My Houzz: Whimsical, Flirty Style for a Designer’s Brooklyn Studio
A love of vintage items, travel and dinosaurs adds dramatic flair to this New York apartment
Annie Mistak, a musical theater performer-turned-interior designer, transformed her outdated and neglected 1901 Brooklyn rental into a space that reflects her personality. True to her dramatic roots, she calls her home a “lady’s boudoir” and has decorated it with mauve-tinted walls, quirky thrift store finds, travel mementos and leftovers from her interior design jobs.
As the owner of Brontosaurus, an interior design company, Mistak needed to accommodate both her professional and personal needs in this studio apartment. And if that wasn’t challenging enough, she was newly single and had to consolidate two previous homes into one. “I had to donate a ton of stuff and figure out what’s important,” Mistak says. Combining her love for vintage things with her minimalist goals was not an easy task, but it pushed her to be creative. “I had to take advantage of the whole space. I want everything to look styled because everything is exposed,” she says.
As the owner of Brontosaurus, an interior design company, Mistak needed to accommodate both her professional and personal needs in this studio apartment. And if that wasn’t challenging enough, she was newly single and had to consolidate two previous homes into one. “I had to donate a ton of stuff and figure out what’s important,” Mistak says. Combining her love for vintage things with her minimalist goals was not an easy task, but it pushed her to be creative. “I had to take advantage of the whole space. I want everything to look styled because everything is exposed,” she says.
The structured gray couch in the main living space is accented with gray and peach pillows made by Mistak’s mother, an interior designer and seamstress. “I knew the piping would match the sofa and the peach would blend in with the coverlet,” Mistak says.
The picture of the Taj Mahal is a fabric backdrop she originally had cut and framed to use at an Indian-themed party she planned.
Two encased dinosaurs flank the picture. Mistak has had a fascination with dinosaurs since childhood, and was inspired when two designers transformed an entire gallery space into a world of dinosaurs. “I thought it was cool and fun. It reminded me of elementary school, and what’s more vintage than dinosaurs?” she says.
Mistak hot-glued what she calls “oxblood-colored” grosgrain ribbon to the shades, giving them a tailored touch.
Taj Mahal picture: AlbaBackgrounds, Etsy; shade trim: M & J Trimming; rectangular pillows: Eskayel
The picture of the Taj Mahal is a fabric backdrop she originally had cut and framed to use at an Indian-themed party she planned.
Two encased dinosaurs flank the picture. Mistak has had a fascination with dinosaurs since childhood, and was inspired when two designers transformed an entire gallery space into a world of dinosaurs. “I thought it was cool and fun. It reminded me of elementary school, and what’s more vintage than dinosaurs?” she says.
Mistak hot-glued what she calls “oxblood-colored” grosgrain ribbon to the shades, giving them a tailored touch.
Taj Mahal picture: AlbaBackgrounds, Etsy; shade trim: M & J Trimming; rectangular pillows: Eskayel
The marble fireplace, original to the apartment, no longer works, but the Love marquee sign, bought on Etsy as an anniversary gift for Mistak’s now ex-husband, adds warmth without the danger of a real fire.
The matador bolero jacket belonged to Mistak’s late grandmother, who had bought it at an auction. “My grandmother had it her whole life. I would look at it when I went to see her,” Mistak says. Displaying it now in her own home serves as a nostalgic reminder of early childhood days.
The glass tabletop is cut in an organic shape that Mistak designed, and it sits on an oversize lampshade frame. “[The shade] was made for a client, but it was made wrong. I didn’t know what to do with it and figured it out later,” she says. A hide casually layered over the air conditioner completes the vignette.
Glass top: Robert Otto Glass
The glass tabletop is cut in an organic shape that Mistak designed, and it sits on an oversize lampshade frame. “[The shade] was made for a client, but it was made wrong. I didn’t know what to do with it and figured it out later,” she says. A hide casually layered over the air conditioner completes the vignette.
Glass top: Robert Otto Glass
On the mantel, a collection of dinosaur figurines matches the color scheme but gives it a sophisticated edginess. Mixed in with the dinosaurs are cat food cans that Mistak originally used in a show house room she designed named Little Edie’s Boudoir. Inspired by the eccentric Edie Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens, Mistak paid homage to Edie’s preoccupation with cats by displaying cat food cans throughout the show house room. Now they add form and texture to the display of dinosaurs and candles. The oval-shaped mirror above the fireplace gives a glimpse of the chandelier.
The chandelier is a DIY project. Mistak bought the shade, added a tassel and gave it a retro pop with a hot pink lightbulb.
Chandelier shade: Housing Works; tassel: M & J Trimming
Chandelier shade: Housing Works; tassel: M & J Trimming
The vintage dining chairs were re-covered in an indoor-outdoor palm leaf fabric, though Mistak left the original fabric on the back for contrast. The dining table is vintage, and the glass was custom-made to prevent food from getting into the grooves of the table. Above the table is a mounted TV that Mistak covers with a blanket during the day. Otherwise, “it’s like a big black hole,” she says. More cowhide rugs are layered the floor.
