Houzz Tour: A One-bedroom Flat is Given a Creative Boost on a Budget
A little imagination goes a long way when transforming a space. Discover what this designer did to his own apartment
‘Being able to walk to work is my favourite thing,’ interior designer Bachman Brown Clem says. Sacrificing some space and having to be thrifty were definitely worth the trade-off of being able to live in New York City’s West Village. When Clem bought this one-bedroom apartment, which is just steps away from great restaurants, shops and bars and surrounded by beautiful architecture, he was short on renovation and décor funds, but long on resourcefulness and creativity.
Combining hand-me-downs, great eBay and second-hand finds, items his clients were no longer interested in, the skills of loyal craftspeople he works with and even a repurposed wok, he transformed his apartment into a stylish and comfortable home for two.
Combining hand-me-downs, great eBay and second-hand finds, items his clients were no longer interested in, the skills of loyal craftspeople he works with and even a repurposed wok, he transformed his apartment into a stylish and comfortable home for two.
‘This apartment has been a labour of love,’ says Clem, who has transformed his home bit by bit over the years, repairing plasterwork, fixing tiles, painting, adding layers of lighting and more. Although the living room looks very chic, almost everything in it was inexpensive (except the Warhol lithograph over the sofa, which is on long-term loan from a relative’s art collection). ‘There were such great mouldings around the windows, but everything that had been on the ceiling had been removed,’ Clem says. He installed the ceiling ornamentation himself – it’s made from plastic foam.
Not able to afford the kind of light fixture he dreamed of at the time, he bought a pendant light kit and was on the prowl for a shade at Just Shades when inspiration hit. ‘I was right by the Bowery and thought, “I bet I can find something cool in one of these kitchen stores,”’ he says. He came across the biggest wok he’d ever seen, knew it was just the thing and had it lacquered in gold.
The modern-style chesterfield sofa, which Clem can’t confirm but is quite confident is a Milo Baughman, was an inexpensive eBay find. He saw past the black vinyl upholstery in the listing and envisioned this olive green canvas fabric instead. The traditional tufted trimming sits above modern chrome legs.
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Not able to afford the kind of light fixture he dreamed of at the time, he bought a pendant light kit and was on the prowl for a shade at Just Shades when inspiration hit. ‘I was right by the Bowery and thought, “I bet I can find something cool in one of these kitchen stores,”’ he says. He came across the biggest wok he’d ever seen, knew it was just the thing and had it lacquered in gold.
The modern-style chesterfield sofa, which Clem can’t confirm but is quite confident is a Milo Baughman, was an inexpensive eBay find. He saw past the black vinyl upholstery in the listing and envisioned this olive green canvas fabric instead. The traditional tufted trimming sits above modern chrome legs.
Discover 9 ways with white living rooms
The coffee table base is by Milo Baughman and was a gift from a client who no longer had use for it. ‘Originally it had a gigantic glass top, and the little apartment just couldn’t take it,’ Clem says.
Instead, another client gave him a marble remnant from a kitchen project they were working on together. The rug is an inexpensive woven African mat, which adds texture underfoot and helps define the seating area.
Instead, another client gave him a marble remnant from a kitchen project they were working on together. The rug is an inexpensive woven African mat, which adds texture underfoot and helps define the seating area.
The upholstery on the vintage chairs was also a donation, but it taught Clem a valuable lesson in fabric choice. ‘I was at my upholsterer’s and he told me I could pick from some leftover stuff he had in the back. When I saw this cashmere I thought it would be wonderful,’ he says. ‘But while it’s so soft and cosy in winter, you cannot sit on it during the summer – your legs start to sweat immediately!’
The large turquoise ceramic Bitossi lamp is something Clem has had for years. Its scale is a surprise and works well with the small Saarinen Tulip side table. It also provides great reading light – in the months when the chair fabric isn’t too warm, anyway!
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The large turquoise ceramic Bitossi lamp is something Clem has had for years. Its scale is a surprise and works well with the small Saarinen Tulip side table. It also provides great reading light – in the months when the chair fabric isn’t too warm, anyway!
Discover 9 ways you can learn to love your home’s imperfections
When it comes to arranging books, it’s a big experiment for Clem. He and his partner combined their collection when he moved in, and because they both frequently pull down books to enjoy and for reference, there’s really no rhyme nor reason to the arrangement – it just happened organically. ‘We try to keep all the first editions together and that’s about it for the organisation,’ Clem says.
For hanging artwork on the shelves, he advises editing and experimenting with scale – you don’t want the art to overwhelm the shelves as a whole but you also don’t want a piece so small it gets lost. Finding the right balance is simply a matter of trial and error. This portrait worked out just right. Clem also tucked the post-World War 2 West German pottery he collects among the books. The interesting shapes and colours give the eye a place to rest.
The area to the left is the couple’s landing spot where they hang their coats and bags and can take off their shoes when they come in.
