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For photographer Sunny Shokrae, her Iranian heritage is deeply rooted within the design of her home. The townhouse—which sits on a “beautiful brownstone block with the nicest neighbors we’ve ever had,” as Shokrae cites it—is situated in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant. Built in 2005, the duplex, which Shokrae shares with her husband, Ryan Kelley, and their 9-month-old son Leo, is roughly 1,183-sq-ft and features a decorative scheme that reflects the couple’s taste. However, that is not to say that either one didn’t have to make a compromise or two when it came to decorating it.

“We can both be very alpha when it comes to taking control so we’ve talked over certain details over and over until either we compromise or one of us gives up,” says Shokrae of having had to combine her decorative style with that of her husband’s—a goal which the couple successfully accomplished. Take one look around the home and it’s obvious that the duo managed to seamlessly integrate their differing aesthetics, one that resulted in a tasteful and cohesive finish.

Aaron Bengochea

Aaron Bengochea

Shokrae, who was 7-months pregnant when they first moved into the home, found herself faced with a space that had come out of a very poor reno. “There used to be a brownstone where we live now but it burned down and they built a townhouse in its place in 2005. Since then it was bought and flipped (flipped very poorly, unfortunately),” she recalls of the original state of the home.

As far as decorative aesthetics go, there is something to be said of maintaining a design scheme that still manages to yield a family-friendly atmosphere—especially when the younger ones are involved. Such was a factor Shokrae kept top of mind when it came to decorating her home. “We try to be intentional with what we bring in for him. I think the biggest help has been passing things down as quickly as possible once he’s outgrown it—clothes, toys, gear, etc,” she says of her intention to strike the delicate balance between designing a space that is family-friendly yet design-forward.

Aaron Bengochea

While the majority of Leo’s items are corralled within his room, he does have a mini area in the living room where he plays. “It helps to be intentional and to keep things organized and tidy,” Shokrae adds, “this is something we’ll continue to work on as Leo gets older, it’s easier now that he’s small because he doesn’t require too much, the real challenge is still ahead of us.”

Of the eclectic slew of found objects abound, it’s clear that Shokrae’s Iranian roots play a major role in her decorative style. Naturally, worldly accents are ever-present, imparting her space with an impressionable and unique quality. “It’s instinctive and sometimes impulsive, but always edited down,” she notes of the thoughtfully curated quality her space embodies.

Aaron Bengochea

In the dining room, Marcel Breuer dining chairs surround the statement-worthy table set atop a rug that Shokrae scored on eBay. On top, a set of antique candle holders come paired with cobalt blue candles, which result in an effortlessly chic color combination courtesy of the piece’s unique metal finish. To complete the scene, a cheeky painting that Shokrae procured from Bali, which draws on the tones of the area’s inspired palette, further informing the stylistic direction of the room.

“I’m Iranian which means meals and eating are a very important time to be with family and to socialize,” says Shokrae of the thought that was involved in designing the space. “I wanted to make sure we had a space that we could entertain and have dinner parties in and also a place to eat together as a family.”

Aaron Bengochea

Keeping in line with the idea of taking a family-first approach to the design of her home, Shokrae was adamant in sticking to said decorative form, especially when it came to the living room. Given the open floor plan layout, it was crucial for the couple to establish zone-specific areas throughout. Enter their eclectic array of collected woven floor pieces, which brought on a bold dose of texture and style.

They began with a handful of traditional Iranian rugs, which the couple received as wedding gifts (they are now located in the bedroom and nursery) and then slowly began to grow their collection from there on. “We needed something for the living area that wasn’t too precious because we knew there would be spills on it, so we bought a used one that was very beat up and steam cleaned it, then we started stalking eBay for rugs to fill other spaces that seemed naked,” notes Shokrae.

Having found themselves with more than their fair share of rugs, Shokrae says she is now at a point where they can only replace what they have, in lieu of adding anything else in. “We can only get something if it’s totally unique, we need to replace one, or it’s an amazing pictorial rug that we both love and can’t resist,” she says. “There was this amazing green runner with tigers on it that we lost in a bid and I’ll regret that for as long as I live! I’ve never seen anything like it since.”

The kitchen, which sits directly adjacent to the living room, boasts a relatively pared down color scheme, one that allows the eye-catching elements of the surrounding rooms to take center stage instead. The off-white finish of the cabinets blends right in with the whitewashed

subway tile

that comprises the backsplash, completed by the stainless steel appliances and chrome pulls and fixtures.

Pops of blue are scattered throughout, inviting an alluring color detail that instantly elevates the otherwise monochromatic space. “The red runner, wood stools, pops of cobalt blue just felt like a nice touch to bring some personality into it without adding too much chaos (I love a primary palette),” notes Shokrae of the design. “The kitchen can be a chaotic place so feeling zen in it is necessary.”

Aaron Bengochea

Drawing from the palette implemented in the kitchen (as well as the remainder of the home), the master bedroom boasts a similarly inspired scheme. Vintage prints, hanging greens, and decorative accents that come in Shokrae’s signature cobalt blue are just a few of the design elements that comprise the serene bedroom. Given that those details are not too far of a cry from the home’s established scheme, it’s easy to draw parallels from room to room—the cohesiveness being the result of a thoughtful approach to how Shokrae and her husband chose to tackle on the design of their abode.

“The kitchen can be a chaotic place so feeling zen in it is necessary.”

Aaron Bengochea

The bedroom’s stylistic direction was one that heavily relied on details and personal touches, two elements which Shokrae put a heavy emphasis on, with a focus on the proportional configurations of the items involved. “Everything else should be size appropriate: for example, the size of the bench at the end of the bed is just right—not too wide, perfect height, and slim for the space it occupies,” she adds.

And for as tempting as it can be to fill her relatively small home with items, it’s all about establishing balance and keeping a mindful approach to what she brings in. “Measure whatever you’re thinking of bringing in to make sure it’s the perfect size and it won’t impose. You gotta be able to walk around freely!”

Aaron Bengochea

Aaron Bengochea

As stunning as the interior is, the true hidden gem of the home can be found within the exterior. For as rare as an outdoor space can be in New York City, stumbling upon one as well-designed as Shokrae’s is equally so. And if that weren’t enough, imagine our surprise when we happened upon the fact that the family is blessed with not one but three outdoor areas earmarked for leisure.

The deck, which is situated off the kitchen, overlooks the backyard the family shares with their tenants—an area that’s all about comfort with entertaining in mind. The former of the two was designated as a spot where the family could enjoy breakfast in the mornings or retreat to for a little fresh air throughout the day.

And while as nice as the two aforementioned areas are, the real show-stopper would have to be the roof. Cocktail hours, sunset views, daytime kiddie pool sessions for Leo, are just a few of the many uses the space was designed for. Linen cushions lend a delicate complement to the wood furniture, which establishes the thoughtfully curated zone. “We wanted the roof to be a relaxing place to lounge and we wanted a conversation pit type layout,” says Shokrae of the space. “We also wanted to have an area for Leo to play freely without worrying about splinters from the wood deck so we got a large grass turf.”

Aaron Bengochea

For as perfect as it sounds, it’s no surprise that Shokrae considers it her favorite spot in her home, citing the open sky and the constant breeze as two primary reasons for such. Two very rare and highly-coveted elements in the city.

Aaron Bengochea

Aaron Bengochea

All in all, Shokrae’s home is one she refers to as a work in progress, proving that the design process is one that is never truly complete. “A pendant for above the dining area, wainscotting, floor and crown molding…there are so many things on the back burner until after we get some real serious things taken care of,” she adds. Be that as it may, we think her home is perfect as is.

Aaron Bengochea