In his five years working in strategic client partnerships at 1stDibs, Brad Thornton received a crash course in interior design. The former tech industry professional helped source furniture and manage logistics for both residential and commercial design firms, absorbing as much information as possible along the way. “It gave me the opportunity to learn how so many different studios work and to be a sponge and soak up so many different pieces and aesthetics,” he recalls.
This experience prepared Brad to launch Thornton Projects, a firm offering interior design, experiential design, and staging services. It also primed him to decorate his two-bedroom Central Harlem apartment in a very collected style. “I’m inspired by a lot of vintage finds,” he says. “It’s more on the eclectic side, but really wanting it to be curated, wanting it to feel clean, wanting it to feel warm, and super livable.”
Brad had to balance his charming, varied aesthetic with his boyfriend’s preference for contemporary minimalism, so the living room combines vintage gems like an ostrich skin mirror, an egg swivel chair, and shagreen consoles with a rectilinear West Elm sofa and a round bouclé ottoman. The two agreed on the custom green mohair cushions for the window seats, which overlook a leafy plaza.
A corner of the dining area features a pair of emerald velvet chairs, a pencil reed lamp, and a mini gallery wall. A beachy watercolor and a photo of New Year’s Eve at Studio 54 are joined by Brad and his boyfriend’s own retro family portraits for a personal touch. “We wanted to have a moment honoring family,” Brad explains. “We both had these ridiculous, very ’90s family photos. Everyone has their version of it, so it’s a sweet nostalgia point for whoever comes in.”
There wasn’t too much to do in the modern kitchen, with its glossy tile backsplash and flat-faced cabinetry, but Brad added a bit of personality with a faded red Block Shop Palm Runner on the wood floors and olive green cantilevered stools pulled up to the island. Similarly, he brought a tawny mat and a black ceramic vase of branches into the white marble bathroom for a little flare.
For the primary bedroom, Brad sought to create a relaxing oasis, so he leaned into “biophilic design elements” like an earthy palette, natural materials, and lots of flora. He crafted a dramatic makeshift headboard with a slab of black Nero Marquina marble, which he paired with uchiwa fan sconces, forest-hued Egyptian cotton sheets, and a vintage oriental rug in tones of green and brown.
Brad also leaned into the room’s asymmetry, pushing a tall, dark wood dresser against the exposed brick to the right of the bed and setting a small burl nightstand to the left. He then arranged an off-center alcove vignette with a vintage Danish cabinet and a trio of his own original paintings. “You’ve got to play with what you’re given,” he says. “That was a really cool part about it.”
The guest room, which doubles as an office for Brad’s boyfriend, includes a taupe velvet daybed, a brass side table from the Hudson Hotel’s closing sale, and a metallic tiger artwork that Brad found on the street. “My boyfriend loves big cats, so that was a nod to him right there,” he shares. “It’s a little cute.”
Both bedrooms open up to the terrace, which sits among the treetops for an urban jungle vibe. Brad enhanced the already-idyllic outdoor space with sculptural Faye Toogood Roly Poly chairs, Sheila Bridges Harlem Toile pillows, an acrylic Another Human table, and tons of potted plants. “My boyfriend jokes that if I’m having a bad day, I’ll come home with more plants for outside,” Brad says. At least the deck will only get greener.
