While I like being able to have final say in what goes into my home, I do sometimes wish that I had a partner to bounce ideas off of; someone opposite me that pushes for ever-unique solutions to design challenges. The most interesting creative work I have ever seen was born out of two un-likeminded individuals working together under a shared vision. One of my favorite examples of this is Dior designers Raf Simons and Pieter Mulier. One blunt, one more of a waffler, one caring, the other brazen — they complemented one another so well, that the final collection they created was truly visionary.
Menswear designers Shaun and Astrid’s Harlem, NY co-op is the perfect example of how styles can converge to create something personal. Having lived and worked in California, Shaun has a soft spot for knick-knacks and a laid-back, coastal vibe. His wife Astrid’s German upbringing, on the other hand, has instilled in her a love for clean lines and minimal aesthetics. When they moved into this one-bedroom spot four years ago, finding the right balance of their two styles was a bit challenging, but ended up organically shaping the space’s look. “It was important that our apartment feel like a home and not like something decorated by a stranger,” the two say. In order to achieve this, they draped each room in elements that remind them of travels together and the people they’ve met along the way. This “visual diary of [their] life together” isn’t only pleasant on the inside. It sits on one of the quietest streets in Manhattan with a rooftop garden that Shaun and Astrid call the best part of their home. Take a peek at the rest of the clean and cozy apartment that they share with furry friends Artos, Chaplin and Sanderson after the jump. Enjoy! —Garrett
Photography by Shaun Crowley
via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1M6NKHS From Garrett Fleming
