
Mother Stories
Meet Artist, Mama, & Swede-Turned-Brooklynite Fanny Gentle
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Jasmine Gregory
Jan 20, 2015
When someone’s home decor philosophy is “lived-in and loved” we already know we’re going to get along. Which is the case with the Sweden-born, Brooklyn-dwelling artist Fanny Gentle, mother to 2 1/2-year-old Oscar (“Ozzy”) and wife to photographer Bill Gentle. The stylish mama, who once made a street-style splash by wearing white overalls to her City Hall wedding, recently invited us into her colorful, art-filled home to showcase her unfussy aesthetic and outlook on parenting. Get ready to relate.
- "Eclectic, modern, homey." Fanny wears Sleepy Jones pajamas and Stegmann slippers. Ozzy wears Pixie Dixie pajamas and John Lewis slippers.
- "Our bedroom. I like it because it has a calm vibe and not too much stuff. I love my grandmother's tapestry on the wall and the ceramic bell with moon and stars by Michele Quan."
- "Lived-in and loved. I hate when things feel over styled and showy."
- One of Ozzy's many sets of paws.
- Art and color abounds.
- "Functional and fun. I try to keep things away, so it's not too cluttered."
- "Oz's artwork."
- Pin the tail on the mommy.
- "We've been here three years. We consolidated our apartment and studios into a bigger newly built duplex in Greenpoint when I got pregnant. It's been a really great place for us, but now we are looking to buy."
- Breakfast is served.
- "I have to be much more efficient with my time, which is both good and bad. I've always had a hard time with patience, but now feel like I'm on zen-master level!"
- "How incredibly time-consuming and hard work it is. I mean, I thought I knew, but I really didn't."
- A tapestry by Fanny's grandmother.
- "To see my boy grow."
- "War and all the crazy things happening in the world."
- One of many originals, above the staircase.
- "Take it easy and spend time with friends and loved ones." Ozzy wears a shirt and jeans from Gap, and John Lewis slippers.
- "When I meet Oscar, I just knew that that was his name, it suited him."
- "I get to be with Oscar every day."
- "Breakfast, play time, outdoor time, lunch, nap, more play time, dinner, books, bed."
- "His spirit. My mother said to me, 'You have finally found your match,' and I think I have."
- "I think I was a lot older when I had my first child, which is good and bad. You're more responsible, but less flexible."
- "I feel like in Sweden motherhood is more respected. There's one year paid leave for the mother and six months for the dad. Then, very, very inexpensive kindergarten. Free schools and healthcare. It's hard to argue with that. Mothers here having to go back to work after three weeks is pretty inhumane. I do think you can get great care here, and good schools, too, but it can be pretty expensive."
- "My mom friends in our neighborhood. They are really hardworking and caring. I get a lot of inspiration from them." Fanny wears a Casey Casey dress, Patagonia leggings, and a vintage gold Rolex watch given to her by her husband for her 30th birthday.
- "Culture lady meets eccentric dandy. I like men's clothes, vintage French workwear, and big airy kaftans."
- "Yes, it took me awhile, but I think I know myself more now. I dress for myself and not for others."
- "Casey Casey coat, Makie dress, A.P.C. jeans, and my black New Zealand work boots."
- "A.P.C. jeans, an Indian kadhi men's shirt, Dosa sweater, and black boots. I go out very little and never know what to wear." Fanny shows off some of her own artwork.
- "Dosa, 45 RPM, Casey Casey, Egg—designers who really care about the clothing they make."
- "In person. I tried online, but it was a disaster. I need to try things on to see how they fit and feel."
- Out into the cold.
- "I would love a pair of Church's Shanghai shoes and for Ozzy there is always stuff at Trico Field we love." Fanny wears a Casey Casey coat, Comme Des Garçon pants, Mainland boots, and Daniela Gregis scarf. Ozzy wears Bogs boots, coat and jeans from Gap, hat and shirt from Trico Field, 45 RPM scarf, and mittens from Peru.
- "I paint and draw. Through hard work and friends."
- "It's been a few great jobs on the way, Kiehl's holiday windows was a really fun project to work on."
- "I think it has. I'm growing up and I think it reflects in my work."
- "Oscar is now in school three days a weeks and with our nanny, Anne, one day, so that helps a lot."
- "I love to paint and experiment."
- "The community where we live, it's really great."
- "California, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, New Zealand, and Mexico City."
- "The Natural History Museum, Brooklyn Children's Museum, local libraries, and Twinkle." For more city-specific tips from Fanny, stay tuned for her Mother Hoods guide, coming later this week.
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Glad to see Fanny barefoot in pics #12 & #13. Her big toe in #13 looks very cute!