When my good friend and brilliant interior designer, Quan Dang from Quanism, came for a visit, I tasked him on finding key takeaways from his visit to the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. These are highlights from his visit to the showhouse and what it means for current design trends.  We ended up using most of the photos from the publishers that were invited to the preview.  It was very crowded when he went so most of the pictures were not as clear and nicely staged.

Bennett Leifer Interiors

This was a corridor between the kitchen and the back stairway that may be overlooked. Why not take the opportunity to glam it up and make it into a destination?  What is extraordinary about the space is the gold chinoiserie wall paper which gives the space the illusion of more volume due to the reflectivity of the gold background.  The light fixtures here are all in rock crystal, another unique point.  With an addition of a streamlined sofa, it becomes a welcoming nook.  Blue and gold is the hottest color combination right now and is showcased in this room. Midnight blue is the new neutral color.

Alan Tanksley

This is a really successful take on the modern safari.  The grasscloth wall creates a sense of warmth and naturalness while contrasting the dark stain of the wood trim.  There is a mural on the opposite side which is unexpected in a small room.  This mural creates a magical vista that is intrinsically New York.  The room is all about mixing in tones:  beige, blue and yellow.  These are the hottest colors right now but they will always be timeless.

Janice Parker Landscape Architects

This is sculpturally interesting but would you want to sit in this in your short shorts?

Ronald Bricke & Associates

This is the entry hall and the ceiling fixture is the main star.  Unfortunately, we could not get a good picture of the fixture during the visit and it seems like no one else did as well.

Pavarini Design 

This is one of the best rooms in the house.  The first thing you notice is the fireplace which is made from travertine mosaic that is glazed in metallic pewter finish.  This finish creates an incredibly warm and inviting sophisticated glow that contrasts beautifully with the ebonized wood cabinetry.  The cabinetry provides an asymmetrical balance to the room.  The strie high gloss wall finish is in the bold teal color which gives the room a masculine feel.

Greener by Design

Not to be missed is the bath tub in the outdoor mid-level terrace.

Drake Design Associates

The most important thing you can do in an entry hall is to grace it with a sculptural piece such as the asymmetrical console table justapose with a traditional chinoiserie gilt mirror.

Cathy Kincaid Interiors

What is most extraordinary about this room is the high gloss lacquered ceiling in a nude color. Make sure you take time to appreciate the scrimshaw details on the bone veneered bed.  Scrimshaw is the name given to scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory.

Gail Green Interiors

This bathroom was a homage to Keith Herrin, who was a street artist. The designer created these custom-made tiles based on Keith Herrin’s art work.

Michael Herold Design

Mix it until it matches…

McMillen

This room is all about tromp l’oeil.  Starting with the masterfully painted wood ceiling and the ivory lacquered wall finish, the room is modern opulence.  The four poster bed with a really low base gives the illusion of a larger room, which is a good trick to keep in mind for a small room.

Thom Filicia

When in doubt, go taupe…

Tilton Fenwick

Do as Parisians do and layer patterns on patterns, especially in a small space to give it a joie de vivre.

Paula + Martha

Go with bold modern lighting and artwork for your stairwell to create an impact.

Peter J. Sinnott IV

The mod marble floors and the metallic blue and silver tortoise wall covering on the ceiling are the main focus.

Mark D Sikes Inc

Classic Parisian pattern on pattern that actually defines the space

David Phoenix Inc

The comeback of the upholstered wall.  Rich, quiet and soft…

Clive Christian

Things to note are the ebony finish on the cabinet, the led lighting in the toe kick and the book matched veneer in the drawer liners.  Clive Christian is the Rolls Royce of cabinetry….

Now that we have gone through the major trends that were showcased at this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House, tell us how you would apply them to your own interiors.

For more articles, visit our DESIGN page.

Author:  Chau Hoang and Quan Dang