Renowned fashion and accessory designer Brandon Blackwood has spent the past several years carving out a distinct space in the global fashion industry, known equally for his striking custom red-carpet gowns—such as the vibrant dress worn by Sheryl Lee Ralph to accept her historic Emmy Award in 2022—and his eponymous label of statement handbags. Yet, away from the fast-paced spotlights of New York Fashion Week and the pressures of running a rapidly scaling luxury brand, Blackwood has quietly cultivated a deeply personal sanctuary: a sprawling, over-3,000-square-foot, four-story townhouse nestled in the historic and highly competitive neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
For Blackwood, acquiring the property was no small feat. He outbid 17 other prospective buyers to secure the home, drawn immediately not only to its generous proportions, but to its underlying energy. Despite its current iteration as a masterclass in modern, texture-driven interior design, the house looked entirely different when he first laid eyes on it. It marks the third residential property Blackwood has purchased for himself since launching his brand. His first home was situated just two blocks away from the Bedford-Stuyvesant brownstone where he grew up—a historically Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn that has faced waves of aggressive gentrification over the decades. His previous residence was a former firehouse in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, previously owned by legendary filmmaker Spike Lee.
A Foundation Rooted in Community and Family
When Blackwood achieved viral fame in 2020 following the release of his signature mini tote bag emblazoned with the powerful message "End Systemic Racism," many industry observers assumed the young designer had appeared out of nowhere. In reality, the viral moment was the culmination of years of quiet, intentional labor.
“When I blew up I had been in business for five years already,” Blackwood reflects. Before establishing himself as a formidable creative director, he studied neuroscience at Bard College before his academic and professional passions fully shifted toward fashion. Juggling a retail job as a cashier at Crossroads, Blackwood spent his free time, weekends, and summers quietly interning and working for various fashion brands and magazines—all while keeping his ambitions largely hidden from his mother, Carleen Haughton. A self-made contractor and former restaurateur born in Jamaica, Haughton eventually discovered her son’s moonlighting and challenged him to commit to fashion fully and without reservation.
That same maternal encouragement and insistence on excellence heavily influenced the renovation of Blackwood’s Carroll Gardens townhouse, transforming the project into a deeply collaborative family affair. Haughton stepped in as the primary contractor for the massive gut renovation, partnering with Urban Pioneering Architecture to assemble an entirely Caribbean team of skilled craftsmen and builders to overhaul the four-story structure.
“They are all so proud of me because they’ve known me since I was 13,” Blackwood says of the crew. “This house was built by people who really love me.”
Curating Space for Art and Serenity
During the comprehensive gut renovation, Blackwood maintained a clear set of priorities: he wanted a profound sense of serenity and a neutral, foundational base layer that would allow his robust contemporary art collection and eclectic furnishings to take center stage.
“I just wanted an escape,” Blackwood explains, noting his preference for organic textures, raw fibers, and grounded, natural colors.
Upon entering the residence, guests are welcomed into a calm, cream-toned seating area designed to ease the transition from the bustling Brooklyn streets outside. Above the active, working fireplace hangs a striking piece by artist Tschabalala Self, a longtime friend and frequent houseguest who also wore custom Blackwood creations to her wedding and the Met Gala. Nearby, a painting by Matheus Abu hangs near the front door, evoking nostalgic childhood memories of summers spent swimming with his brother and cousins. The furniture in this introductory space features a sofa and side table from CB2, a coffee table sourced from Maitland Smith, and handmade flowerpots imported directly from Mexico.
One of Blackwood’s nonnegotiables for the home’s architectural flow was a dramatic spiral staircase that curves upward through the center of the building. Viewed from the entryway, the organic lines of the staircase frame a tall rubber tree from BlackBoyPlants and an authentic antique mask originating from Benin, Nigeria. Further enriching the visual landscape of the main living spaces are rare and significant works of art, including pieces by Chris Ofili, Diego Rivera, Evan Browning, Ferg (formerly known as A$AP Ferg), Andy Warhol, and Mark Delmont. A sketch by Yves Saint Laurent that once belonged to the late fashion icon André Leon Talley also holds a prominent place in the collection, alongside a vintage sign pulled directly from Spike Lee’s acclaimed film Do the Right Thing and a framed love letter authored by artist Marcus Leslie Singleton.
Entertainment, Comfort, and a Personal Oasis
While the home functions as an impressive gallery for blue-chip contemporary art and midcentury design, it is fundamentally structured for hospitality and community. Blackwood frequently opens his doors to a close-knit circle of creatives, travelers, and artists who hold keys to the house and use it as a fluid meeting place and urban refuge.
“I always take it upon myself to be the gatherer,” Blackwood notes.
“Brandon’s house feels like a cross between being at a spa, a luxury hotel, and my Auntie’s,” shares Tschabalala Self. “He’s great at entertaining and always has the most interesting and stylish people over.”
On the second floor, a spacious entertainment area and guest suite offer visitors maximum comfort. The space is anchored by a chocolate-brown, 1970s Mah Jong sofa purchased from 1stDibs, which doubles as a massive daybed during casual movie nights with friends. Blackwood shares this level of the home with two of his three beloved dogs: Juicy, a Doberman-pinscher mix, and Trill, a shih tzu-Yorkie mix (alongside their canine sibling Mink, a Miniature Bear Coat shar pei). The second-floor guest bedroom is frequently praised by visitors for its cocoon-like atmosphere, which Blackwood attributes to its tranquil, restful design.
Outdoors, the multi-level experience extends into a private backyard and garden landscaped by Kwame Agyapon. Complete with functional grills and a smoker, the backyard serves as Blackwood’s preferred outdoor office and relaxation zone, where he frequently steps outside to sketch on the sofa while his dogs roam the yard.
The Private Top-Floor Sanctuary
Occupying the uppermost level of the residence is Blackwood’s personal, private quarters. The top-floor landing is illuminated by a skylight that his mother installed as an unexpected surprise during construction, bridging the gap between a luxurious, two-room custom walk-in closet on one end and the primary bedroom suite on the other.
The primary bedroom embraces minimalism and quiet luxury, featuring a plush, furry upholstered bed paired with vintage Fabio Lenci chairs positioned between the windows, beneath a Morell Cutler painting. The adjoining wood-paneled primary bathroom features a cedar Ofuro soaking tub from Mezmob, situated beneath a painting by Marcus Leslie Singleton, alongside a high-tech steam shower that sees daily use.
Reflecting on the journey that brought him from working as a retail cashier in Brooklyn to designing custom garments for global icons and curating a world-class architectural home, Blackwood views the townhouse not merely as a trophy property, but as a living testament to community, family dedication, and an enduring love for the borough that raised him.
