Photographs by Lyndsay Hannah Photography
Alison Piepmeyer lives in Brooklyn along with her husband, Zach, and two youngsters, Linus and Georgie. They purchased their Nineteenth-century home “in tough form,” in 2022, and have spent the final 4 years fixing it up and filling it with knickknacks collected over their 15 years of marriage. “I bear in mind watching Love Actually as a younger married couple — a film I don’t suggest,” she laughs. “However one factor that caught with me was that one of many character’s homes had artwork up and down each single wall. I bear in mind considering how cool that was.” Have a look round…
ENTRYWAY
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Wallpaper: House of Hackney. Mirror: Target. Umbrella stand: Classic, similar.
On a cross-country dream: I grew up in Portland, Oregon, and we’ve lived throughout California, however I at all times had a dream of transferring east. I’ll look again at my childhood journals, and it’ll be like, ‘I’m gonna go to New York and be a FASHION designer!’ Ha! Then, six years in the past, I bought a job supply right here. My husband I lived in San Francisco on the time, so it was an enormous determination, however we determined to go for it. And it was one of the best determination we ever made.
Hat: Inside Joke. Hooks: West Elm, similar.
On discovering residence: We did tons of analysis earlier than transferring, then checked out a bunch of neighborhoods. We appeared on the Higher West Aspect (You’ve Got Mail is my favourite film). We appeared throughout Brooklyn and finally discovered Boerum Hill, which is that this small neighborhood tucked between Cobble Hill and Park Slope. It’s very cute however not ‘good,’ and it felt like we simply match.
LIVING ROOM
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Wall sconces: Rejuvenation. String lights: Brightown. Sofa: Classic, reupholstered in Sunbrella outdoor fabric (“Very kid-friendly!”). Striped chair: Classic, reupholstered in Sunbrella. Pharmacy lamp: Classic, similar.
On discovering the home: This home, constructed within the 1850s, was one other massive leap. It had been in the marketplace for some time as a result of it was in such tough form. My husband was terrified, however I had a imaginative and prescient, and he trusted me.
On a work-in-progress: As soon as we moved in, it took about 4 years to get the home to the place it’s now — we needed to abate lead paint, repair crumbling bricks, clear out piles of useless bugs — and there’s nonetheless lots of work to do. We consider the home as a long-term venture that we’ll simply maintain engaged on each time there’s money and time to take action!
Ceiling fixture: Schoolhouse, similar. Curtains: Pottery Barn. Rug: Customized, from AfriKesh on Etsy. Throw pillow: Lulu and Georgia. Espresso desk: Etsy. White chair: Target. Checked throw: Amazon.
On a beloved, impractical sofa: I discovered the fainting sofa on a used-furniture web site, and had it redone in blue velvet. Our youngsters are obsessive about that sofa and at all times wind up bouncing on it or sitting there whereas drawing with markers. It’s additionally very fashionable with company, though it’s small. At any time when we now have events, a pile of individuals at all times congregate there, kind of sitting on one another. It’s only a very cozy spot!
On guide piles: We’re an enormous guide household, and we attempt to do issues that encourage our children to learn as a lot as doable. We’ve got no restrictions on studying, and I like having completely different sorts of books piled round the home that they’ve entry to. And I’ve observed, simply having so many books round signifies that in the event that they’re bored or searching for one thing to do, possibly they’ll decide one up and flip by it.
TV stand: Target.
On historical past: There are lots of imperfections and elements that may want updating later. Typically I’ll go to buddies’ locations, and I’ll be like, ‘Ah, it’s so good and fashionable!’ My home is layered with 150 years of individuals doing their very own updates, like a rest room pipe that comes straight by our lobby. However in some methods, I like that. It makes me really feel linked to the opposite households who’ve lived right here.
Needlepoint pillow: Furbish.
On a rough-and-tumble couch: The couch and chair are classic, however I had them reupholstered with outside cloth, so now the youngsters can draw, throw up, or pour one thing on them, and they’ll nonetheless maintain up! I can rub any stain out with a Magic Eraser.
DINING ROOM
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Eating desk: ABC House, similar. Chairs: Classic, similar. Cupboard: West Elm, similar.
On going darkish: Some folks get freaked out by the concept of black paint, however — as my husband and I usually joke — it hides lots of sins. In an previous home, it helps obscure all of the little dents and peculiar cords painted into the wall. Rising up, my mother was at all times repainting rooms in several colours, so I’m not afraid of dramatic paint colours.
On compromise: We attempt to eat on the desk, however my children are nonetheless so little that they’re leaping and dancing across the room more often than not anyway. I’d say we’re half-and-half — half eat-at-the-table, half I’ll-bring-you-a-plate-wherever-because-I-don’t-have-the-energy-to-force-you-to-sit-there.
KITCHEN
Rug: Etsy.
