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A Minimalist Existence: Ben Wagner

A stylish apartment is equal parts decorative and functional, and Mr. Wagner’s studio apartment slots well into that category. It’s a small but charming spot with high ceilings and a warm feel throughout, right in the heart of downtown Brooklyn. Mr. Wagner was gracious enough to allow us into his space and show us around, as well as give us a few tips on furnishing an apartment with a minimal touch.

As a designer and art director yourself, what qualities of design do you find most attractive?

I value simplicity and efficiency. I’m drawn to natural materials and clean lines, and value items that strike a good balance between form and function.

Your studio is small, but incredibly well curated. Striking a great balance between art, furniture, and personal pieces. What’s been the design process for furnishing your home?

Thank you! It’s been a process. We started with the layout of larger items that we knew we needed (bed, couch, desk, and kitchen cart). I’m a big proponent of not rushing into purchases; I prefer to live with the space a little, see what I actually use, then add and remove items over time. Since it’s a small apartment, we try to buy fewer items that each serve multiple functions, and make sure even utilitarian objects are beautiful as well as functional so they can be displayed and not tucked away. The rug was a more recent addition that has totally transformed our space.

Upon walking into your studio, it feels warm and lived in. How would you describe its mood?

Warm, calm, and (I hope) clean!

Do you organize objects in your apartment to create a certain atmosphere?

Not really. We thought about the functional flow of a space for the layout of larger items and prefer to retain an open floor plan as much as possible. I think plants add a lot of life to a space, so I make sure to have a few in every room.

Have you done any architectural work on the space?

We rent, so we’re not allowed to make any significant or structural changes, but we did install some built-in bookshelves in the corner nook (which was previously a kind of weird, wasted space), and some floating shelves in the kitchen and closet for display and storage.

Living in a smaller space, how do you maintain clutter?

Three words: a cordless vacuum. Haha.

In truth, it can be hard to keep a small space feeling clean because as soon as one thing hits the floor, the whole space starts to feel messy. We try to keep things picked up during the week—some weeks are better than others—and do a deeper clean on the weekends. I have a box of smaller decorative items that I rotate out every once in a while to keep things de-cluttered while adding some variety.

What’s your method for figuring out what to keep versus what to get rid of?

It’s fairly straightforward. I’m a big fan of the “if you haven’t used it in a year, get rid of it” rule. But I think the work starts before that, in avoiding bringing anything home that you don’t want to stay there. I often joke that there is a “one-in, one-out” policy with everything in our apartment that we try to stick to.

Do you have any additional tips for people on how to strike a balance between collecting just the right products versus keeping your space minimal? 

Pare down and think about what you really need before making new purchases.

Try to buy objects that are both functional and beautiful.

Use art and plants to give your space a unique life and character.

Don’t worry so much about things “matching.” If you buy what you love, it will all feel cohesive in some way.

For more design and decor inspiration, visit Ben Wagner on IG here.

If you liked this story, check out more in our Urban Transplants issue.


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