My Houzz: Modernist Icons Take the Floor in Brooklyn
A design student swaps mass-produced furnishings in his light-filled apartment with the real thing, one piece at a time
Brazil native Daniel Vianna has brought his clean and modern style from Rio de Janeiro to his new Brooklyn, New York, apartment. After settling into his rented space just a few blocks from The Pratt Institute, he wasted no time putting together an eclectic collection of seminal modernist furnishings. An industrial design student, Vianna wanted to go for something different than the standard matching furniture sets. “When it’s done it will be like a store,” he says. “A showroom for modern industrial design.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Daniel Vianna
Location: Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: Approximately 1,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Daniel Vianna
Location: Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: Approximately 1,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
CD: Why did you choose to mix the dining room chair styles?
DV: It’s nice to have a bit of contrast, as there are so many different pieces out there. When I have friends over, they get the chance to decide which chair to sit in. The Victoria Ghost Chair from Philippe Starck took a long time to buy because I wasn’t sure how it would fit or if I would like it here. But now, when my friends come over, I enjoy choosing that seat because it’s pretty simple.
Pendant lights: Piper Grande, YLighting
DV: It’s nice to have a bit of contrast, as there are so many different pieces out there. When I have friends over, they get the chance to decide which chair to sit in. The Victoria Ghost Chair from Philippe Starck took a long time to buy because I wasn’t sure how it would fit or if I would like it here. But now, when my friends come over, I enjoy choosing that seat because it’s pretty simple.
Pendant lights: Piper Grande, YLighting
Laminated glossy white cabinetry with knobless doors and European hinges provides just the right amount of kitchen storage. The countertop is Caesarstone Blizzard, and Design Within Reach's Crushed Bowl serves as a fruit bowl.
Scrabble piece magnets decorate Vianna's stainless steel refrigerator.
Scrabble piece magnets decorate Vianna's stainless steel refrigerator.
DV: I like this Masters Chair by Philippe Starck because it encompasses the shapes of the three classic chair forms in one piece, so it's kind of historically referential. It reinterprets the 7 Series by Arne Jacobsen, the Tulip Armchair by Eero Saarinen and the Eiffel Chair by Charles Eames all in one.
CD: What is your favorite collected piece?
DV: I don’t know if I could pick out a favorite. Although maybe this Moooi rabbit lamp. I like it because it’s kind of a joke. As one of a three-piece collection, they also designed one as a horse — as in, a life-sized horse with a lampshade above its head — and a pig table. The rabbit is more subtle. Plus, my 2-year-old niece is crazy for it. I lifted the shade and she kept pointing to where it attaches to the head of the rabbit and saying, “Take it off! Take it off!”
DV: I don’t know if I could pick out a favorite. Although maybe this Moooi rabbit lamp. I like it because it’s kind of a joke. As one of a three-piece collection, they also designed one as a horse — as in, a life-sized horse with a lampshade above its head — and a pig table. The rabbit is more subtle. Plus, my 2-year-old niece is crazy for it. I lifted the shade and she kept pointing to where it attaches to the head of the rabbit and saying, “Take it off! Take it off!”
The May Day table lamp by Konstantin Grcic, a playful lamp from FlosUSA, sits atop a Cappellini New Antique side table. A colorful Eames Hang-It-All gives Vianna a place to hang outerwear.
On the other side of sofa, a Bourgie Table Lamp, designed by Ferruccio Laviani, sits on a Cappellini side table.
What's the next addition to his collection? "There are so many pieces I want to have in the end, it's hard to choose what is next," says Vianna.
CD: Where did you source all these pieces?
DV: When I moved to New York from Brazil, everything in here was from Ikea. Piece by piece, except for the sofa, I’ve been able to replace the Ikea pieces with the real thing. I have pieces by Philippe Starck, Eero Saarinen and Vitra. They’re mostly from design stores, although some are from antique shops around New York.
What's the next addition to his collection? "There are so many pieces I want to have in the end, it's hard to choose what is next," says Vianna.
CD: Where did you source all these pieces?
DV: When I moved to New York from Brazil, everything in here was from Ikea. Piece by piece, except for the sofa, I’ve been able to replace the Ikea pieces with the real thing. I have pieces by Philippe Starck, Eero Saarinen and Vitra. They’re mostly from design stores, although some are from antique shops around New York.
CD: Do you have a favorite designer?
DV: I would say Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha. He has this style — industrial with colorful, modern textures. He creates these cold, concrete walls with everything in grayscale. That’s what I want to do whenever I go back to Brazil. It’s really great for me when you can see something and then create it. I hope I can design something like that in Brazil, a mix of modernism with unique textures.
Storage unit: Cloud by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Cappellini
DV: I would say Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha. He has this style — industrial with colorful, modern textures. He creates these cold, concrete walls with everything in grayscale. That’s what I want to do whenever I go back to Brazil. It’s really great for me when you can see something and then create it. I hope I can design something like that in Brazil, a mix of modernism with unique textures.
Storage unit: Cloud by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Cappellini
Southwest-facing glass doors allow natural light to completely flood the space.
Framed Andy Warhol soup-can prints line the hallway leading to the bedrooms and the bathroom.
CD: What design projects are you currently working on?
DV: I made a soap dish as my first industrial design project for school. I designed it with a parametric pattern and fabricated it on a 3-D printer. The dish is small, but I actually use it. I’ve also tested out the MakerBot, which I just got not too long ago. I haven’t been able to use it as much as I like since there was a two-month wait list.
DV: I made a soap dish as my first industrial design project for school. I designed it with a parametric pattern and fabricated it on a 3-D printer. The dish is small, but I actually use it. I’ve also tested out the MakerBot, which I just got not too long ago. I haven’t been able to use it as much as I like since there was a two-month wait list.
The mark of any good designer is a worn workspace with some character. This second bedroom is Vianna's work studio.
Vianna says his collection of modern design icons is far from complete, but it adds a dynamic and playful design twist to his temporary space in the meantime. He plans to take the collection with him back to Brazil after graduation.
Vianna says his collection of modern design icons is far from complete, but it adds a dynamic and playful design twist to his temporary space in the meantime. He plans to take the collection with him back to Brazil after graduation.
Vianna's apartment building is located in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill neighborhood. Host to many bars, restaurants and markets, it's a great place to be a young professional.
Houzz call: Are you a student with a creative, modern space? Share it with us!
Houzz call: Are you a student with a creative, modern space? Share it with us!
Chris Dorsey: How has being an architect and an industrial design student influenced how you designed your home?
Daniel Vianna: From a young age, younger than most, I have been interested in everything from furniture to building. I am 30 years old now, so I think it isn’t so much of being an architecture student that has influenced my personal design, but that my design has driven me to be a student — to always learn more.