On squeezing in: Zach and I did the kitchen ourselves, so don’t look too intently! It’s a type of issues that’s superb for now, however finally will want extra work. It’s fairly small, so you’ll be able to’t actually have multiple particular person in there at a time. We make it work by splitting the cooking duties 50-50. The children would love to assist, however at this level, they’re extra of a hindrance!
On framed pictures of buddies: I like placing up photos of friends and family so my children see all of the people who find themselves vital to them. Joanna and Georgie have a special relationship, so I hung this photo of them at the beach.
BATHROOM
Wall tile: Clé. Bathe curtain: Amazon. Stool: Amazon.
On a shared rest room: That is our solely rest room, and it’s on the second ground, so buddies simply head up there once they’re over. It’s the one room we renovated, aside from the kitchen, so I’m glad we made it enjoyable. Inexperienced is my favourite coloration, and this tile makes me so completely satisfied after I stroll in. Up to now, we haven’t discovered that anybody’s combating over the toilet — Zach and I simply bathe after the youngsters are bathed and in mattress. The one time it’s an issue is when everybody has to pee on the identical time.
Portray: Etsy.
On a parenting fashion: My husband is obsessive about music. He has a Disney playlist to assist our children get away from bed within the morning, and a relaxing playlist that he places on at evening. Throughout tub time, he’ll use a bit speaker to play their favourite songs and maintain them entertained. It’s not a parenting technique that may’ve occurred to me, but it surely actually works for him!
KIDS’ BEDROOM
Mattress: Ikea. Rug: Ruggable. Ceiling mild shade: HAY. Curtains: Havenly. Cover: Ferm Living. Mattress curtain: DKNY.
On sharing: My children are eight and 4, they usually’ve at all times shared a room. They prefer it! They assist make adorning selections, like the place the books go and what artwork we should always hold. Georgie, my four-year-old, selected the curtain for her decrease bunk — we name it her bear cave. I’ve additionally discovered that children are DELIGHTED by character bedding, like Linus’s Minecraft sheets. He loves them.
Quilt cowl: HAY.
On bedtime books: Linus, my son, is eight, and he can learn fairly effectively. Bedtime is at 8 p.m., however he’s allowed to remain up in mattress and skim so long as he desires (he often nods off by 9 p.m.). I’ll at all times discover the funniest books in his mattress that he’s collected from round the home. It’ll be like, a David Shrigley artwork guide and a cookbook. It’s so cute!
On children’ artwork: I discover lots of kid-friendly artwork on Etsy. And if we love a sure youngsters’s guide, I’ll search for the illustrator, who will usually promote prints. We’ve got an enormous print of Last Stop on Market Street. I additionally love our washable rug — we simply throw it into the bigger machines on the laundromat down the highway.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Mirror: Zara House, similar. Sconces: Etsy. Bedding: Piglet in Bed.
On priorities: Our bed room may be very small, however we nonetheless bought a king mattress. My husband and I are very completely different sleepers — Zach will get tremendous scorching, and if I’m near him I need to cuddle — so sleep is a LOT higher if we every have sufficient area to ourselves. The trade-off is we now have a mattress that takes up the entire room.
Rug: Amazon.
On overhead storage: One factor we neglected after we purchased the home is the truth that it had no storage. We added some wardrobes and cupboards ourselves, however this room was tough as a result of it’s so small. One evening I went to an occasion at somebody’s home and noticed she’d constructed a unit like this over her mattress — which hadn’t even occurred to me! I’d by no means seen something prefer it. I liked it a lot I designed one for our room and located a neighborhood woodworker, who made it. It’s superb how a lot stuff matches in there.
OFFICE
Curtains: Ikea, similar. Desk: Blu Dot, similar.
On muddle: My husband typically makes use of the workplace, however technically it’s mine — which is why there’s stuff in every single place. I actually similar to the aesthetic of a cluttered workplace, stuffed with artwork provides and ribbons and glue sticks. The extra muddle the higher!
Peg board: Kreisdesign.
On mess vs. memento: One factor I like about my home is that I can stroll by it, and sure, there’s plenty of stuff — however every thing holds a reminiscence. They’re issues that deliver me again to completely different occasions in my life and marriage: a trinket we purchased on the flea market in Paris, or ‘Oh yeah, we lived in San Francisco after we discovered that.’
Wall planner: Etsy.
On nostalgia: Some folks would say it’s messy to have all these things, however to me, all of it ties again to our time collectively.
Thanks a lot, Alison! We love your cozy residence!
P.S. Many more home tours, together with an empty-nester’s apartment in Copenhagen and a very colorful Connecticut house. Additionally, Alison’s week of outfits, and Alison’s Big Salad issue with her wallpaper before-and-after photos (reward hyperlink).
(Photographs by Lyndsay Hannah Photography for Cup of Jo.)
