An Artist's Bedroom Sanctuary

Tell us about you.

I’m an artist and a minister living in Riverdale in the Bronx, NY. I’m retired and enjoy spending my time doing the things I love. I’ve got 2 grown children and a cat named Sheena who joined me during the pandemic when things became lonely. I’ve helped build an art community in Riverdale and love community building and teaching. My art, sculptural work, and other pieces I’ve created are hung around my apartment -- it’s a big part of my décor. I’ve taught at Wave Hill and private classes. As an interfaith minister, I have the joy of joining people in matrimony all over NY, especially in Central Park. What motivated you to make improvements to your bedroom?

Part of my bedroom was set up as an office with a lot of electronics and stacks of papers. That served me for a while, but as my interests turned to art and ministry, I wanted to create a more beautiful, cohesive, and serene space. My idea was to highlight some of my art and create a bedroom that serves my current lifestyle. That desire intensified during the pandemic when I was spending more and more time inside my apartment. In terms of organization, my goal was to determine what I needed to hold onto and organize those items in a more functional and pleasing way. Also, some of my furniture was no longer adequate, and I needed solutions.

A desk, printer table, and closed cabinet were replaced with open shelving integrated with a large filing drawer (all from West Elm). The shelving now displays unique art, plants, books, and travel objects.

What impact has your new bedroom had on your life?

When I walk in, I smile. Rather than being overwhelmed and frustrated and wanting to walk out and close the door, I’m enjoying seeing my art in just the right places. I like the airy and open feeling now. Vanessa helped me find excellent, functional, and beautiful storage for my documents and objects that I use frequently. As an artist, I’m a person who really loves beautiful surroundings and I don’t hold onto things that are not functional. It was not a matter of having too much stuff, it was more an issue of finding good solutions to store my things and make them easily accessible. We decided what I could sell and what I could give away in order to make space for what was needed based on the function and beauty I wanted.

My bedroom is now my sanctuary. It used to be a room to simply sleep, but now I actually love spending time there. Sometimes I just stand and smile as I look around. I thought I only needed to get rid of my desk and find some storage solutions, but as things started coming together, I realized that some things just didn't fit in. One solution led to another.

The process really opened my eyes to what I needed in terms of function and cohesion. That was accomplished with a small budget and within a fairly short time. Vanessa worked with what I had, moving simple paintings to other areas, and some of my art now hangs in areas where they are better displayed.