Holly Waterfield, an interior designer living in Brooklyn, fashion designer for The Brooklyn Home Company, and mother of 16-year-old Amy and 9-year-old Bodhi, says: “In our apartment, I want the kids to feel like they can be themselves. I’m a busy single mom, so I want it to be easy. Our home is a mix of cozy fabrics and children’s art.” Here, Holly takes us on a tour…
Living Room / Dining Room
Cloud Artwork: Paul Marotte Les Noyaux. English Garden Artwork: Mary Maguire. Whale Artwork: Mary Maguire. Pink Pillow: Ingeri. White Pillow and Bench Skirt: made by Holly.
About creating your own special place: I found this apartment in 2017 when I was going through a divorce and looking for a new place to live. It was one big open space with a loft bed. But my friend, who owns the building, gave me complete freedom to make changes. So, I added two new walls and pocket doors to create three bedrooms. My goal was to make this place comfortable and fun for the kids. We all went through a tough transitional period, but at the end of the day, everyone is really happy. And that’s all that matters.
Sofa: ABC Home. Throw Pillows: custom, in a Jen Shelton fabric. Vintage Wicker Chair: similar. Sheepskin: Roman and Williams Guild. Coffee Table: MOS. Mushroom-Shaped Side Table: Peek + Paw. Floor Lamp: IKEA, similar. Curtains: Matchstick. Shelves: CB2.
About that swing: In 2012, my kids and I went to an exhibition by artist Ann Hamilton at the armory – it was a room filled with 42 swings. We stayed there for hours. It was an amazing feeling to be on a swing as an adult. After that, I said, “We will have a swing one day.” So, when we moved into this apartment, I made this swing, and everyone always uses it. My son loves to use it as a hammock. It brings a lot of joy.
Side Table: Etsy, similar. Lamp: Crate & Barrel. Chair Cushions: custom, in a Jen Shelton fabric.
About finding your style: If you’re struggling to decorate your home, look at your closet. What do you feel comfortable wearing? Are there mostly neutral colors, or is it very patterned, or a lot of white? Start from there. Sometimes I look at my closet and say, “This feels just like my home!”
Kitchen
Chairs: Serena & Lily. Lamp: World Market with “shade from my grandparents’ home.”
About the joy of communal living: I love the randomness of Brooklyn, where you can say to a friend, “Oh, you’re cooking dinner, and I’m cooking dinner, let’s have a potluck!” We love hosting people and keeping our door open for big and small events, like watching the World Cup. We just sit on the floor and eat around the coffee table.
Kitchen Rug: The Citizenry. Chair: Clic Gallery, similar. Wooden Frames: Artist + Craftsman Supply.
About the kids’ self-portraits: The kids started making these drawings in kindergarten, which is amazing because the drawings show how their features have changed over the years. When Amy was in middle school, she suddenly realized she had very long eyelashes and high cheekbones. And when Bodhi was a toddler, he had enamel hypoplasia, which made his early teeth appear yellow and brown. So, in his kindergarten self-portrait, he drew those yellow, swollen teeth! He wasn’t shy about it at all.
Bamboo Ceiling Lights: Serena & Lily. Artwork: Vintage. Candle Holders: The Society, similar. Wooden Bowl: “made by my grandfather.” Lamp: Schoolhouse.
About creating a simple home: I love incorporating natural materials, like natural fiber rugs, bamboo chairs, and woven curtains. Earthy materials make the place feel unpretentious because they are durable and last a long time. You don’t have to worry about things breaking, and you can feel stable.
Room
Bodie
Decor: Etsy, similar. Crab: London, similar. Rug: Doing Goods.
About the reuse trick: When Bodie was younger, I made him a toddler-sized bed frame. Once he grew up, we kept it and realized it slides perfectly under his twin bed. Now we use it as a drawer for his clothes – I just added some small wooden handles.
Striped square pillow: Ingeri. Blanket: Ingeri. Bookshelves: Ikea, similar.
