Ed Roth, owner and artist of Stencil1, has an affection for blending the old with the new. Using its exposed wood post and beam building and lovely high ceilings, his home in a onetime bakery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, has come to be a cool and comfy loft filled with colorful street art, gathered finds and the blank lines of modernist furniture.
“I have been here for approximately three and a half a year now. I really found it before it was finished,” says Roth. “I walked around and watched pigeons in here, flying around these beautiful first beams. I simply loved it.”
in a Glance
Who lives here: Ed Roth and his dog, Larry
Location: New York City
Size: Around 900 square feet
Chris A Dorsey Photography
“I really appreciate refurbished buildings instead of new ones,” says Roth. “There’s something about the combination of the old and the new.” He combined a mix of modern and antique elements to reflect the character of this old bakery.
Pendant lights: CB2; couch: Room & Board; TV stand: Oly Studio; carpeting: Crate & Barrel; ottoman: custom; floor lamp: classic
Chris A Dorsey Photography
One of Roth’s original stencil bits, hand painted onto fabric, hangs over the TV. He explains the technique used to create this bit in his publication Stencil Style 101 (Chronicle Books, October 2012).
Floor fabric: bought in Provincetown, Massachusetts
Chris A Dorsey Photography
“I love restored furniture, however I also would like to be comfortable,” says Roth. While he sticks with new upholstery, he loves finding classic accessories and tough furniture, such as this old desk.
Desk: Ugly Luggage, Williamsburg
Chris A Dorsey Photography
The kitchen had been built, but Roth had a contractor thicken the countertop. Limited storage space made organization challenging at first, but he quickly came up with customized solutions, for example new fitting closets.
Chris A Dorsey Photography
A chest that belonged Roth’s grandma sits along with the new walk-in closets. Roth placed a piece of driftwood found at a yard sale in New Jersey next to it. Limited-edition Andy Warhol soup cans for Target in addition to the refrigerator can be repurposed after in DIY projects.
Baskets: Crate & Barrel; carved wood block: ABC Carpet & Home
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Roth loves spending time at the dining area. “When you are living in under 1,000 square feet, everything has to be multipurpose,” he says. “I eat here [at this table]; when people come over, we are apt to congregate around itI do the majority of my job on it.”
The table, which Roth located at a garden shop in Brooklyn, sits just a bit taller than the couch in the adjoining living space. “I like to vary heights, because when everything is uniform and in one height, it becomes pretty boring,” he says.
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Roth enjoys decorating around what he calls”secret topics.” He says,”I like little bits dotted around who have significance to youpersonally, but somebody else might not necessarily notice.”
Each shelf on this unit has a different theme. “I have one for family with a few photographs, one for comedy and things that make me laugh, another for friends and so forth,” Roth says.
He has also incorporated the idea of topics to a living room cupboard, including trinkets such as his great-grandfather’s pocket view. “It is fantastic when your distance can definitely become an extension of you,” he says.
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Tucked underneath the stairs, this hidden piece of Space Invaders artwork was discovered through an online art auction. “I love street art, since it’s an outdoor gallery — bits of creativity sometimes hidden in the cityscape,” Roth says. “I like the spirit of an artist that will put something outside for people to see. There’s often a playfulness or wit at the job that especially appeals to me.”
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Roth tends to go for neutral pieces and accents with a couple of vibrant colours. The yellowish artwork in the foreground here provides a shot of bold colour to the walls. Local artist Patrick Bradley designed it by means of a photo transfer with silkscreen.
Artwork (rear wall): Marcus Jansen
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Natural light floods the upstairs space, creating a cozy escape. Framed prints of Salvador Dalí’s”Seven Days of Creation”out of Spain hang over the bed. “I love Dalí and love the faint, subtle quality of these drawings,” says Roth. “I like the bedroom to be cerebral and more calmer in colour.”
Nightstand lamp (right): Nash, CB2; headboard: Nailhead Upholstered Headboard, West Elm
Chris A Dorsey Photography
A crate-turned-nightstand is a standard instance of the way that Roth combines new and old as well as combinations principles with high-end splurges. This simple yard-sale crate contrasts superbly with the reading lamp.
Reading lamp: wood and ceramic Function lamp, Dick Van Hoff
Chris A Dorsey Photography
“It is wonderful to have the attic with the bedroom leading right outside,” Roth says. “I like the varying levels and uneven space. I really would like to build something and create another level in addition to this.”
Chris A Dorsey Photography
As one of the lucky few New Yorkers with an outdoor space, Roth spends a lot of time on his terrace. “I really like I can see some new road art pieces around the area,” he says. Multiple seating areas and also a barbecue make this a fantastic spot for entertaining.
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Ed Roth and his dog, Larry, enjoy the sun-drenched living room. This laid-back home works for the two of them.
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