At home with kai Avent-deLeon

DUMBO House member and Creative Director Kai Avent-deLeon talks through the key pieces that turn her Brooklyn brownstone into a home.

A person sits reading in a stylish, well-lit living room with tall windows, wooden detailing, and modern furniture. Text: "at home with Kai Avent-deLeon."

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Brooklyn native and DUMBO House member Kai Avent-deLeon has always been energised by her creative neighbourhood, Bedford-Stuyvesant. She founded a café and concept store Sincerely, Tommy there, and recently renovated her apartment nearby. Influenced by the earthy colours and organic textures of the desert, her home features layered neutrals, found pieces, one-of-a-kind artwork and meaningful treasures, all simply offset against the brownstone's classic period features.

Woman seated on a plush chair, smiling and resting her chin on her hand, next to a toddler standing with a pacifier in its mouth, in a cozy room with a chessboard-like artwork on the wall.

'The architectural details of this space were the driving force behind my curation,' says Kai. 'The dark wood panelling is so prominent that it could easily consume the whole space; instead I worked to make it more of an accessory.' And so, every piece, from pared-back mid-century furniture to artworks painted by Kai or her friends, has earned its place. 'I never buy things just to fill a space. Everything is either something that I've collected from travelling, something I've made or designed myself or a piece that I know I'll be using frequently. I try to only put items in my home that I will carry with me for a long time.'

Kai Avent-deLeon
My interiors style has evolved drastically. I have gained a sense of appreciation for home that I just didn’t have ten years ago.

A round side table with a glass of water, stacked books, and a beige couch with striped and solid cushions in a cozy living room near an ornate wooden cabinet holding a sculpture.

A long branch with green leaves in a tall, white vase sits on a wooden dresser. Behind it, there is a white abstract painting and a stack of white plates.

A bed with neutral pillows and a grey blanket is situated next to a wooden bedside table holding books and a black lamp, beneath a wall painting of a tree branch and bird. Text visible on a book cover includes: "The New Jim Crow."

The two-storey apartment that Kai shares with her husband Nate and toddler son Ché owes its serenity in part to a gentle palette of off-whites, greys and neutrals. 'The desert is where I feel most at home in nature, so I wanted to bring a little of that,' says Kai. 'Those tones always make me feel grounded, especially living in a busy city.' Textures too, such as fluid ceramics and washed linens, add to the easy, organic feel. 'We'd like to buy a place upstate, where we can go a little more rustic, so pieces such as the aged Sagrada chair with its relaxed leather sling and the marble-topped Fleet side table will transition there beautifully.'

A woman sits on a kitchen counter smiling at a man in loose, light clothing who peels an orange. They are in a modern kitchen with dark countertops and a shelf with dishes.

White marble dining table set with minimalist plates, utensils, and glasses; a black bowl of oranges; surrounded by wooden chairs with woven seats on a hardwood floor.

A barefoot man with dark hair sits in a chair petting a brindle dog, set in a cozy room with a brick wall, bookshelf, and large window with beige curtains.

Though Kai's creative eye has produced a honed edit, her modern-minimalist style is infused with warmth thanks to unique found and own-designed pieces, including her artwork collection. The chequerboard piece hanging in the living room started life as a green canvas and 'evolved over time', while elsewhere works by friends are casually propped up or thoughtfully framed. 'I love that my friends are wonderful creators, so their works are among my favourite pieces,' says Kai. 'I look at our home as a source of inspiration as well as a sanctuary.'