Naj Austin’s Brooklyn Respite
Photographs by Melanie Reiders. This is an updated version of an article written by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason in 2021.
Naj Austin loves building community. As the CEO of Somewhere Good and Ethel’s Club, Naj has been working to build platforms around community and joyful connection for the past two years. It’s the buzzing Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights where Naj has been working on building her brands and creating a lovely retreat for herself.
Naj has lived in the 1000-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment for a little over a year. In that time she’s worked to make it her own, marrying the building’s historic bones with her own modern aesthetic. When describing the historic pre-war, she’s quick to mention that “it has been beautifully maintained. I feel more like the caretaker of a very loved home.” One look and you can tell that every room has been carefully considered. In the living room, an orange modular sofa fits right in among the stunning crown molding.
Panel doors and warm wood frame the living room. As a contrast, Naj has integrated modern furnishings and her growing collection of art and artisan pieces. “I had to design around all of the beautiful red wood in the apartment which felt daunting at first. I learned to lean in and embrace its texture and warmth,” she says. “I play a lot with the color in the main living space. I also have a lot of plants everywhere which adds a breath of fresh air.”
Every aspect of the interior is well styled. Naj had help from friends to bring the space to life. “Shannon Maldonado from YOWIE sourced a lot of the items in my apartment,” she reports. Naj also sourced items from artists and curators, including Saeed Akil Ferguson, Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy of BLK MKT Vintage, and Jared Blake and Ed Be of Lichen.
It’s the historic notes that Naj feels stand out most about her home. “The historic touches - you see it in the pocket doors, the shutters, the stained glass windows and the original hardwood floors,” says Naj. Those details add to the warm and familial touch of the interior. “When people walk in they let out a sigh of relief. It's definitely an oasis from the bustling Brooklyn streets.”
Inside the living room’s built-in shelving is an impressive collection of pieces. Artisan vases, bowls and hand-carved pieces are displayed among Naj’s collection of books.
“My home is a reminder of all the places I’ve lived, loved, and visited. [It’s] eclectic and cozy.” In the kitchen a cozy corner has been carved out for a work-from-home office: another showcase of Naj’s effortless mix of modern and historic pieces. A sleek black desk with a shelving unit is met with a natural wishbone chair for such contrast.
Beyond the work space, Naj has embraced the kitchen’s warm wood tones and added to them. A woodgrain island feels right at home among the oak cabinetry and original wood molding in the home. Greenery is the final touch to enliven the space.
A seating area featuring midcentury cane chairs feels like the perfect place to sit and relax. “[My home is] designed for comfort and gathering with a big couch and multiple sitting areas,” says Naj. A self-proclaimed lover of finding unique pieces for her space, some of her favorite places to source furniture and decor include Kroft, Chop Suey Club, Open Spaces and SchoolHouse.
“The bedroom is designed for rest and ease,” says Naj. “Near the windows are cozy pillows, chairs and books.” Cream walls and a white upholstered bed set the stage for a restful environment. Color is brought in with the addition of a Persian rug. The rug’s palette is mirrored in the pillows on the bed.
With large bay windows that are original to the brownstone, light fills the interior. In the bedroom light perfectly filters through onto the bed and provides plenty of sunlight for Naj’s collection of plants.
Every New Yorker needs storage in their space. And Naj has carved out a modern storage space in the bedroom. Again a modern contrast to the home’s original moulding, stark white shelving and gray drawers pop against the creamy walls in the bedroom. Bins from Open Spaces provide the final perfect touch.
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