Our Masters of Their Craft series is monthly features where we give a glimpse into the life, vision, and work of artists, entrepreneurs, craftsmen, musicians, business owners, innovators, and fellow dreamers who excel in their area of expertise. They use their gifting with passion and excellence. Their work is tried and true. By sharing these innovators with others who we know will value the labor of their hands as much as we do, we aim to make a humble attempt at giving them honor. This aspect of what we do at CHAR co is something we have come to love dearly. It is an extension of who we are. It gives us great joy to recognize others that do what they do so well.

Team member Karen is the vision and hands behind these special posts…she will take it from here.

Lyon Porter: Urban Cowboy B&B

“Let me change out of my monkey suit”, says Lyon Porter practically apologizing for wearing a starched, gray three piece suit to his photo shoot before changing into his broken-in jeans, relaxed button-down, collection of necklaces, and cowboy boots. Having returned from showing a 15 million dollar apartment in one of New York’s other boroughs, Lyon enters his abode in Williamsburg, Brooklyn: the milieu that sets him at ease and the setting of his creative business venture. This is the home of Urban Cowboy, the insanely successful endeavor of Lyon Porter’s that has launched a new era of B&B’s.

Stepping through the doors of 111 Powers Street takes you to a world of ruggedness and neighborliness. The smell of campfire, the use of earthy textures, the worn leather couch with Aztec throws, and the familial warmth of the common living room and kitchen all work together to turn strangers into friends. Lyon Porter has rightly deemed his creation “an Oasis in Brooklyn.” Though having only been completed in April 2014, the inn feels pleasantly weathered, much to the owner’s pleasure. Lyon doesn’t care about scratches on the wood floors, as they give the place its character. He compares his design aesthetic to his favorite leather jacket: the more worn, the better.

Lyon Porter has a self-assured, yet approachable nature. An intense work ethic and an independent spirit run through his veins. He is the 16-year-old who left home to become a professional hockey player, the Midwestern vagabond living in 15 cities over the course of 10 years pursuing his athletic dream, one of the current rising stars in the New York real estate industry, and the entrepreneurial mind behind Urban Cowboy B&B. The goals Lyon set, he often attains, so with little wonder, he has already investigated the site for Urban Cowboy #2.

In the midst of remarkable exposure, Lyon retains his Midwestern calm and cordiality. The interviews from GQ Japan, Paris Vogue, and Architectural Digest have granted him significant press and an impressive reputation, yet at the end of the day, he is the smitten father of a two-year-old and the cowboy who never skirts a little hard work.

Welcome to Lyon’s world.

Would you mind sharing a little background on yourself? An overview of the journey of your life thus far?
I left home at 16 to become a professional hockey player.  Lived in 15 cities in 10 years. Became a professional hockey player.  Then fell in love with New York City and had to return.  Came here, was the rookie of the year for my company doing 6 deals my first month, was top producer in 3 years.  Named 35 under 35 rising stars of NYC real estate.  Have my masters in development from NYU, and I’m proud to be on the Alumni Board for the real estate masters program.  Proud father of Lyon Porter III…the love of my life.  Lived in a teepee with Dash Snow (the artist) when I was 13 in Wyoming.  Always loved the cowboy life…always loved Cowboys and Indians.

What gave you the idea for Urban Cowboy and why did you choose the Williamsburg, Brooklyn location?
This is the best place to be in the world in terms of cities…period.  Coolest place in the Western Hemisphere. And the block I chose purposefully because it’s not as crazy as the North Side. It’s peaceful and quaint and there are trees….bit of country in the city.

How intentional were you with the aesthetic appeal of the B&B, and why do you think the rustic nature of the inn resonates with your guests?
This area loves anything with an authentic feel, reused, repurposed, and yet still functional.  Guests don’t just want a cool antique shop; they want to sit in the chairs and feel at home…and that is exactly why I did it and what I believe appeals to them.  It’s worn in…there are stories behind almost every nook and cranny.

You call Urban Cowboy “the definition of a passion project”. Why?
I built my dream house…didn’t ask anyone what they wanted…this was what I wanted, and I built it that way, unabashedly.

Have you been satisfied thus far with the success of your venture?
Wildly.  I couldn’t have expected what has come…and it’s been magical.

From what areas are many of your guests?
All over the world and from right down the block staycationing!

What makes you most proud of Urban Cowboy?
It was my first time being creative…and it has been humbling and flattering to have people respond so positively to something I created.

Were there any times of difficulty along the way?
SO Many!  Any renovation project will have its ups and downs. I had to fire my first contractor.  Roof leaks, etc.  But all in all I’ve been very blessed and lucky.

How much sweat equity did you put into Urban Cowboy?
Buckets.

Besides being the creative mind of Urban Cowboy, you work as the Managing Director of the Manhattan real estate company Town Residential. What brought you into the real estate business?
I love seeing New York inside out and helping people navigate through the sometimes crazy maze of buying, renting or selling.  It’s a very personal and emotional process, and I’m honored people entrust me to guide them through it.

Have you always experienced great success with real estate? Were there any rough moments in your career?
I started as a rental broker, showing 4th floor walkups all day long…..it was a volume business.  That was truly the Wild West!

You work in a field known for its collared shirts and ties. So where does the infatuation with cowboys and the rugged life originate?
If need be I can be a dandy…they wore some amazing suits in the old west as well! That said, I think people are tiring of the shark in a slick suit. They want someone real.

Describe a typical workday for you.
Doesn’t exist…every day is different, that’s why it’s so interesting.

Describe a typical weekend for you.
Saturdays are sacred; they are Saturdaddydays.  I’m with my son all day.  At  night, I’m out and about or hosting at the Cowboy. Then Sundays are open houses and perhaps a bbq or dinner at the cowboy.  It’s a good life.

Tell us about your family life. How do you make them a priority?
My son is my first priority over all else.  It’s not a choice…it’s just instinctual.

Name your top five places in Brooklyn.
You have to check out the clothes at Grand Street Bakery, shoot over to The Blind Barber for a coffee, head over to Greenpoint to shot at BKLYN Curated, then pop over to Jill Lindsey in Fort Green to see a whole new idea in shopping. Food wise, you can’t go wrong with pizza and ribs from Roberta’s.

How do you relax and how do you spend your vacation time?
I was just in Nashville scouting for a possible next Cowboy. That’s how I relax. I love this, so it’s not really work!

To what do you attribute your intense work ethic?
I’m Midwestern, part Irish, German, English, French, Scottish and Native American…I’m an American mutt who just has an instinctual proletariat drive to keep going, keep pushing, keep growing.

You once played hockey for the Adirondack Frostbite, the Syracuse Crunch and the Richmond Riverdogs. How did your hockey years prepare you for the work you do today?
You can fight at any time in hockey, bare knuckled.  Real estate is a world where you can’t show fear and you can’t back down, especially in New York City.  More than anything it taught me the most important skill of any boxer, how to take a punch!

You have accomplished much at a young age. What do you desire for your future?
To be the best father in the world and to develop a collection of unique homes in the places I want to be. I want to redefine my generation’s idea of what a bed and breakfast can and should be.