My Houzz: Personal, Joyful Style in an 1895 Harlem Apartment
A designer’s renovated 4-story brownstone features cool original details and fun collections
Decker had been renting a small studio in midtown Manhattan when his best friend relocated to Harlem. “We spent every weekend exploring the restaurants, bars, lounges and clubs of the area, and certain places became our favorites. Because of the wonderful people and atmosphere, before long I wanted to move here permanently.” After over two years of looking at countless brownstones, Decker fell in love with the one he is in now.
“I figured out the usage I wanted and designed the layout myself,” the homeowner says. The renovation took about 10 months, and Decker lived in the building through it all. “It proved challenging. One night a big chunk of ceiling fell down on me when I was sleeping. As a New York designer — who of course wore obligatory all black to work — I was continually wiping off dust,” he says. Decker also worked closely with designer friend Stanley Hura throughout the renovation process.
“I figured out the usage I wanted and designed the layout myself,” the homeowner says. The renovation took about 10 months, and Decker lived in the building through it all. “It proved challenging. One night a big chunk of ceiling fell down on me when I was sleeping. As a New York designer — who of course wore obligatory all black to work — I was continually wiping off dust,” he says. Decker also worked closely with designer friend Stanley Hura throughout the renovation process.
Displayed on a living room wall is a collection of vintage African-American beer signs Decker found while designing Harlem Shake, a local burger restaurant with a retro vibe that he co-owns. Most of the signs were found on eBay.
“One day at the flea market I made the ‘mistake’ of buying a vintage store display rack for paperback books. I love the art on the ’50s ‘pulp fiction’ books, so I can’t resist when I see great art on the cover and it’s going for a cheap price,” Decker says. “The rack was inexpensive, but it did encourage an obsession. I must say the stories can be fun….”
“One day at the flea market I made the ‘mistake’ of buying a vintage store display rack for paperback books. I love the art on the ’50s ‘pulp fiction’ books, so I can’t resist when I see great art on the cover and it’s going for a cheap price,” Decker says. “The rack was inexpensive, but it did encourage an obsession. I must say the stories can be fun….”
Decker says of his decorating philosophy: “I wanted to personalize [my home] with things that bring me joy.” These might be things that inspire memories, are beautiful, make him laugh or transport him to a special atmosphere. “As a New Yorker, empty space is the biggest luxury, so I am in a constant state of decluttering.”
“My decoration has been fairly self-directed. I create interiors for others and always start with the basics: usage, flow, practical needs, and then go from there,” the homeowner says. “I try to make every area have its own specific function. As someone who lived in a studio apartment for many years, I wanted to take advantage of every inch of my large space.”
Here, large raw steel shelves keep his collection of books and magazines organized.
Here, large raw steel shelves keep his collection of books and magazines organized.
“My typical day starts off with coffee on the terrace, a quick workout in the historic park a block away, and then settling down to my computer by the third-story window facing south, to coordinate the day’s tasks,” Decker says.
Before: Buried under layers of linoleum were original wood floors that Decker had refinished.
“We were continually uncovering the original beauty of the home. There were at least 12 layers of linoleum, which were so much fun to go through. It was like a time machine,” Decker says. “I even found a pair of women’s lace-up boots from the 1800s in the floorboards while renovating.”
How to restore a wood floor hidden under layers of linoleum
“We were continually uncovering the original beauty of the home. There were at least 12 layers of linoleum, which were so much fun to go through. It was like a time machine,” Decker says. “I even found a pair of women’s lace-up boots from the 1800s in the floorboards while renovating.”
How to restore a wood floor hidden under layers of linoleum
On both sides of the living room fireplace, Decker had large floating metal panels fabricated and painted with blackboard paint. “Thus it is ever evolving, with magnetized postings or chalk artwork, from my friends or me. I never allow it to get stale,” he says.
After: In this area off the living room, the homeowner added a new sink and mini fridge and bar, convenient to the living room without having to go upstairs to the kitchen.
Decker put in a spiral staircase to connect the two floors. He restored all the original wood trim.
“I am an artist, so I tend to see art in things that others may not necessarily consider as options. I found the two papier-mâché masks above my bed on the sidewalk outside the local park, awaiting trash pickup,” Decker says. “And as a New Yorker, a good bit of my furniture has been found on the streets.”
The two sidewalk finds are a sculptural addition to his bedroom wall.
The two sidewalk finds are a sculptural addition to his bedroom wall.
This green cabinet in the master bedroom is a salvaged military bookcase. “I am really trying to minimize, so I try putting my clutter all together in special spots. The cabinet showcases collected ephemera from a life of world travel and sordid experiences. I used to be a Pan Am flight attendant, and would bring back things that made me smile, usually not expensive,” Decker says. “In this cabinet I have everything from Japanese toys to African carvings, a Balinese monkey god, crystals, design awards and gifts from friends. And even my Eagle Scout badge!”
