Paper leaves spilling out of papier—mâché pots are the primary stuff you discover when getting into artist Corrie Beth Hogg’s Brooklyn condo. “The primary plant I made out of paper was my fiddle leaf fig,” she says. “I wished an precise tree at residence however I knew no plant would survive in our windowless lounge.” Right here, Corrie offers us a go searching, with images by Christine Han…
Picture above: Bookshelf: Ikea, related. Lamp with pink leaves: “The lamp base is thrifted, the leaf shade I painted following this NY Instances tutorial throughout the pandemic. It’s made to go over an current shade.”
Couch and occasional desk: “inherited from my nice aunt, an architect who labored in NYC within the ’50s.” related couch, related desk. Plaid blanket: Stag & Bruce. Yellow lamp: thrifted, related. Yellow facet desk: flea market discover, related. Rug: West Elm.
On creating crops: After I made that first plant, I stored making extra. Now it’s barely absurd what number of we’ve got. I even wrote a ebook about handmade houseplants! Our home is only a 10-minute stroll to the Brooklyn Botanic Backyard, and I am going there for inspiration.
On large concepts: First, I create a single leaf. Then I experiment with supplies and course of. Do I wish to use markers or coloured pencils or paints? And, how ought to I fold it to get the form proper? As soon as I’m pleased with it, I transfer on to creating extra leaves and developing the plant. I at all times inform individuals that you just don’t should mimic precisely what happens in nature. Being imaginative and daring is a part of what makes it enjoyable.
Dresser: thrifted. Pendant gentle, floral vases and cake stand: “I crafted them with papier—mâché.”
On a design should: You understand that marriage ceremony saying, ‘One thing previous, one thing new, one thing borrowed, one thing blue’? The identical is true for houses — however perhaps as a substitute you may say, one thing previous, one thing new, one thing inherited, and one thing in no matter coloration scheme you want! That method, your property will really feel welcoming and private.
On falling in love: Ryan and I met 12 years in the past on OkCupid. Our first date was a stroll in Prospect Park. He’s so supportive — he just about tells me all the things I do is nice! If I wished to color the ceiling pink, he would simply say, okay, and be completely unfazed.
KITCHEN
Tea kettle: Amazon. Inexperienced cupboard knobs: Amazon. Johnny Money and June Carter, and George Jones and Tammy Wynette block prints: Martin Mazorra.
On new recipes: Ryan works for MoMA, so early within the pandemic, he was residence and unable to work. Since I used to be working remotely, he took it upon himself to do all of the cooking — though at that time he may make solely a handful of dishes. Every week he tried out three recipes from the New York Instances Cooking. And he’s stored it up. Since then, we’ve loved a whole bunch of recent recipes.
On a comfortable drink: A ginger latte is my easy pleasure. You chop up 5 inches of unpeeled uncooked ginger. Put it in a saucepan with three cups of milk (whichever variety you want), and warmth all of it on the range over medium-high warmth. As soon as it begins to boil, decrease the warmth and let it simmer for quarter-hour. Then pressure out the ginger and add three tablespoons of maple syrup. It’s the most comforting, spicy drink.
Eating desk and asparagus: made by Corrie. Chairs: Goal, related. Rug: inherited. Yellow armchair: thrifted, related. Pendant gentle: Purple Barn Mild, related. Fruit poster: Evolution. Blue sconce: Amazon, shade by Etsy, related.
On making a desk: I put collectively this desk on my own. The highest is simply pine blanks, and I designed the legs on an Adobe Illustrator file, after which despatched them to be lower by a CNC machine. There are all types of companies that do that — you simply ship them your information, they’ll lower the items for you, and then you definately go decide them up.
On getting inventive: We don’t have a lot cash to spend on our condo. However constraints with money and time are a part of the inventive course of simply as a lot as my private style and enthusiasm. One in every of my favourite RadioLab episodes is about restricted decisions. Much less is feasible, however in a method, extra is feasible, since you toss off all these different choices so that you’re actually targeted.
