the whimsy and texture, but I have to agree with Kirsten: whoa, too messy for me.

Brenda said:
May 29th, 2009 - 2:47 am

Oh wonderful! I’ve loved Ann W’s blog forever, now I love her home, too! One part Terry Gilliam, one part faerie, one part Brooklyn. Perfection!

May 29th, 2009 - 4:32 am

Everything is just divine- perfectly divine. I’ve been a big fan of Ann’s for quite some time now, we have a similar aesthetic I think. I really enjoyed seeing the glimpses of your home/studio. Like you I live in the same room I work in, so I totally understand the need to screen off the sleeping area- I’ve done it with a bookcase. Otherwise I’d just stare at my desk and think while I should be sleeping!

Thank you Design*sponge- this is a very heartfelt post. <3

May 29th, 2009 - 5:27 am

What a fantastical, creative space. I love it.

Hayley said:
May 29th, 2009 - 5:54 am

My absolutel favourite. It’s just gorgeous. Crafty and unexpected.

romy said:
May 29th, 2009 - 8:10 am

can you give us the directions to make the paper mache cake stand? w bleach bottle and cardboard.. thanks!

Gabbi said:
May 29th, 2009 - 2:13 pm

Gorgeous, looks a bit like a Gondry set to me…

Dora said:
May 29th, 2009 - 3:59 pm

I love this. I’ve been feeling that other sneek-peaks lately have been a bit repepitive, lovely but repetative. This is like a breath of fresh air. I finally know what my homes been lacking, floating tall ships!!!! And it’s not messy, it’s layered.

Llubav said:
May 29th, 2009 - 5:44 pm

This posting is killing me softly! What a magical place! Ann, do you need a roommate?!

laura said:
May 29th, 2009 - 8:10 pm

OHHH so lovely!

May 29th, 2009 - 9:23 pm

wow..love it! inspiring to see how someone so creative lives and works – great feature!

Prue said:
May 29th, 2009 - 10:43 pm

Ann, your beautiful space really shows your beautiful spirit. I’m in awe :)

Sheri DeBow said:
May 30th, 2009 - 2:56 am

I have loved Ann’s work and process since I saw her featured in Home companion years ago! So fun to see a mini update and to see her offering her whimsical ponies for all to play with!
How generous you are Ann to let us into your work space to get a little feel of your process! As an artist myself I am totally feeling the method to your madness and completely seeing the love that goes into your work because of the treasures you have found ,created and the sentiments that are attatched in your work! xoxo Sheri DeBow

Catherine Wood said:
May 30th, 2009 - 10:28 am

A documented account of your creative genious!!

Ev said:
May 30th, 2009 - 11:51 am

Ann, Pure, pure magic. You are such an inspiration. Now I’m going to make one of your horses. Thanks so much for your generosity.

alex said:
May 31st, 2009 - 1:06 am

im in love .. ! dreamy, takes me back to my childhood. Enchanting to say the least.

May 31st, 2009 - 8:50 am

oh my! Those ship chandeliers remind me of the antique crystal ships on a budget. Well done.

Jojo said:
May 31st, 2009 - 10:39 am

Dunno what people find so magical…and I’m not even a neat freak.

Bev Schwark said:
May 31st, 2009 - 11:43 pm

I love your place! Your definately my kind of people….Thank you for sharing your horsies, love them too. The ships and the birds are sooo cool.

jen said:
June 1st, 2009 - 12:52 am

this is totally freaky but i wanted to comment b/c i was going to say that something about ann’s place reminds me of the movie “the science of sleep” and upon peeking at the comments discovered a few others said the same thing!!

anyway, this apartment is the home of my dreams!! i love places that really show someone’s creativity, personality and love. so inspiring!

Shelley said:
June 1st, 2009 - 12:43 pm

So many wonderful things! The curtain is absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing this look!

efia said:
June 3rd, 2009 - 10:02 pm

It feels like one of those places I always wanted to be in. so many nitches to explore, so many places for my eyes to roam.

rayne said:
June 5th, 2009 - 11:42 am

this aches with goodness.

jenny said:
July 1st, 2009 - 2:10 pm

this is absolutely lovely. it is so nice to see a space that oozes with creativity, projects, and inspiration all in one. i much prefer this sneak peak over the oh-so-neat, composed spaces that could never look that way from day to do. thank you for sharing!

Hilary said:
July 3rd, 2009 - 4:47 pm

Those ships are amazing and so fantastical!

susanna said:
July 4th, 2009 - 11:01 am

Oh my gosh, your place is amazing, beautiful, magical. Who needs to buy a home decor magazine when there are photographs such as these online?!

san said:
July 20th, 2009 - 8:45 am

Wow! Ghostly enchanting, loved it all, it’s like walking through a concrete awesome dream!

September 4th, 2009 - 11:06 am

I stumbled upon your site and fell in love with your work. I was wondering if you sell your paper creations such as the ships. Please contact me. Thank you so,
Lauren

emma said:
September 5th, 2009 - 10:33 am

Absolutely amazing!

Colette said:
September 8th, 2009 - 6:51 pm

This is like stepping into a magical world, dreamy, ethereal, yet solid. absolutely beautiful.

Inger said:
October 3rd, 2009 - 7:40 pm

I love this! I am at the moment renovating my appartment in an old house – and I have so much stuff myself.
Happy to see a contrast to the minimalism – Got a lot of inspiration now!

Triin said:
November 14th, 2009 - 5:26 pm

Very organized!

Lisa said:
December 30th, 2009 - 3:52 am

Oh Ann,

How I love this sneak peek into your world. It makes me more comfortable with my own place. Like you, I also have huge bulletin boards for notes and reminders and as I work with paper, I have sheets and sheets of paper hung up on trouser hangers so that I can be inspired by seeing them! Thank you for allows us a peek into your world!

Lisa

minten said:
January 25th, 2010 - 8:58 pm

i keep coming back to this wonder

Write a Comment:
Design*Sponge reserves the right to restrict comments that do not contribute constructively to the conversation at hand, contain profanity, personal attacks or seek to promote a personal or unrelated business.

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

Website