For hanging artwork on the shelves, he advises editing and experimenting with scale – you don’t want the art to overwhelm the shelves as a whole but you also don’t want a piece so small it gets lost. Finding the right balance is simply a matter of trial and error. This portrait worked out just right. Clem also tucked the post-World War 2 West German pottery he collects among the books. The interesting shapes and colours give the eye a place to rest.
The area to the left is the couple’s landing spot where they hang their coats and bags and can take off their shoes when they come in.
We caught just a peek of this corner in the first shot – there’s a small peninsula on the right that is the edge of the tiny galley kitchen. Clem reupholstered the vintage stool in a print also seen on cushions in the living room.
‘I love bar trolleys,’ Clem says. ‘But punch bowls are my favourite.’ This midcentury trolley by Poul Hundevad has plenty of room for spirits, cocktail mixing equipment and extra glasses. The punch bowl provides a spot to store oranges and limes for the cocktails.
‘I like to mix everything. I don’t believe in one style,’ Clem says. The trolley is a good study in how seamlessly the designer throws together different styles and eras, with traditional and Art Deco items looking at home on the little midcentury piece.
Stool fabric, Maharam.
Check out 12 ways to work a glamorous bar trolley into your home
‘I love bar trolleys,’ Clem says. ‘But punch bowls are my favourite.’ This midcentury trolley by Poul Hundevad has plenty of room for spirits, cocktail mixing equipment and extra glasses. The punch bowl provides a spot to store oranges and limes for the cocktails.
‘I like to mix everything. I don’t believe in one style,’ Clem says. The trolley is a good study in how seamlessly the designer throws together different styles and eras, with traditional and Art Deco items looking at home on the little midcentury piece.
Stool fabric, Maharam.
Check out 12 ways to work a glamorous bar trolley into your home
In the bedroom, Clem chose the dotted Beads fabric by Hable Construction for the headboard to continue the geometric theme. A gallery wall overhead is a mix of different media. Clem’s favourite piece is the portrait washed in bright pink, made by his brother, a professional artist. The artwork contains a quote from an old Vanity Fair article that cracks them both up. ‘It’s very sentimental,’ he says.
Clem’s partner grew up with this dresser in his bedroom. ‘We often get rid of a lot of things, but this is quite sentimental and it will always stay,’ Clem says. Not too sentimental to alter, though – it’s been a lesson in stripping and refinishing for the couple. They got this far, and have since sent it off to a professional to finish the job.
The items on top are again a mix of eras and styles: the vase is from Clem’s West German pottery collection, the modern sculpture is by Matthew Sullivan, and a traditional alabaster lamp plays off the black-and-white Helmut Newton poster.
The items on top are again a mix of eras and styles: the vase is from Clem’s West German pottery collection, the modern sculpture is by Matthew Sullivan, and a traditional alabaster lamp plays off the black-and-white Helmut Newton poster.
Because the bathroom gets so much natural light and is lined with white tiles, Clem knew he could go dark on the walls and painted them black. The room became a study in stark contrast.
Clem mimicked the black border on his shower curtain on the white ceiling. The curved concrete tray was a gift from his assistant.
Shower curtain, Restoration Hardware.
Clem mimicked the black border on his shower curtain on the white ceiling. The curved concrete tray was a gift from his assistant.
Shower curtain, Restoration Hardware.
‘The best advice I can give regarding bathrooms is to take down all of the cheap stuff that came with the place – shelves, towel rails, medicine cabinets, knobs – get it down to the bare bones and start over,’ Clem says. ‘There are so many great inexpensive accessories today, and it makes a huge difference when you can create a cohesive look for yourself,’ he says.
He added these glass and chrome shelves, and the artwork is from a performance piece his brother put on years ago. An alabaster lamp adds a traditional touch and contrasts nicely with the black.
Wall painted in Black Forest Green, Benjamin Moore. Shelves, Restoration Hardware.
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What do you think of this New York home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
He added these glass and chrome shelves, and the artwork is from a performance piece his brother put on years ago. An alabaster lamp adds a traditional touch and contrasts nicely with the black.
Wall painted in Black Forest Green, Benjamin Moore. Shelves, Restoration Hardware.
TELL US…
What do you think of this New York home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Bachman Brown Clem and Alan G Brake
Location The West Village, New York City, US
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
The windows, which retain their fabulous original mouldings, are one of the best features of the apartment, letting in lots of light and providing a great view of this iconic New York district. In decorating his home, interior designer Bachman Brown Clem used minimalist soft Roman blinds to accentuate the original windows. He says that they’re rarely pulled down even this far because he loves to enjoy the light and views to the fullest.
Clem is used to turning nothing into something and certainly puts that skill to use at home. His apartment has served as a design laboratory for him for 12 years now. This cabinet was an auction find that he made into a toy chest for a kid’s room in a show home. He had it lacquered in this deep blue and added red handles. When he decided to take it home afterwards, he painted the handles black to give it a more grown-up look.
Walls painted in DKC-7, Donald Kaufman Paints. Skirting boards painted in White Dove, Benjamin Moore. Art, Raymond Pettibon. Sculpture (on floor), Jean Michel Morellet.