When we visited designer Corinne Gilbert’s apartment in a former boarding house in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, one of our favorite details was her brave decision to forgo a typical living room sofa. Instead, Gilbert tops a futon (doubling as a guest bed) with rustic linen sheets, rows of pillows, and linens of her own design. The grown-up DIY living room is an idea we’d like to replicate; here are some similar sources for the job.
Above: Gilbert, who founded the former Brooklyn design shop MC & Co. with artist Dan McCarthy, designed the patchwork pillows. The two table lamps are an example of one of her design principles: “Layer your lighting—and always use dimmers,” from our post Expert Advice: How to Decorate Like a Frenchwoman. Photograph by Matthew Williams from Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.
The Basics
Above: Benjamin Moore’s Super White is $37.99 per gallon.
Furniture
Above: A Traditional Futon from Miya Shoji is $500 for a full size, and a coordinating Futon Cover is $200. An alternate option is a Full Size Japanese Futon Mattress by Emoor for $215.35 on Amazon.
Above: For keeping the futon flat, Keetsa’s simple Steel Bed Frame is $220.49 for the full size. For a versatile sofa bed, the Dorel Vermont Black Metal Futon Frame is $90.15 at Jet.
Above: The Slon Line by Ana Kraš for New York company Matter includes the Slon Pedestal, a sculptural maple tube base with a solid maple top available in nine different colors; $1,600 (made-to-order with a 10- to 12-week lead time at Matter).
Above: The Menu A/S Afteroom Side Table in black or white is $199.95 at Horne.
Lighting
Above: Atelier de Troupe’s Serail Table Lamp has a perforated brass shade similar to Gilbert’s living room side table; $485 for the small lamp.
Above: Workstead’s Bent Wall Lamp in black steel is $1,150.
Above: The Pletz Delhi IV Table Lamp is made of hand-rubbed cherry and has vintage appeal; $1,595 from Horne. An option at the other end of the pricing spectrum is the Mid-Century Wood Table Lamp by West Elm and Rejuvenation for $299.
Above: The Twine-Wrapped Table Lamp Shade is $24.99 at World Market.
Fabrics
Above: In Bed’s Linen Fitted Sheet ($175) and Linen Flat Sheet ($145) in Dove can be used to dress the futon mattress.
Above: The Woolrich Kelly Green Throw Blanket is $195 at Schoolhouse Electric.
Above: Libeco Napoli Pillows are $75 for the 15-by-15-inch size, $95 for the 20 by 20, and $110 for the 25 by 25 at ABC Carpet & Home.
Above: The Donegal Tweed Glencheck Cushion is €68 ($74) from 31 Chapel Lane.
For more Fort Greene interiors, see our posts Designer Lena Corwin at Home in Fort Greene and Indoor/Outdoor Living, Brooklyn-Style.
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation