My Houzz: Color and Pattern Make a Manhattan Apartment Sing
Wild colors, fearless patterns and a bit of burlesque show that downsizing doesn't have to mean cutting style short
Transitioning from a blank canvas to highly personalized style often takes time, collaboration and a little elbow grease. That was the case for New Yorker Amanda Barlow, a marketing director for the United States Council for International Business, who downsized from a spacious rental in Queens to a 600-square-foot apartment in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood.
The biggest challenge: Barlow had more furniture than she knew what to do with. But with the help of longtime friend and designer Jeanie Engelbach, she sifted through her eclectic pieces to create a well-curated, color- and pattern-happy apartment with sprinkles of punk rock. “I feel like this is the happiest space in New York,” she says. “It’s sophisticated, bright and airy. It’s a good balance from my day job.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Amanda Barlow
Location: East Village neighborhood of New York
Size: About 600 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
The biggest challenge: Barlow had more furniture than she knew what to do with. But with the help of longtime friend and designer Jeanie Engelbach, she sifted through her eclectic pieces to create a well-curated, color- and pattern-happy apartment with sprinkles of punk rock. “I feel like this is the happiest space in New York,” she says. “It’s sophisticated, bright and airy. It’s a good balance from my day job.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Amanda Barlow
Location: East Village neighborhood of New York
Size: About 600 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Barlow has a bit of a punk rock spirit that tends to spill out in subtle ways throughout the apartment, like with a candle set adorned with a black skull.
Sofa:
Sofa:
Knickknacks and artwork collected from various street fairs — "Things that really reflect me and make the space a little more personal," Barlow says — decorate a toile-covered cutout in the living room.
Toile fabric: Zarin Fabrics; dog portrait: twofewbullets
Toile fabric: Zarin Fabrics; dog portrait: twofewbullets
As with many apartments in New York City, Barlow's has essentially no closet space, so finding other creative ways to deal with storage was important. This niche, outfitted with repurposed shelving, became a home for Barlow's books and DVDs.
Shelving: custom by carpenter Dominic Kelly; paint: Peony satin, Benjamin Moore
Shelving: custom by carpenter Dominic Kelly; paint: Peony satin, Benjamin Moore
Many corners and spaces display Barlow's various collections from her travels. Here a miniature chandelier sits in an ice container.
Chandelier: Bergdorf Goodman; lamp: purchased at a street fair
Chandelier: Bergdorf Goodman; lamp: purchased at a street fair
"I'm all about restyling and repurposing, especially if the budget is tight," says Engelbach. She used a tray from Ship Bottom Antiques as an art piece in the kitchen, along with a spray painted mirror found at a stoop sale in Astoria, Queens.
Elephant print: purchased at a street fair; rug: T.J.Maxx; paint: Mayan Green, Benjamin Moore; dining table: 1940s, Chelsea Antique & Collectible Flea Market
Elephant print: purchased at a street fair; rug: T.J.Maxx; paint: Mayan Green, Benjamin Moore; dining table: 1940s, Chelsea Antique & Collectible Flea Market
On a nearby shelf are mugs and a striped teapot from Whittard in England.
Angel mug: Ship Bottom Antiques, eBay; hanging plate: Fuego 718; red teapot: Surprise! Surprise!
Angel mug: Ship Bottom Antiques, eBay; hanging plate: Fuego 718; red teapot: Surprise! Surprise!
But Barlow's favorite display is on her bedroom wall. "I am such a fan of pinups, burlesque and vintage poster art," she says. "It sets the tone for the bedroom, because it makes me feel like I’m surrounded by strong females. Every day I wake up, I feel empowered." The portraits include one of Barlow's mother and a Dolly Parton print by Kii Arens from La La Land Posters.
A hat collection hangs near a crystal chandelier, which was once used as a prop in a Sony retail window display.
Paint: Black Satin, Benjamin Moore
A hat collection hangs near a crystal chandelier, which was once used as a prop in a Sony retail window display.
Paint: Black Satin, Benjamin Moore
Englebach found this side table at a street sale in Queens and painted it bright green. "We also did the trim with glitter because, well, everything is better with glitter," she says. She also had a custom-cut Plexiglas mirror from Plasticsland added to the top .
Lamp: Fab; chair: SiteNYC; pinup: Viva Van; smaller three frames: Mode Merr fashion show stall
Lamp: Fab; chair: SiteNYC; pinup: Viva Van; smaller three frames: Mode Merr fashion show stall
Engelbach designed the oilcloth headboard, which carpenter Dominic Kelly then built. "We found the fabric and stretched it over the board and added the studs," Barlow says. "The studs were a hard find, but they really add to the personality of the piece."
Headboard: custom by ApartmentJeanie; pillows: Lancelotti Housewares
Headboard: custom by ApartmentJeanie; pillows: Lancelotti Housewares
The personality does not stop in the bathroom, where damask vinyl wallpaper and pots finished with glitter paint add in-your-face style.
Wallpaper: PrintIcon; toilet seat cover: Homebody Boutique; pink pots: Saifee Hardware, painted by PartyJeanie with Martha Stewart glitter paint; trash can: Surprise! Surprise!
Wallpaper: PrintIcon; toilet seat cover: Homebody Boutique; pink pots: Saifee Hardware, painted by PartyJeanie with Martha Stewart glitter paint; trash can: Surprise! Surprise!
The Joan Jett Barbie doll was a birthday gift for Barlow's 30th.
Towel hooks: Urban Outfitters
Show us your creative apartment!
Towel hooks: Urban Outfitters
Show us your creative apartment!
Luckily, Engelbach specializes in helping people creatively reorganize their spaces, and found a way to help Barlow sort through all her eclectic things.