Every Inch of This Brooklyn Loft Is Covered With Patterns
When Brandi Howe was dreaming up how to fill an eclectic loft, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, with colors, patterns, and one-of-a-kind wares, her goal was creating experiences. But not just in each of the rooms, which are distinct in their bold blend of art, antiques, fabrics, and wallpaper. She wanted the space to feel continually novel. “I wanted guests to have an experience,” says the interior designer. “Every time they visited…and maybe even a different experience every time.”
The layered, bold character of the loft was inspired by its resident, Camille Orders. The two are good friends, and Brandi says she indulged in a combination of colors and patterns in this loft to evoke the boldness of Camille’s character. “There are so many layers to her as a person,” she says of Camille. “And I felt her apartment needed to have just as many layers as her. So she was the biggest inspiration—her personality.”
While designing the apartment, Brandi took Camille along with her on extensive, daylong hunts for furniture and decor that could be used to evoke various moods throughout the home, including a particularly fruitful day at the Brimfield flea market, in Massachusetts. “We ended up filling the entire U-Haul with finishing touches—rugs, paintings, chandeliers,” Brandi says. “I wish I had a story of exactly where each piece began and where it had lived. You can just tell every piece would tell a story from somewhere different around the world.”
The irreplaceable pieces whose origin stories are unknown include: a Chinese checkerboard that reminded Brandi and Camille of their childhoods; a carousel horse that serves as a stunning, visual centerpiece in the room Brandi refers to as “The Red Room;” and a Japanese shelving unit that uses a complex system of joints instead of nails or screws.
