Color Energizes a Brooklyn Countertop Apartment

For engaged couple Jenny Kaplan and Chris Corrado, compromising on their home decorating styles came with a happy surprise. Kaplan, a home furnishings and interior designer, moved into Corrado’s two-bedroom rental apartment in Brooklyn four years ago. “We had to find a happy middle ground that worked for both of us,” Kaplan says. This task proved to be personally and professionally rewarding, as it led to the vision behind their collaborative new line.

Eclectic Countertop Living Room by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Who lives here: Jenny Kaplan; Chris Corrado, director of Capsule Show; and their husky-German shepherd mix, Zuko

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York

Size: 1,300 square feet (121 square meters); Two bedrooms, two bathrooms

The front door of the apartment opens into the living room, which feels bright and spacious, thanks to the uncovered windows. “It’s a perfect place to entertain and hang out,” Kaplan says.

The new salmon-colored grid rug and the glass coffee table with the blue base are from their home line, Pieces, carried by Kaplan’s styling and personal shopping service, An Aesthetic Pursuit. Corrado bought the sectional before Kaplan moved in. Zuko, their rescue dog, enjoys relaxing on it.

Couch, chair and floor lamp: Design Within Reach

Eclectic Countertop Living Room by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Carefully edited new and vintage furnishings give the space an inviting vibe. This vintage chair got a makeover with new upholstery. A potted mother-in-law’s tongue finishes off the corner.

“Chris and I really inspire each other. Over the years, our styles have really evolved and become something of our own,” Kaplan says. Corrado, who is director of Capsule Show, a trade show featuring independent emerging fashion designers, has a decorating style that leans modern, whereas Kaplan’s style used to tilt toward eclectic and bohemian.

Fabric: Spoonflower; lamp: Design Within Reach; wall paint: Salamander, Benjamin Moore; Mirror Ball Pendant Light by Tom Dixon, Hive

Eclectic Living Room by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Sarah Seung-McFarland

The apartment has an open layout, and Kaplan decorated one space at a time to focus on how each area would come together and match her overall vision and budget. “I always work on a space room by room. It makes managing a budget much easier for me,” she says.

Half-painted walls anchor the room. “We like to incorporate a lot of color in a modern way,” Kaplan says.

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Eclectic Kitchen Countertop by Sarah Seung-McFarland

The couple focused on adding their own modern touches to the existing kitchen.

Bertoia counter stools: Design Within Reach

Eclectic Dining Room by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Sarah Seung-McFarland

The potted palm tree and other decorating choices make the sun-filled dining room feel like an island-inspired getaway within New York City. Kaplan furnished the space with inherited vintage pieces. The dining chairs once belonged to Kaplan’s grandmother, who had an impact on Kaplan’s sense of style. “My mom and grandmother have been major influences in the way I decorate,” she says. “Their taste level has been a standard I live by every day.”

Eclectic Living Room Countertop by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Artist Jenna Snyder-Phillips, a friend of Kaplan’s, created the graphic palm tree painting. Artwork is among the few items Kaplan is willing to splurge on. “It’s such a personal element of your home,” she says. “When you come across something that really strikes you, I always say you should go for it.”

Eclectic Living Room by Sarah Seung-McFarland

“I love plants,” Kaplan says, and she uses them generously throughout the apartment, including in this small windowsill garden.

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Eclectic Living Room by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Sarah Seung-McFarland

A console provides storage for serveware in the dining area. The abstract artwork above is also by Snyder-Phillips.

Eclectic Bedroom by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Sarah Seung-McFarland

The guest bedroom, which doubles as a home office, is Kaplan’s favorite room in the home. The ombré wallpaper was, in her words, “a bit of a splurge,” but it helps creates a tranquil mood and gives the room visual depth.

Wallpaper: Calico

Eclectic Bedroom Countertop by Sarah Seung-McFarland

A vintage lamp on a glass-and-metal table and a salmon-colored rug combine to create a chic modern vignette.

The large fiddleleaf fig adds a dose of glamour to the calming space, and the reflection from mirrored closet doors creates additional depth and interest.

Closet: Pax, Ikea; rug and Frame series side table: Pieces

Eclectic Bedroom by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Sarah Seung-McFarland

A traditional table lamp and stone-topped metal side table set on an asymmetrical rug from the couple’s line strike a playfully polished tone.

Float series table: Pieces

Eclectic Living Room by Sarah Seung-McFarland

Sarah Seung-McFarland

Opposite the bed are custom wall shelves. The light, bright colors and clean lines feel light and airy. The shelves are used for display and as a place to store papers and other home office supplies.

Art: Jesse Chun (left) and Ward Roberts (right)

Eclectic Home Office by Sarah Seung-McFarland