My Houzz: Color Breaks All the Rules in This NYC Apartment

Bradford Shellhammer is not afraid of color. Vibrant hues fill every inch of the Manhattan apartment he shares with husband Georgi Balinov. It’s the perfect showcase for a fearless approach to decorating and a design aesthetic that feels welcoming and, most of all, fun.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Bradford Shellhammer and Georgi Balinov
Location: Manhattan
Size: 1,300 square feet (121 square meters); 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms

High ceilings, 12 giant windows and views of Sixth Avenue initially drew Shellhammer to this apartment. It also had enough space to fit all of his design ideas. “I mostly just filled it with my possessions. The bones and design were already perfect,” Shellhammer says.

The colorful cubes, topped with playbills, rockets, books and other objects, are a design of his own that he had manufactured in Poland.


The living room, which Shellhammer also calls the meeting room, is the main gathering area when friends come over for a night of drinks or lunchtime conversations with some of New York’s most innovative creators, like the founders of Aminimal Studio, Svetlana Blum Briscella and John Briscella. The blue chairs are a guest favorite.

Blue chairs: Facett, Ligne Roset; Andy Warhol Brillo poufs: Quinze and Milan


“My home is always full of art, things I’ve collected around the world on my travels and gifts from friends,” Shellhammer says. Every item has a story to tell.

He loves choosing daring wall colors to add instant personality, even if it’s a daring choice. “Painting the walls pink felt like a design risk. The color is so bold,” he admits.

Prouvé Potence lamp and Nelson Ball clock: Design Within Reach; antlers: Cast + Crew


“I’ve always been interested in interior design. As a teenager, I would wallpaper my room from floor to ceiling with rock posters. I still fill my walls from floor to ceiling — just now with art,” Shellhammer says.

The layering of textures and design elements is also characteristic of his design technique, giving his space maximum dimension.

Josef Albers nesting tables: MoMA


Shellhammer has an affinity for intense primary colors coupled with bold graphics, as seen here with a bright yellow sofa and graphic accent pillows.

Eames Sofa Compact: Herman Miller


This heart-shaped sculpture on the wall, by artist Keri Muller, is made out of recycled books and was purchased on a trip while visiting Cape Town, South Africa.

The black and white photographs were gifts from Brooklyn photographer Andre D. Wagner.


Vintage posters, “Imagine Peace” as a nod to John Lennon and a poster for the ’80s English rock band New Order, decorate a corner in the living room. “Music is my first inspiration,” Shellhammer says. “I’d be lonely without it.”


The length of the dining room table allows for multfunctional use. It’s often decorated with both the sandwiches and the laptops of Shellhammer’s colleagues on working days spent outside of the office.

The view from where Shellhammer often chooses to sit overlooks the Manhattan landscape. When drawn, the blinds still provide enough transparency for a silhouette of the skyline, or they can be pulled up entirely for an opportunity to daydream. The casement windows can also be opened on breezy mornings to get some fresh air into the space.

Eames molded fiberglass side chairs: Herman Miller; rug: Fab


There is never any need to turn on the lights in the daytime, thanks to all the natural light, but the canopy-style fixtures from Louis Poulsen still manage to be showstoppers.

Dining plates: James Victore


Essentially, the home is divided into two distinct parts. “I entertain in one half, and I sleep and bathe in the other wing,” Shellhammer says. The kitchen serves as a transition space into the bedroom and bathrooms. Stainless steel countertops and wood cabinetry help neutralize the visual transition.


Shellhammer’s bedroom space is filled with iconic pieces, including a signed Milton Glaser poster, a gift from the artist, who included a note: “This was my reaction to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. I hope it helped. All proceeds will go to the NY charities hurt by the events of that day.”

Wall paint: Black Horizon, Benjamin Moore


The centerpiece artwork in the bedroom is “Querelle,” a screen-print impression of the Andy Warhol original. There are only a few of its kind.

Tolomeo lamps: Artimede


The bedroom is also home to a small office area that provides extra storage space.

606 Universal Shelving System: Vitsoe; Tulip armless chair: Knoll


A photo of Shellhammer and husband Balinov in face masks is displayed on the shelves in the office area. It marks time for the two, as it has traveled with them through a couple of apartments now. “We’ve been in this space for two years,” Shellhammer says.


A collection of nearly 87 hats artfully hangs in the hallway.


Even the guest bathroom has a hat of its own for a light fixture.


The colorful art in the main bathroom includes pieces given by the Warhol Foundation.

Prismatic table: Isamu Noguchi, Vitra


Red boxing gloves on an upper shelf are a tribute to the iconic photograph of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat taken in 1985.

It’s hard for Shellhammer to decide which design element makes him most proud. “I like different things on different days. I couldn’t choose!”


The hallway outside of the main bath contains a small sitting area and table.

Elephant stool: Sori Yanagi, Vitra; Eames Aluminum ottoman: Herman Miller


“This is my dream space, but I also have, like, 40 other dream spaces,” jokes Shellhammer, seen here. “Apartments in Paris or a beach house … but in NYC this one is pretty darn perfect.”

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