This Brooklyn Railroad Apartment Feels Like a Countryside Cottage

Photos by Cody Guilfoyle

During the past 20 years in NYC, I’ve spotted a gazillion celebrities, and I rarely fan-girl out. But! The other day, I passed Cyrus Ferguson on the street and grabbed my friend’s arm. “That guy is hilarious on Instagram!” I told her. So, when he reached out about doing a home tour, I immediately said yes. Here’s a peek into the top-floor apartment of Cyrus and Brooke Brazer, his equally awesome spouse…

How did you two meet?
Brooke: “We lived in the same freshman dorm in college. We were a will-they-won’t-they couple.”
Cyrus: “It was all about fleeting glances across the room, or our elbows touching while watching a movie.”

Who finally made the first move?
Brooke: “Well, on Valentine’s Day, I was like, ‘This is a silly corporate holiday,’ and he was like, ‘Totally.’ And then he leaves me a flash drive where he sang a song he had written for me and played three instruments!”
Cyrus: “I like the big romantic gesture. I love a story; I love a bit. So, I was like, Okay, when I asked her out, it has to be part of an elaborate treasure hunt or scene. And then she was like, ‘Can we just date?’ and I was like, ‘Oh! Yeah! Yes, please!'”

DINING AREA:

Table: Restoration Hardware. Chairs: GFURN, similar. Candlesticks: Ikea.

Where did you find the amazing green painting?
Brooke: “Cy made that!”
Cyrus: “I wanted a big piece of abstract art. I couldn’t afford one from a real artist, so I had an ongoing Craigslist search for ‘extra large canvas.’ Eventually, I found a Brooklyn painter who was selling giant canvases, and I walked one back across the bridge, and I had the idea to put acrylic paint in a spray bottle and just spray it.”
Brooke: “I came home one day and there were tarps everywhere, and the fan was full speed, and Cy was like, ‘Look what I’m doing!’ You could tell it brought him joy.”
Cyrus: “There’s one area that drips and kind of bothers me, but I’ve accepted that life is imperfect.”

KITCHEN:

Shelves: Ikea. Ceiling light: Etsy. Kettle: Target. French press: Le Creuset, similar. Tiffany lamp: vintage on Craiglist.

What a pretty blue!
Cyrus: “The apartment used to be ketchup and mustard colored, but our friend, who lived here before us, DIY-ed the blue kitchen cabinets. She had a vision! We wanted to infuse our own footprint, so we installed lights and fans.”

LIVING ROOM:

Sofa: Clad Home. Rug: Loloi. Upcycled pillows: Etsy. Monet pillow: Etsy. Throw: Etsy. Floor lamp: HK Living. Credenza: Organic Modernism, similar. Boucle chair: Lulu and Georgia. Candlesticks: Painted Swan. Modular desk: Beam.

What do you love most about the apartment?
Cyrus: “We lived here during a time when the outside world was chaotic and scary, so our home was a retreat. We love living in a city and always will, but at the same time, we want to feel like we’re in a countryside cottage. It’s gratifying when people come in and say, ‘Wow, I love how your apartment FEELS.'”
Brooke: “I came from having roommates, and this was our first time living together, so it was really fun to combine our styles.”

How would you describe your styles?
Brooke: “I like fuzzy bouclé textures, and Cy has an eye for vintage.”
Cyrus: “I grew up obsessed with eBay, Etsy, Craigslist, Facebook marketplace. I have my list of ongoing searches: ‘vintage nightstand,’ ‘9×12 vintage rug pink.’ Tiffany-style table lamp was one of my big searches for a long time, and we found that one!”

I’m always curious with house tours: what’s wonky about the place?
Cyrus: “The bathroom. When you’re on the third floor of an older Brooklyn brownstone, it takes a long time to flush. You have to hold the flusher down for like 10 seconds.”
Brooke: “Whenever we had people over, I didn’t know how to tell every single person. So, I handwrote a note: “Hello! I am an old toilet!’ etc. I also explained how to use the bidet. It ended with ‘Enjoy?'”

BEDROOM:

Linen bedding: Matteo. Velvet pillow: Etsy. Bed frame: The Inside. Fans: Lumens. Mirror: CB2. Floating shelf: CB2. Quilt: Etsy. Rug: Bashian. Wreath: Anthropologie. Hanging planter: Rooted. Tiffany lamp: vintage on Craigslist.

How did you choose the wall color?
Brooke: “We went with a white with a slight mauve undertone, since some study said that has a more soothing effect.”
Cyrus: “We need as much of that as we can!”
Brooke: “We are all about the mental health around here. For the bedding, I liked the soft brown color.”
Cyrus: “I was skeptical, but in our design relationship, I tend to be the sourcer of ideas, and Brooke has the good gut instinct to say, yes, that’s the one. It worked out well.”

What’s your bedtime routine?
Cyrus: “We do indulge in end-of-day TikTok. We’ll watch 30 to 40 videos, which is kind of like watching an episode of TV because they’re all like one minute.”
Brooke: “My love language is sending TikTok clips to someone I love and watching them watch it. ‘Oh, I knew that would make you laugh!'”

Thank you so much, Cyrus and Brooke!

P.S. More house tours, including a cluttered-in-the-best-way Minnesota apartment (with a sweet dog) and a family’s dream home in Sacramento.

(Photos by Cody Guilfoyle.)