He Transformed His LES Apartment To Feel Like His Minnesota Childhood Home.

Steven Hammel, an artist and set designer who has resided in the Lower East Side for 22 years, has meticulously transformed his apartment into a nostalgic recreation of his Minnesota childhood home. His apartment, located in a high-rise built in the 1950s that offers expansive views of the East River, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Williamsburg bridges, stands as a unique blend of urban living and rural Midwest aesthetics. Hammel’s design philosophy is rooted in a do-it-yourself approach, reflecting the community spirit of his upbringing on a cattle ranch 150 miles north of Minneapolis. The apartment, initially an all-white space, has evolved over the years through Hammel's creative interventions. The first project he undertook was painting a faux red-brick wall in the kitchen, setting the tone for the entire residence. His design choices incorporate painted timber-lined walls, faux patio trellises, brick, plaid patterns, and various trompe-l’oeil confections. Hammel describes the overall inspiration as a "midwestern ranchhouse family room in the basement," aiming to evoke a sense of comfort and familiarity. He explains the simplicity of creating faux wood finishes using an undercoat of golds or pinks with a top wash of brown in a strié fashion. The living room, which also serves as Hammel's studio, is adorned with "kitsch" ’70s wall decorations, including three-dimensional plastic art from companies like Burwood, Syroco, and Sexton, mostly sourced from eBay. He complements these with artworks he painted himself, all contributing to an Early American theme. The furniture in his living room includes pieces salvaged from his building's trash room, such as a fireplace. His work for nonprofit theater companies, like Wild Project, where he is exhibiting his paintings, influences his home decor, featuring themes such as parade floats, marching bands, fast-food architecture, and '70s cookware in distinctive harvest gold, avocado, red, and brown shades. The bedroom mirrors his childhood room with its comforting red, white, and blue palette. Here, he uses eBay-sourced curtains and a wall sticker for the headboard, demonstrating his affinity for three-dimensional decorative elements. The wall facing the bed is transportation-themed, featuring planes, boats, and cars, again utilizing three-dimensional art. His bookshelves are filled with a 40-year collection of history books known for their compelling graphics. The foyer, which once featured faux padded tufting in pink, now contributes to the apartment's unique character. A hallway leading to the bedroom is treated with faux wood, and '50s and '60s figures, reminiscent of Americana and Dennison cutouts, add to the nostalgic atmosphere. In the bathroom, wall decorations, a gift from a friend, are consistent with the plastic art found elsewhere in the apartment. The kitchen features life-size figure cutouts, which Hammel reproduced from a 1974 Milton Bradley teacher learning tool, "Diverse People in Your Community." These cutouts were specifically created for a play at Wild Project. The kitchen's concept, Hammel notes, is akin to the tin dollhouses of the 1950s, envisioned as a patio space, complete with a patio bar cart he received as a gift. The apartment's spectacular views of the river and bridges provide a striking contrast to the interior's cozy, Midwestern-inspired design, creating a truly personal and evocative living space. #HomeDecor #ApartmentDesign #MidwesternInfluence #StevenHammel #DIYDecor #FauxFinishes #VintageDecor #NYCInteriors #HomeDecor #ApartmentDesign #MidwesternInfluence #StevenHammel #DIYDecor #FauxFinishes #VintageDecor #NYCInteriors

35 months ago

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