About having an extreme child: Bodie is a collector. He still has his Valentine’s cards from kindergarten that he refuses to part with! He’s a collector who wants more and more.
Pink kite: Haptic Lab. White wall lamp: Ikea, similar. Floor cushions: made by Bodie and Amy at home. Yellow lamp: World Market. Wooden home shelves: “Holiday display set from a store that was going out of business.”
About the sibling relationship: Bodie is seven years younger than Amy and really looks up to her. He even sleeps in her t-shirts! So, when she gets rid of something, Bodie collects it. When she was ready to part with the pink kite, he said, “I want this in my room!” He’s a total young boy, so he loves having a bright pink ship in his room.
Amy’s Room
Floor cushions: Ingeri and Inti Earth. Office chair: secondhand. Sheepskin: Ikea. Curtains: Matchstick Blinds.
About the weekend ritual: Amy does something called “Sunday reset” where she gives herself a facial, folds all her clothes in the closet, and tidies up for the week. She’s like me, needing things to be organized so she can think clearly.
Desk: “I made it from an Ikea butcher block and a filing cabinet.”
About timeless decor: As kids grow up, they discover favorite things, like colors and characters. But I wouldn’t decorate their rooms around those themes because they will change. Amy was very interested in the color purple for a long time and now she can’t stand it.
About the fun time with mother and daughter: With little kids, you usually do what they love to do. Luckily, Amy and I enjoy doing the same things, like biking and shopping. She’s a big reader, so sometimes I climb into her bed with a cup of tea at night and chit-chat with her. She’s a wonderful companion.
Master Bedroom
Comforter: Chelsea Textiles, similar. Square pillow: Maison De Vacances. Bamboo wall lamps: World Market. Chair: Ikea. Sailing paintings: antique. Table lamp: Schoolhouse. Curtains: Matchstick Blinds.
About the cat: During the pandemic, we fostered our cat, Bilo [behind the yellow pillow!] and ended up adopting her. She’s basically a teenager – sleeping all day and running around the house all night.
Chair: vintage. Sheepskin: Overland. Beach picture: “a gift from a friend.”
About creating a sanctuary: I love to keep my bedroom very quiet – with just a few art pieces. I believe bedrooms are their own sanctuaries. Keeping things simple helps me relax at night. Sometimes I feel the urge to add more, but even adding a rug or decorative pillow feels excessive.
Square bamboo baskets: Muji. Wave bamboo baskets: Ikea, similar.
About why a home never feels finished: When I’m working on projects, people always ask: “Are we done yet?” and I think I’ve really never finished. My personal home is a continual evolution. And I don’t think a place should feel completely finished because life isn’t finished. Hopefully, you travel and find wonderful pieces of driftwood or shells that inspire you, and there’s so much joy in the hunt.
Thank you so much, Holly. We love your home!
Note: More home tours, including a home in Connecticut known for its coziness and a colorful brown farm for black joy.
(Images
By Kate Jordan.)
Comments
Hannah – December 7, 2023, 11:32 AM: I love when Kojo shares home pieces for us to see as readers! I am currently renovating a 3,000 square foot home and I have my dream closet in it! Seeing Holly’s closet similar to mine gave me some great ideas on how to organize my closet! I’m also a single mom – I love seeing pieces about successful single moms who can make it all work. You inspire me, Kojo. Before the evening, XO.
Miu – December 7, 2023, 11:30 AM: Beautiful home! Where did the shelves above the kitchen island/counter come from?
August – December 7, 2023, 11:25 AM: Beautiful home ?… the pink kite is just amazing… the coolest thing to hang from the ceiling!
Ali – December 7, 2023, 11:18 AM: What a warm and creative home! You made it impressive and cozy, and I loved the details about your kids and their style too.
Anonymous – December 7, 2023, 11:16 AM: I have small kids and a broken marriage, and I struggle to envision a dream for our future. Thank you, Holly. Your beautiful home brings me peace and sparks my imagination.
