Written for Pottery Barn by Jeanine Hays & Bryan Mason
(Photography by Patrick Cline, as seen on ElleDecor.com)
We had just moved into a 1,200 square foot, pre-war apartment in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. From the moment we stepped inside, we were inspired by the wonderful details of the architecture — tall ceilings, classic trim, bay windows. More than anything else, these structural bones are what inspired the design of the space. It was all so elegant, and when it came to furnishing the space, we didn’t know where to begin, but the theme was already in place: Brooklyn glamour. We would design an upscale space filled with art, classic furnishings, and a mix of colorful textiles — all the things we love. If you’re looking to add a little glamour to your own interior, here’s a few of our favorite tips to get you on your way.
Create Areas Of Visual Interest
Every side table and console provides room for vignettes that will add visual interest to your space. Think of them as the subtext that will lend depth and meaning to your space. From a more practical perspective, these surfaces are the ideal places to display family heirlooms, travel finds, photos and other significant pieces. In our entryway, the console table became the perfect stage for art books like, The Gift, featuring photographs by our friend Delphine Diallo, a Bushwick-based photographer. And every Sunday morning the console become our DJ station, where we play our favorite family heirlooms — a collection of jazz albums passed down from Bryan’s great-grandmother.
Accessorize With Art
When thinking accessories, we like to go beyond the usual suspects like cushions and vases, and instead start with art as a primary accessory. We chose pieces that complemented the black and white color palette of our living room. Neutral but classic, framed black and white prints became an essential part of our color story and a key building block for the style we wanted to represent.
Seen above: Leona Console Table, Pottery Barn art
Feature Classic Silhouettes
Pay attention to the lines and silhouettes of furnishings. They can absolutely add to your design aesthetic by evoking a period or even a part of the world. For a home with so many historic details, we chose pieces with beautiful lines, curves and hand-carved appeal to add to the design. In our dining nook, a solid wood pedestal table makes a big impact with its classic round shape — a perfect place for working, enjoying an intimate dinner or just having a long look out the window.
Seen above: Leona Cube Tables, Dawson Pedestal Table
Mix In Unique Finishes
Glamorous spaces with large rooms are a great chance for you to have fun with a mix of finishes. Dark woods, light woods, brass, silver, they can all come together and work seamlessly within the right interior. We are always game to bring home a little bit of bling, so a mix of brass and deep, dark woods creates warmth in our black and white space.
Seen above: Dawson Pedestal Table
