Nicole Yi Messier

How long have you lived in your space?

My husband, Nick, and I moved into our apartment in 2018, so we've lived in our space for seven years.

What do you do? Or what industry are you in?

I’m an artist and creative technologist. I am the co-founder of Craftwork, a multidisciplinary art and design studio exploring the nature of textiles and technology through installations, storytelling, and material-based research. 

What makes this space “home?”

Our home is small and cozy, and we've added to it over the years—curating it with objects from our travels, posters from concerts we've been to, and artwork we've collected. Each piece has personal meaning, which makes it feel like home.

What are 3 things in your apartment that you can’t live without?

Our couch—it's been a central gathering point where we've hosted watch parties and hangouts. Everyone loves a cozy hang.

A collection of miniature houses (usually ceramics, but sometimes other forms like lace)—souvenirs from our travels that hold special memories.

Stackable stools—essential for any tiny NYC apartment.

What room do you spend the most time in? Why?

Definitely our living room, which is a shared space with our dining table. We love to cook and host friends for dinner.

Favorite neighborhood spots?

We love LaRina Pastificio & Vino, an Italian restaurant in the neighborhood. It’s our go to place when friends are in town or we are craving a warm bowl of pasta. 

Favorite piece of furniture? Why?

Back to the couch! The couch is nothing incredible, but it’s a gathering place for our small space that feels important

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What do you love about living in your neighborhood?

I've lived on the same street in Clinton Hill for 12 years, and the neighborhood feels like home. I love the walkable, tree-lined streets and having our favorite spots nearby. Over the years, we've built a community here—surrounded by friends and familiar faces that make it feel like more than just a place to live.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration through travel, books, and movies. But I'm also a very process-oriented person—I honestly get most inspired through the process of learning to work with new materials or working with a new tool.

Anything you’re working on? Anything else you want to share please do!

Always working on new things at Craftwork. Lately, we've been doing a lot of work with our domestic knitting machines, creating textiles integrated with glass.