Kara – December 7, 2023, 11:12 AM: I love your home, Holly! There is so much of you and your kids in it, and I love seeing how you created furniture that fits the space.
Liz – December 7, 2023, 11:10 AM: ?
MM – December 7, 2023, 11:09 AM: One of my favorite home tours. I adore this. Warm, safe, and cozy. You hit the target perfectly.
Dana-Marie – December 7, 2023, 11:03 AM: Really beautiful! Just really beautiful. Also, when you featured the post with a picture of her closet? It reflected her home perfectly. A happy home.
Heather – December 7, 2023, 11:03 AM: I love all the art in this place! Including the kids’ art workshop.
Betsy – December 7, 2023, 11:02 AM: Beautiful home! I love everything in it, especially her art. The self-portraits are amazing!
Sadie – December 7, 2023, 11:01 AM: Thank you for sharing your beautiful home.
Brooke – December 7, 2023, 10:56 AM: I really love the self-portrait wall!!! Such a cute idea. I might have to copy that, although I’ll need to dig through some old art boxes. Much love and cheers.
Annie – December 7, 2023, 10:55 AM: I’m filling my cart with lambskins as I speak – adding an extra level of family comfort. Love it!
Beth – December 7, 2023, 10:44 AM: This home is a dream! How beautiful!!
Katie – December 7, 2023, 10:22 AM: Such a beautiful home! Does anyone know what type of plant that is? I love how the leaves look like hearts.
Meg – December 7, 2023, 11:01 AM: It looks like a type of monstera – the leaves won’t split until it grows bigger.
Scarlett – December 7, 2023, 11:18 AM: I think it’s a philodendron (maybe a heartleaf philodendron)? I had one for a long time (gave it away when we moved, unfortunately) and it was so beautiful, easy to care for, and grew reliably!
Cat – December 7, 2023, 11:20 AM: It’s a peilea!
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Browse more home tours, including a home in Connecticut that knows comfort and a colorful farmhouse for black joy.
(Photos by Kate Jordan.)
Comments
Hannah – December 7, 2023, 11:32 AM: I love when Kojo shares home pieces for us to see as readers! I am currently renovating a 3,000 square foot home and I have my dream closet in it! Seeing Holly’s closet similar to mine gave me some great ideas on how to organize my closet! I’m also a single mom – I love seeing pieces about successful single moms who can make it all work. You inspire me, Kojo. Before the evening, XO.
Miu
– December 7, 2023 11:30 AM: Beautiful home! Where do the shelves above the kitchen island/counter come from?
August – December 7, 2023 11:25 AM: Beautiful home ?… The pink kite is just amazing… The coolest thing to hang from the ceiling!
Aly – December 7, 2023 11:18 AM: Such a beautiful home! I love everything in it, especially its art. The self-portraits are fabulous!
Anonymous – December 7, 2023 11:16 AM: I have little kids and a broken marriage, and I struggle to shape a dream for our future. Thank you, Holly. Your beautiful home brings me peace and sparks my imagination.
Kara – December 7, 2023 11:12 AM: I love your home, Holly! There’s so much of you and your kids in it, and I love seeing how you made the furniture fit the space.
Liz – December 7, 2023 11:10 AM: ?
MM – December 7, 2023 11:09 AM: One of my favorite home tours. I adore this. Warm, safe, and cozy. It hits the mark perfectly.
Dana-Marie – December 7, 2023 11:03 AM: Really beautiful! Just beautiful. Also, when you featured the post with a picture of your pantry? It perfectly reflected her home. A happy home.
Heather – December 7, 2023 11:03 AM: I love all the art in this place! Including the art workshop for kids.
Beth – December 7, 2023 11:02 AM: Beautiful home! I love everything in it, especially all its art. The self-portraits are wonderful!
Sadie – December 7, 2023 11:01 AM: Thank you for sharing your beautiful home.
Brooke – December 7, 2023 10:56 AM: I really love the self-portrait wall!!! Idea J
Source: https://cupofjo.com/2023/12/07/holly-waterfield-house-tour/
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