Images by Lyndsay Hannah Images
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 Really 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 pondering how cool that was.” Have a look round…
ENTRYWAY
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Wallpaper: Home of Hackney. Mirror: Goal. Umbrella stand: Classic, related.
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 shifting 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 received a job provide right here. My husband I lived in San Francisco on the time, so it was a giant determination, however we determined to go for it. And it was the perfect determination we ever made.
Hat: Inside Joke. Hooks: West Elm, related.
On discovering house: We did tons of analysis earlier than shifting, then checked out a bunch of neighborhoods. We seemed on the Higher West Aspect (You’ve Received Mail is my favourite film). We seemed throughout Brooklyn and finally chanced on 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 out of doors cloth (“Very kid-friendly!”). Striped chair: Classic, reupholstered in Sunbrella. Pharmacy lamp: Classic, related.
On discovering the home: This home, constructed within the 1850s, was one other large 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 a number of work to do. We consider the home as a long-term challenge that we’ll simply maintain engaged on each time there’s money and time to take action!
Ceiling fixture: Schoolhouse, related. Curtains: Pottery Barn. Rug: Customized, from AfriKesh on Etsy. Throw pillow: Lulu and Georgia. Espresso desk: Etsy. White chair: Goal. Checked throw: Amazon.
On a beloved, impractical sofa: I discovered the fainting sofa on a used-furniture website, 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 highly regarded with company, despite the fact that it’s small. At any time when we’ve got 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 a giant guide household, and we attempt to do issues that encourage our youngsters to learn as a lot as potential. We now have no restrictions on studying, and I really 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 choose one up and flip via it.
TV stand: Goal.
On historical past: There are a number of imperfections and elements that can want updating later. Typically I’ll go to pals’ locations, and I’ll be like, ‘Ah, it’s so good and trendy!’ My home is layered with 150 years of individuals doing their very own updates, like a toilet pipe that comes straight via our lobby. However in some methods, I like that. It makes me really feel related 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 out of doors cloth, so now the children 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 Residence, related. Chairs: Classic, related. Cupboard: West Elm, related.
On going darkish: Some individuals get freaked out by the thought of black paint, however — as my husband and I usually joke — it hides a number of sins. In an previous home, it helps obscure all of the little dents and bizarre 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 advantageous for now, however finally will want extra work. It’s fairly small, so you possibly can’t actually have multiple individual in there at a time. We make it work by splitting the cooking duties 50-50. The youngsters would love to assist, however at this level, they’re extra of a hindrance!
On framed photographs of pals: I like placing up photographs of family and friends so my children see all of the people who find themselves vital to them. Joanna and Georgie have a particular relationship, so I hung this picture of them on the seaside.
BATHROOM
Wall tile: Clé. Bathe curtain: Amazon. Stool: Amazon.
On a shared lavatory: That is our solely lavatory, and it’s on the second ground, so pals simply head up there after they’re over. It’s the one room we renovated, apart 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. Thus far, we haven’t discovered that anybody’s preventing over the toilet — Zach and I simply bathe after the children are bathed and in mattress. The one time it’s an issue is when everybody has to pee on the similar time.
Portray: Etsy.
On a parenting fashion: My husband is obsessive about music. He has a Disney playlist to assist our youngsters get off the bed within the morning, and a relaxing playlist that he places on at night time. Throughout tub time, he’ll use somewhat speaker to play their favourite songs and maintain them entertained. It’s not a parenting technique that will’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 Dwelling. Mattress curtain: DKNY.
On sharing: My children are eight and 4, and so they’ve at all times shared a room. They prefer it! They assist make adorning choices, like the place the books go and what artwork we must always dangle. 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.
Cover cowl: HAY.
On bedtime books: Linus, my son, is eight, and he can learn fairly properly. Bedtime is at 8 p.m., however he’s allowed to remain up in mattress and browse so long as he needs (he normally 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 a number of kid-friendly artwork on Etsy. And if we love a sure youngsters’s guide, I’ll lookup the illustrator, who will usually promote prints. We now have a giant print of Final Cease on Market Avenue. I additionally love our washable rug — we simply throw it into the bigger machines on the laundromat down the highway.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Mirror: Zara Residence, related. Sconces: Etsy. Bedding: Piglet in Mattress.
On priorities: Our bed room may be very small, however we nonetheless received a king mattress. My husband and I are very completely different sleepers — Zach will get tremendous scorching, and if I’m near him I wish to cuddle — so sleep is a LOT higher if we every have sufficient area to ourselves. The trade-off is we’ve got 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 night time 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 cherished it a lot I designed one for our room and located a neighborhood woodworker, who made it. It’s superb how a lot stuff suits in there.
OFFICE
Curtains: Ikea, related. Desk: Blu Dot, related.
On muddle: My husband generally makes use of the workplace, however technically it’s mine — which is why there’s stuff all over the place. I truthfully similar to the aesthetic of a cluttered workplace, filled with artwork provides and ribbons and glue sticks. The extra muddle the higher!
Peg board: Kreisdesign.
On mess vs. memento: One factor I really like about my home is that I can stroll via it, and sure, there’s plenty of stuff — however every little thing holds a reminiscence. They’re issues that convey 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 individuals would say it’s messy to have all these items, however to me, all of it ties again to our time collectively.
Thanks a lot, Alison! We love your cozy house!
P.S. Many extra house excursions, together with an empty-nester’s residence in Copenhagen and a very colourful Connecticut home. Additionally, Alison’s week of outfits, and Alison’s Large Salad subject along with her wallpaper before-and-after photographs (present hyperlink).
(Images by Lyndsay Hannah Images for Cup of Jo.)
