It’s never an easy feat to merge two individual styles into one cohesive home. Especially when one half of the resident couple is a creative director with an appreciation for all things modern and minimalist, and the other is a lawyer with a bohemian flair. Enter Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors: She was brought in to seamlessly spearhead this blending of aesthetics and transform a Williamsburg rental into a warm and welcoming retreat.
Jeff and Tara were first drawn to the one-bedroom apartment because of their love for the neighborhood—and those wood beams. The floor-to-ceiling windows and open concept living space added to the appeal. Yet Molly had her hands full when it came to nearly everything else—essentially, a 1,000-square-foot, blank, and white canvas that was limited in possibilities by rental restrictions. “I like to think of those constraints as a challenge that actually gets my creative juices flowing,” Molly shares. “There’s something really fun and freeing about a purely furnishing and decorative project.”
The couple began by settling on a grounding palette of amber and blue tones, selecting neutral pieces to anchor the space and accents with more saturated hues. Jeff, the creative director, had an existing collection of meaningful furniture and art pieces that served as inspiration for the main living area. The midcentury sideboard beneath the television once belonged to his grandfather. Molly came up with the idea to highlight its presence by surrounding it with a custom Soil & Oak pipe-and-wood shelving unit. “What’s fantastic about pipe-and-wood units is that they have the weight and quality of built-ins, but are portable for renters,” Molly explains. Plus, she notes, working with an independent maker like Soil & Oak is more affordable than buying from West Elm or CB2, and is completely customizable. Together, the sideboard and wall unit create the centerpiece of the living room, forming an installation display of found objects and personal treasures significant to the couple’s relationship. Artwork by Keren Toledano, a portrait of the couple’s dog, selections from Jeff’s personal library, and the New York Times crossword puzzle from the day of their first date are prominently featured.