Houzz Tours
My Houzz: From a Bakery to a Cool Loft in Brooklyn
Soaring ceilings with exposed beams and a stereotype-defying patio make a Williamsburg artist's home a thing of beauty
Ed Roth, artist and owner of Stencil1, has an affection for mixing the old with the new. With its exposed wood post and beam construction and wonderful high ceilings, his home in a onetime bakery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, has become a cool and comfortable loft filled with colorful street art, collected finds and the clean lines of modernist furniture.
"I've been here for about three and a half years now. I actually found it before it was even finished," says Roth. "I walked around and saw pigeons in here, flying around these beautiful original beams. I just loved it."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ed Roth and his dog, Larry
Location: New York City
Size: About 900 square feet
"I've been here for about three and a half years now. I actually found it before it was even finished," says Roth. "I walked around and saw pigeons in here, flying around these beautiful original beams. I just loved it."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ed Roth and his dog, Larry
Location: New York City
Size: About 900 square feet
One of Roth's original stencil pieces, hand painted onto cloth, hangs above the TV. He explains the technique used to create this piece in his book Stencil Style 101 (Chronicle Books, October 2012).
Floor cloth: purchased in Provincetown, Massachusetts
Floor cloth: purchased in Provincetown, Massachusetts
"I love restored furniture, but I also want to be comfortable," says Roth. While he sticks with new upholstery, he loves finding vintage accessories and hard furniture, like this old desk.
Desk: Ugly Luggage, Williamsburg
Desk: Ugly Luggage, Williamsburg
The kitchen had already been built, but Roth had a contractor thicken the countertop. Limited storage space made organization difficult at first, but he quickly came up with customized solutions, such as new matching closets.
A chest that belonged Roth's grandmother sits on top of the new custom-built cabinets. Roth placed a piece of driftwood found at a yard sale in New Jersey next to it. Limited-edition Andy Warhol soup cans for Target on top of the refrigerator can be repurposed later in DIY projects.
Baskets: Crate & Barrel; carved wood block: ABC Carpet & Home
Baskets: Crate & Barrel; carved wood block: ABC Carpet & Home
Roth loves spending time in the dining area. "When you're living in under 1,000 square feet, everything has to be multipurpose," he says. "I eat here [at this table]; when people come over, we tend to congregate around it; I even do most of my work on it."
The table, which Roth found at a garden store in Brooklyn, sits just a little taller than the sofa in the adjoining living space. "I like to vary heights, because if everything is uniform and at one height, it gets pretty boring," he says.
The table, which Roth found at a garden store in Brooklyn, sits just a little taller than the sofa in the adjoining living space. "I like to vary heights, because if everything is uniform and at one height, it gets pretty boring," he says.
Roth enjoys decorating around what he calls "secret themes." He says, "I like little pieces dotted around that have significance to you, but someone else might not necessarily notice."
Each shelf on this unit has a different motif. "I have one for family with a few photos, one for humor and things that make me laugh, another for friends and so on," Roth says.
He has also incorporated the idea of themes into a living room cabinet, which includes trinkets like his great-grandfather's pocket watch. "It's fantastic when your space can really become an extension of you," he says.
Each shelf on this unit has a different motif. "I have one for family with a few photos, one for humor and things that make me laugh, another for friends and so on," Roth says.
He has also incorporated the idea of themes into a living room cabinet, which includes trinkets like his great-grandfather's pocket watch. "It's fantastic when your space can really become an extension of you," he says.
Tucked underneath the staircase, this hidden piece of Space Invaders art was found through an online art auction. "I love street art, as it is an outdoor gallery — bits of creativity sometimes hidden in the cityscape," Roth says. "I like the spirit of an artist who will put something outside for people to see. There is often a playfulness or wit in the work that especially appeals to me."
Roth tends to go for neutral pieces and accents with one or two vibrant colors. The yellow artwork in the foreground here adds a shot of bold color to the walls. Local artist Patrick Bradley designed it by layering a photo transfer with silkscreen.
Artwork (rear wall): Marcus Jansen
Artwork (rear wall): Marcus Jansen
Natural light floods the upstairs bedroom space, creating a cozy retreat. Framed prints of Salvador Dalí's "Seven Days of Creation" from Spain hang above the bed. "I love Dalí and love the faint, subtle quality of these drawings," says Roth. "I like the bedroom to be more cerebral and calmer in color."
Nightstand lamp (right): Nash, CB2; headboard: Nailhead Upholstered Headboard, West Elm
Nightstand lamp (right): Nash, CB2; headboard: Nailhead Upholstered Headboard, West Elm
A crate-turned-nightstand is a typical example of how Roth combines old and new as well as mixes basics with high-end splurges. This simple yard-sale crate contrasts beautifully with the Dutch reading lamp.
Reading lamp: ceramic and wood Work lamp, Dick Van Hoff
Reading lamp: ceramic and wood Work lamp, Dick Van Hoff
"It's nice to have the loft with the bedroom leading right outside," Roth says. "I like the varying levels and uneven space. I really would like to build something and create another level on top of this."
As one of the lucky few New Yorkers who has an outdoor space, Roth spends a lot of time on his patio. "I really like that I can see some new street art pieces around the neighborhood," he says. Multiple seating areas and a barbecue make this a great spot for entertaining.
Ed Roth and his dog, Larry, enjoy the sun-drenched living room. This laid-back home works for both of them.
See more pictures of this loft
Houzz call: Do you live in a creative loft? Share it with us!
See more pictures of this loft
Houzz call: Do you live in a creative loft? Share it with us!
Pendant lights: CB2; sofa: Room & Board; TV stand: Oly Studio; carpet: Crate & Barrel; ottoman: custom; floor lamp: antique