Dolly Parton and Porter Wagner, and Kitty Wells and Purple Foley block prints: Martin Mazorra. Candle holder: made by Corrie (right here’s a tutorial on Etsy). Potato: “Present from a pal.” Dresser: inherited.
On musical gatherings: My hobbies are singing and enjoying guitar. My pal and I host an annual live performance at my condo. We invite individuals over and sing 5 – 6 songs. Our most popular style is homicide ballads — like Caleb Meyer by Gillian Welch. We each have a darkish humorousness. It’s not something severe, simply an excuse to hang around.
On favourite tunes: As a teen, I used to be a part of the punk scene, however I fell for nation music after I took a ‘Historical past of American Music’ course in faculty. Throughout the class, I noticed that the storytelling in early nation music — like Jimmy Rogers and Woody Guthrie — is much like punk music. They’re each striving for one thing higher.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Quilt and pendant gentle: made by Corrie. Sconce: Amazon, scallops painted by Corrie. Room divider: “Ryan and I made it with canvas, and I painted the scallops.”
On a chilled bed room: I have a tendency to hold onto issues, so earlier than I do know it, the condo will get stuffed with ins and outs. Due to this, I discover The Bible of British Style inspiring — the muddle of their images is similar to my sort of muddle! However I at all times assume, ‘In case our condo is just too chaotic for Ryan — though he has by no means mentioned something — I’ll make our bed room much less chaotic.’
Headboard and facet desk: made by Corrie.
On mixing patterns: I wished to maintain our bed room calm however nonetheless true to my love of playful patterns. So, as a substitute of experimenting with coloration, I labored with tonal varieties and scale shifts. For instance, if there’s a a tiny print — like a grid or ditsy florals — it could actually look good with greater stripes or giant blocks of coloration. I attain for patterns after I costume myself, too. I suppose a part of mixing patterns is simply not caring whether or not it goes!
On a night routine that caught: Each night time, I do a 15-minute stretch routine, which began after my hysterectomy. I received it completed final yr, and the restoration was horrible, so I couldn’t train. When my physician lastly mentioned I may transfer my physique once more, stretching was the one factor I may do. I began doing it day by day and now I simply can’t give up. My physique at all times feels actually good, even a very long time after I’m completed stretching.
WORKSPACE
Desk: “A large hole door from House Depot. The legs are tremendous easy sawhorse-style legs that I made.” Chair: classic, related.
On working from residence: I used to have a studio area, however now I like working from residence. I’ve been stunned by all of the alternatives for connection on-line. Throughout the pandemic, after I was considering leaving my full-time job, I made a decision to take up stitching once more. I drafted a sample to make a pair of pants. After I posted concerning the mission on social media, so many individuals had been {that a} girl developed my sample so different individuals may use it. It was such a cool second of neighborhood constructing.
On going grey: In artwork college, I dyed my hair pink and purple and blue, however since then, I’ve embraced my pure coloration. When my first grey streak emerged, I received so many compliments on my hair. Now, it’s salt-and-pepper throughout. Sometimes, I look within the mirror and assume, ‘Oh, I look older than I really feel.’ However from what I’ve heard, that feeling doesn’t go away you as you age. Self-acceptance takes work. I’m continually reminding myself that I like the way in which I look and the particular person I’m turning into.
On the significance of play: All of us have this instinctual pull in direction of creativity after we’re younger and unselfconscious — to sing and dance and draw and inform tales. However then what occurs is our anxieties and fears get in the way in which. We begin specializing in the top product. Am I making one thing stunning? Is it going to be excellent? Will different individuals prefer it? However, take into consideration all these pottery locations the place you possibly can go paint a pot with a pal. Most individuals don’t actually care about having an ideal pot on the finish. It’s spending time collectively and doing one thing inventive, which is such an intrinsic a part of being human.
Thanks a lot Corrie!
P.S. Extra home excursions, together with a leafy, plant-filled condo with area for meditative gardening and a small condo that may make you wish to paint.
(Photographs by Christine Han)