After: “I brag that I have the coolest bathroom in Harlem,” Decker says. It still has the original wood paneling and sitting nook, as well as the original wood-rimmed claw-foot tub, pull-chain toilet, marble sink, dumbwaiter closet, floor and wall tiles. “They all show age, but that adds character,” he says. While the condition of things was poor, Decker worked tirelessly to maintain and restore as much of the original look and feel of the room.
After: “I really love that the water tank and pull chain of the original toilet was still there when I bought the place. They were using a ’70s toilet at the time, so I replaced it with a vintage salvaged toilet and connected it up with the overhead tank,” Decker says. “It makes an impressive flush! The bathroom is a continual favorite hangout spot at my parties.”
This is the guest bedroom on the top floor.
“I live by myself, although being in New York, I enjoy a constant flow of guests,” Decker says. He rents out his second bedroom, which he’s named Harlem Hideaway, to vacationers. It has a private entrance and bathroom.
A favorite feature in this room is the Guest List wall, which started with one of Decker’s parties. “It now has thousands of signatures, with notables such as Kate Spade, Joel Grey, Josh Hartnett, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jadakiss. Every new guest adds his or her own, and it is continually evolving. The marking pen is always ready,” the owner says.
This 1800s desk was a gift from a contractor friend who salvaged it while clearing out an old house in Harlem. The 1940s chair was from another friend’s childhood home and given to Decker when he helped stage and declutter her home to sell.
“When people visit a new place, they usually have images in their minds that they like having reinforced; thus, the Empire State Building references,” Decker says. This poster is from the Tenement Museum in New York. “I love the nostalgic ode to the city’s greatest icon, and I like the humble look of thumbtacks rather than a formal frame. The small Empire State Building figure is a typical older souvenir thermometer. “The stereoscopic viewer from the 1800s showcases different New York City landmarks, which I change out periodically,” he says.
After Decker reconfigured the building for an internal spiral stairway, it made for an awkward ledge by the top floor landing. “Being directly under a skylight, and in the middle of the building, it felt right to accentuate the natural light coming in, even if it was with unnatural grass,” the homeowner says.
He fabricated three raw steel shallow trays specifically for the grass. The accented stairway wall is orange, so the three bright green squares present an ideal complementary color.
“At times I change out the ledge with a live plant, and river rock in the shallow trays. I believe design should always be easy to evolve, and never be static, whether it means new chalk drawings on my huge blackboards or just changing out the sofa pillows,” he says.
He fabricated three raw steel shallow trays specifically for the grass. The accented stairway wall is orange, so the three bright green squares present an ideal complementary color.
“At times I change out the ledge with a live plant, and river rock in the shallow trays. I believe design should always be easy to evolve, and never be static, whether it means new chalk drawings on my huge blackboards or just changing out the sofa pillows,” he says.
The fireplaces, once coal burning, are nonworking.
“I like the look that comes from usage. A friend gave me a family heirloom dining table that was impeccable. It had a glass top, which I removed. Now I can see the wear on the table and it makes it more interesting and personalized,” Decker says. “As Jackie O. once said, ‘Use the good china.’ What are we saving it all for? Life is to be lived now and if a plate breaks, well that’s what happens.”
Going with laminate stock cabinets helped the homeowner stay on budget. As for the doors, “they’re ribbed and look like the corrugated inside of a cardboard box,” Decker says.
“My favorite spot in all of New York is my front stoop, eating takeout food, reading the paper with my coffee on Sundays or having a beer in the evenings,” Decker says. Often friends and neighbors pass by and it becomes an impromptu gathering spot. “One memorable summer Saturday started out on the stoop by myself and ended up with about a dozen friends and neighbors, takeout food, boom box music and bottles of wine,” he says.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Dennis Decker
Location: Harlem neighborhood of New York
Size: 2,200 square feet (204 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Dennis Decker still remembers the smell of soap and the sound of classical music playing the first time he checked out his 1895 Harlem brownstone. “It had a worn, faded glory and the major details and bones had not been removed,” he says. “The flip side of this is that it was fully occupied, with 11 units, and needed major TLC and upgrading — being adorned with fluorescent lights, inadequate electrical, an old boiler, linoleum floors and multiple paint layers.”
The branding and interior design consultant bought his four-story home in 2000 and converted what was once a rooming house with one shared bathroom per floor into four individual units. The top two floors make up his apartment, the first floor has two units and there is a garden-level unit with a separate entrance.
“The first thing I did when I bought my place was order a street tree for the front sidewalk. I ordered a honey locust for filtered shade,” Decker says. “Finally it has reached the level of my living room, providing beauty and privacy in the south-facing windows. So I like sitting in the leather chair in the living room, facing the leaves.”