The Art Collector

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House closes this Thursday so I hope you had a chance to visit.  Those of you who didn't, missed an amazing house but I'm going to be posting a few more of my favorite rooms so you don't feel left out.  I'm a huge fan of abstract art so of course I loved the study filled with it designed by Alexander Doherty.  I think he may have even changed my opinion of wood paneling.  He designed it for himself since he knew he would be spending a lot of time in the space.  The day bed is perfect for taking a nap or reading an art book and the desk is meant for working. I probably wouldn't get any work done though because I'd be too busy looking at all the amazing paintings.  

Designer Alexander Doherty.

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Study in Contrasts

Who says you have to decorate a contemporary building with clean, contemporary furniture?  Certainly not interior designer Alexa Hampton who designed a bedroom in this year's Kips Bay Decorator Show House for Mark Hampton LLC that she herself describes as a "study in contrasts." She also "we wanted to create a room that would be a nod to the history of the show house, but also embrace the modern day." It's warm and cozy but yet also cool and slick.  The walls are lacquered in Benjamin Moore's Dragon's Breath and the ceiling is silver.  The bed is draped with a taffeta and a faux fur throw.  It's monochromatic yet patterned.  The canopy is feminine but the artwork and accessories are masculine.  This would be a perfect bedroom for a couple not unlike Alexa and her own husband.  

I know some people had issues with the very traditional drapery treatments but Alexa wanted to show that you can be traditional in a modern space.  I also think the canopy and draperies are perfect for a bedroom in this type of building because it softens all the hard edges.  It's also a private space so it would be nice to shut the world out at the end of a long day.  

In her notes, Alexa said, "my favorite Kips Bay room by my father Mark Hampton was his chocolate brown library with white upholstery and this room is an attempt to wink at that one." 

I bet Mr. Hampton and Mr. Hadley are both winking at this beautiful bedroom. 

The draperies and bed treatment are by Anthony Lawrence Belfair and the embroidered fabric is from Kravet.  The grey contrast fabric is from Pindler & Pindler. The white silk taffeta is by Arabel Fabric. 

The circa 1890 Amritsar antique carpet is from Beauvais. 

The celadon ceramic lamp, white ceramic figure group are from Daniel Barney. The Coliseum print is from Niall Smith as are many of the accessories on the desk, 

Flowers are from Ariston Florist. 

Alegiani  Trompe L'oeil painting from Florian Papp Gallery. Round Empire style mahogany side table is from Lee Calicchio, Ltd. 

The Neoclassical Beech wood Bergere chair is from Florian Papp Gallery as is the Jansen Ebonized demilune desk and Chinese lacquer screen. 

The silver leaf wallpaper on the ceiling is from Maya Romanoff. 

The English Regency Style Ebonized desk chair is from Newel. 

The faux fur throw is from Dualoy Leather. 

Accessories on the desk are from Niall Smith while the horse watercolor on the desk is from John Rosselli. 

Tassel trim, tape trim, and tiebacks are from Samuel & Sons. 

I love that Alexa painting the ugly HVAC cover the same color as the wall. The contracting, crown molding, and doors are by S. Donadic Inc. All of the door hardware is from Nanz Custom Hardware. 

The Italian monument landscape prints above and below are from Florian Papp Gallery. 

Below you can see the pool that is part of this $16 Million duplex.  I might be tempted to move on over to the West Side for my own pool. Coming up with the money might be a little harder but a girl can dream. 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic. 

Le Bureau Privé

As I watch the rain pour down in Manhattan this morning, I am grateful that I can work from home.  I'd be more grateful if I worked at home in the amazing home office designed by Raji Radhakrishnan at this year's Kips Bay Decorator Show House.  I appreciate when the designers create a client and a story to inspire their space and in this case Raji conceived the room as a private home office for the chief curator of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  She worked with instead of against the clean contemporary lines of the room and had the walls Venetian plastered which help reflect the wonderful light.  

If you had that view, you'd want to work in front of the windows too. 

I love all the little details around the room that relate back to the "occupant."

I looked at the Ralph Lauren Home Collection Desk for a client but it was a bit out of his budget.  Money is no object when it comes to Kips Bay! 

This tilt bookcase from Sebastian Ezzaruiz is the perfect place to house auction catalogs and art books.

Doing a little art research. 

Raji designed the gilded ceiling art that was inspired by Line Vautrin. 

Love the green leather desk chair by Leleu from Maison Gerard. 

A hint of the photo wall mural Raji designed. The sofa is from George Smith. The lamp is from Raji's own collection and I definitely wanted to steal it.  

Raji took a photo herself of a painting by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon at The Met and had it blown up to create a wall mural. It creates an interesting juxtaposition to all the contemporary pieces in the room. 

To add some architectural interest to the room, she applied a mantel from Chesney's to one wall above which she added another photo mural. This one she took in the King's Chapel in Versailles and saved it for years because she knew it would be perfect for a Kips Bay Decorator Show House. 

She surmised that the Chief Curator of The Met would mix art, sculpture and objects from all periods and styles just like the museum itself. 

The Leavitt Weaver red zig zag table is a nod to Albert Hadley and is the same one he had in his own apartment. 

Raji told me the story of how she came to the United States from India about 20 years ago and has only been working in design for about the last seven years.  She was very creative growing up and had a grandfather who was an architect but got her MBA and went into business before following her passion.  Another great inspiring story to go along with this very inspiring room.  

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Lovely Library

Jamie Drake's "We Love Print" library for the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House is a room to retreat to and enjoy turning the pages of real printed books.  It too features green walls made up of horizontal planks that were loosely inspired by paneled rec rooms from the 1950's and 60's. The mirrored walls reflect the amazing view and also expand the small space.  I especially love the mirrored panels along the door frame.  

And yes, I have other topics I will be posting about this upcoming week but I also want to highlight a few more fabulous rooms at Kips Bay for those who will not be able to make the trip to New York.  It's also important to remember that these designers had about five weeks to design their rooms.  These aren't spaces that took months or years to complete for clients.  I personally think they all did an amazing job but I have heard some negative reviews around the internet.  Again, just because it's not your style or what you would have done, doesn't make it wrong.  If you keep an open mind, you might just realize that they were pretty right. 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic