over the summer i got my hands on a copy of ed roth’s book, stencil 101. i’m a big fan of street art, but i have to say even though i was using washable chalk spray “paint,” i’m not sure i have it in me to be a professional guerilla artist (it was still great fun). but his latest book (out this week!) – stencil 101 decor – seems like something right up my alley and the best of both worlds. it’s great to see how ed has incorporated his work into his own williamsburg brooklyn duplex loft. there are only a few units in the building – that was an old brick bakery in a former life – but it means there are lots of great elements like exposed beams, which are mixed with great modern touches that sold ed on the place. as ed points out, it has great history and soul. click here for more images of ed’s home, and don’t miss all our fantastic sneak peeks right here! {thanks, ed!} -anne
ps: amy merrick will be back next week with a new “living in” movie design column. she’s finishing up new projects for the d*s book this week. amy azzarito will be back with another history column in 2 weeks!
[above: Medical cabinet on stenciled wall: I found this medical cabinet at Boeing Surplus store in Seattle. The surplus store has since closed but it was so affordable and very inspiring. This cabinet sits in my kitchen and since I have a small place, I have to make each space functional while keeping it looking decorative. I decided a color and material theme for this cabinet: glass and natural elements. It contains glasses, glass dishes, a Tibetan carved wood bowl, cigar box full of candles, medical glass, all my sepia colored books, a vintage framed print of natural patterns, shells, and one turquoise chinese dog I've had since I was 7. And of course the wall is stenciled with one of my new repeat patterns from Stencil 101 Decor in a pale robin's egg blue.]
View from Sofa to kitchen: The space is one large room for the kitchen, dining area, and living room. I like to have a mostly neutral colored base to the apartment then add color with accent furniture, textiles, and art work. You can see my old turquoise work table that is the dining table. I found it in the back yard of garden shop in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. It is perfect counter height so I bought 6 modern leather counter stools to surround it. A Cafe Bustelo coffee can makes a great vase too! There are two large cylinder lights hanging in the space purchased from CB2 and you can see a pillow on the sofa, I love Arican kuba cloth.
There’s my live/work table again. I could never paint it to look so nice and warn! The pencil and brush holders are antique Mexican sugar cone molds bought at a flea market in NYC on 26th street.
Stacked old wood crates make a fine bedside table for me. I love the bottle marks! I keep a few books bedside to read, the bottom red book is a fairy tale book I’ve had since a child, full of great illustrations and dark stories. The antique hat mold(ebay) holds my favorite hat that was my Father’s. The ceramic and wood reading lamp is by Dutch designer Dick Van Hoff and the bed is from West Elm.
CLICK HERE for the rest of Ed’s sneak peek after the jump!
Above the bed, I have seven framed pencil sketches by Salvador Dali, “Siete Días de la Creación” (Seven Days of Creation). They are super stream-of-conciousness, dreamy, odd drawings. I thought that was fitting for a sleeping room. I bought these in Spain. I love Dali!
This is a view of the spiral staircase to the bedroom. Bookshelves (Ikea!) run floor to ceiling. This is one out of the way place in the apartment to put all my eye candy!
Design books, framed photos, and lots of objects line the shelves. Each shelf has a sort of theme and a hierarchy. the painting is by an artist, Marcus Jansen, who licensed my stencils to create a few paintings. He specifically did this piece for me, it’s about me and my Father and features my Ranchero (my car he gave me).
This dark steel table (Housing Works Thrift Shop 136 W. 18th St.) is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. It is BEHIND the sofa but it is a coffee table height. I like to call it my Current Events table. I change it up sometimes to display something I want to show friends. It has a shadow box I made about my parents including a letterpress piece I found that my dad made for my mom that says “I love you Ginny with all my heart”. Also on the table are Eiffel tower souvenirs, I just went to Paris. The large Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is always on display, in my opinion, a designers must-have book. And my first book is to the right :) Under the table are baskets one for for shoes, one for throw blankets.
This is the view from the bedroom. To the left is a large terrace. Also on the left, that’s an old wagon wheel I found in a collapsed barn upstate. The “painting” is actually an Eels album cover enlarged and custom mounted. It shows children walking with hunting guns through a landscape of birds. Again, neutral space with colorful art! And the spiral stairs and landing have that industrial look I admire.
Stealing the show, is Larry, my best friend! The terrace is a blessing, very nice to sit up there, bbq, relax. The low chairs are from Ikea. the idea is to fill the terrace with plants, a fun work in progress!