Palm leaf fabric: Island Hopping in emerald, Tommy Bahama via Fabric.com; table: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons; glass: Robert Otto Glass; rugs: Rodeo Cowhide, Amazon
Palm leaf fabric: Island Hopping in emerald, Tommy Bahama via Fabric.com; table: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons; glass: Robert Otto Glass; rugs: Rodeo Cowhide, Amazon
“The kitchen was a disaster when I moved in,” Mistak says. She added open shelving to display her plate and glass collection, and a white lampshade to draw the eye to the trellis structure overhead and give the area a cool architectural detail. Mistak also added Lucite pulls to the existing cabinets. The Art Nouveau print on the left once belonged to Mistak’s mother.
Lucite pulls: Bruno’s Home Center; lampshade: Ikea; shelves: Lack, Ikea
Lucite pulls: Bruno’s Home Center; lampshade: Ikea; shelves: Lack, Ikea
The triangle decals were inspired by a similar design Mistak saw online, and the ostrich print fabric on the mood board, which displays Mistak’s family photos, is from a fabric sample.
Triangle decals: Bianca Alexandria, Etsy; ostrich print fabric: Pierre Frey
Triangle decals: Bianca Alexandria, Etsy; ostrich print fabric: Pierre Frey
The Art Deco fabric sample on the stove was made to look like a towel. “I was newly single and seeing a guy who opened up my eye to different styles and different ways to think about the world and relationships,” Mistak says. The glasses, pitcher and ice bucket are from the ’60s.
Mistak finished the cat painting during a paint-by-numbers class. “It’s my friend’s cat — she really does have one blue eye,” she says. An Art Deco-style partition hides the kitchen area and bathroom from the rest of the living area when needed.
Glasses, pitcher and ice bucket: Housing Works; partition: Marshall’s; fabric: Pierre Frey
Mistak finished the cat painting during a paint-by-numbers class. “It’s my friend’s cat — she really does have one blue eye,” she says. An Art Deco-style partition hides the kitchen area and bathroom from the rest of the living area when needed.
Glasses, pitcher and ice bucket: Housing Works; partition: Marshall’s; fabric: Pierre Frey
The picture of Coney Island was taken by her brother’s friend Dan McMahon. “I love that it’s candid,” she says. The Barbie pictures were taken by a friend’s father, David Parise, who developed a passion for styling and photographing Barbies. The vintage urn houses Mistak’s drawings from interior design school. The fedora and fur scarf on the coat rack showcase her flair for accessories.
The little shelf was custom-made out of refurbished wood and was given to Mistak as a housewarming gift by her mother. The curves of the mirror mimic the organic shape of the shelf.
Mirror: Ribbon, Safavieh via Gilt; urn: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons
The little shelf was custom-made out of refurbished wood and was given to Mistak as a housewarming gift by her mother. The curves of the mirror mimic the organic shape of the shelf.
Mirror: Ribbon, Safavieh via Gilt; urn: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons
The office area is furnished with a desk and chair whose more traditional lines contrast with the modern lines of the wall shelves. An ornate tribal necklace from South Africa, vintage gold candlesticks and a dinosaur decorate the shelves. The black table lamp is vintage.
Desk and chair: ABC Home; shelves: Lack, Ikea; gold candlesticks: Hudson Vintage; black lamp: Housing Works
Desk and chair: ABC Home; shelves: Lack, Ikea; gold candlesticks: Hudson Vintage; black lamp: Housing Works
Mistak chose the wood of the bed to match the wood legs on the couch. A pretty peach coverlet and pastel tissue paper tassels complement the ornate elephant accent pillow.
Peeking through on the side of the bed is a guitar, revealing Mistak’s musical interests.
The antelope side table fits in with Mistak’s love of travel and animals. “I went to Africa on vacation, and it inspired me,” Mistak says. The table is accented by a gold lamp and midcentury-style clock.
Bed: Vonnegut/Kraft, West Elm; elephant pillow: vintage; stitched kantha coverlet: Anthropologie; side table: Oryx, West Elm; lamp: Between a Rock Table, The Land of Nod
Peeking through on the side of the bed is a guitar, revealing Mistak’s musical interests.
The antelope side table fits in with Mistak’s love of travel and animals. “I went to Africa on vacation, and it inspired me,” Mistak says. The table is accented by a gold lamp and midcentury-style clock.
Bed: Vonnegut/Kraft, West Elm; elephant pillow: vintage; stitched kantha coverlet: Anthropologie; side table: Oryx, West Elm; lamp: Between a Rock Table, The Land of Nod
This white shelf near the bed houses a mix of objects, family photos and books. The top shelf supports a growing collection of milk glass from friends and Etsy. “The white makes them disappear, but it’s still decorative,” she says. The black-and-white silhouettes are of her at age 6 and her brother at age 10. Hanging above the shelf is a purple feather juju hat that Mistak bought at a design store in South Africa.
Shelf: Fjälkinge, Ikea
Shelf: Fjälkinge, Ikea
Mistak is pictured here styling her coffee table.
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See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Annie Mistak
Location: Brooklyn Heights, New York
Size: 500 square feet (46.5 square meters)
Mauve-tinted beige walls unify the space and create a neutral yet feminine backdrop for Mistak’s gray-and-peach color scheme. “I like to think of it as the color of a Band-Aid [because] that’s what I needed at that point in my life, a proverbial Band-Aid on life,” Mistak says.
Wall paint: Big Bend Beige, Benjamin Moore