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Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK

Meet Jessica Hendricks Yee, founder of The Brave Collection, color-enthusiast, and jewelry extraordinaire. Born in Paris, Yee grew up outside of Manhattan, and eventually went on to receive a BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch. Following in the footsteps of her mother, who owned a jewelry shop, Yee launched a collection of her own, with philanthropy in mind. The Brave Collection came about as a line of jewelry, handmade in Cambodia, to support local artisans and empower girls against human trafficking. Today, Yee’s growing community connects women from around the world, helping bring awareness to women’s right. We caught up with Yee in her colorful Brooklyn apartment get a peek inside the space she describes “refined California-cool with a Frida Kahlo spirit”.

Credits

Sofa abc carpet & home | Rug abc carpet & home | Chair abc carpet & home | Poof Moroccan Market Pillows Jill Lindsey | Green Planter sourced from market in Paros, Greece | Bench Anthropologie  | Picture Frames West Elm

Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK

Get to Know Jessica

My home in three words: Eclectic, Vibrant, Oasis

Soundtrack for getting things done:

I’m having a total Solange moment right now.

My space is inspired by:

My favorite cities – I am so energized by travel that even planning my next trip (real or wishful!) frees me from the doldrums we tend to sink into. I’m fascinated by understanding how different people live their lives, how they spend their days, how they see spirituality, and what they value. I love taking these pearls of wisdom and learnings back to my life in New York. Capturing this sagacity through tactile objects and bringing them into our home creates an atmosphere that fuels and inspires me.

Color scheme I’m currently coveting:

Blush, with the smell of Diptyque’s Roses candle burning.

My home splurge:

Our big white couch from abc carpet & home. It sets such a welcoming and relaxed tone and it’s ridiculously comfortable. It was well worth it!

If I weren’t a

human,

I’d be a

tropical fish.

Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK

Yee’s mod and understated kitchen serves as a neutralizing zone amidst the bright and bold details of the rest of the home.

Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK

The photo above the bar cart – along with the Hibiki whiskey – is a souvenir from Yee’s honeymoon in Tokyo!

Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK

We’re loving the curated feel of your entry. What’s the story behind those pieces?

We were having a fabulous and oh-so-LA vegan, Mexican dinner at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles, and fell in love with the Heather Levine wall hanging in the restaurant. We tracked down the artist and ended up bringing home two of her pieces. They are handmade with so much artistry, and pull in that California vibe we love so much. The wooden daggers I found at a flea market for $5!

Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK

The slippers we bought in a market in Morocco – we host big Shabbat dinners a lot and everyone always ends up taking off their shoes when they walk in from the gritty Brooklyn streets, so I wanted to have a fun, cozy, and colorful option for people. It’s kind of like the uniform or costume you put on when you enter to emerge into the experience.

Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK
Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK

Your home features so much color! How did you go about selecting the hues for each of the rooms?

My husband and I love to travel, so we wanted to bring in the energy of some of our favorite places – Morocco, Los Angeles, Mexico City – to build our little oasis, and that means color! I am drawn towards cool colors that feel oceanic, hence the Cookie Monster-blue, Moroccan rug in the living room, and the deep teal wall paint in the dining room. For our bedroom, we wanted to capture a bit of our newfound love affair with the desert, after our Palm Springs wedding, so we chose a dusty “Adobe” for the bedroom wall. I like how soft and serene it feels.

Credits

Paint Farrow & Ball | Dining Table and Chairs, Frames, and Vases West Elm | Plant and Planter Sprout Home

Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK

Credits

Paint Farrow & Ball | Night Table Anthropologie | Carpet Moroccan Market | Picture Frame Zara Home | Ladder Etsy | Turquoise Throw Ebay | Wall Hanging Heather Levine | Dreamcatcher Tulum

Photography by MICHAEL WILTBANK