Favorite Design Ideas from Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York

May 2

Dining room by Kit Kemp Design Studio, photo by Kelly Marshall.

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House is one of my favorite design events of the year. It’s an absolute joy to step into a designer’s fantasy and see the world through their eyes, appreciate beauty and the high level of skill and craftsmanship that it takes to pull off a space.

For me, the highlight was seeing Kit Kemp in her room, she has been a true inspiration for a designer like me. Her room was as delightful as all her hotels are, full of color, joy and unique art.

There were some really interesting design ideas presented in this year’s show house, I’m sharing just a few of my favorite standouts.

Vintage & Unique Side Chairs

My love of chairs is something my clients, friends and family, know to be true. Never met a chair I didn’t like. So I was delighted to discover that many designers placed vintage chairs in little corners of their rooms. Places that normally don’t call for a chair, were accented with little sculptural chairs that were more form than function. My conviction that one cannot have too many cute chairs was validated.

Mirrors as Art

There is no limit to how beautiful a mirror can be, here are some of my favorite ways designers showcased mirrors as art in their rooms.

Gallery wall in a space by Beth Diana Smith.

Collection of artisanal mirrors in the dining room by Kit Kemp Design Studio.

Antique mirror wall between drapery in a room by Jeremiah Brent.

Oversized Ceramics Make a Big Statement

Almost every space featured some sort of ceramic collection, and most of them were large vessels, oversized urns, and larger-than life sculptures. It was breathtaking…and if you plan to do this at home, make sure to secure them in place with museum wax.

Oversized ceramic planter in lounge by Workshop/APD.

Large vase on pedestal in entry hall by M. Naeve.

Large vase on console table in room by McMillen Inc.

Murals are the Next Wallpaper

Hand painted mural in the foyer by James Mobley, Photo by John Daniel Powers, Designed by M.Naeve, Styled by Michelle Avina.

Suede Wallpaper on the Ceiling

Many spaces had wallpaper installed on the ceiling, because designers don’t do white ceilings in a show house! The one that impressed me the most and made me want to install one ASAP, was a suede paper on the ceiling, it was so sublime.

Luba Libarikian