Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2015
See how 22 talented designers transformed this beautiful townhouse in NYC's coveted Lenox Hill neighborhood of the Upper East Side.
By:
Alyssa Sparacino
Related To:
The Home
Originally built in 1909 for Arthur Sachs, of investment firm Goldman Sachs, the Beaux-Arts style townhouse has five floors and is 9,600 square-feet of amazing architecture and design. In its forty-third year, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House brought together interior and landscape designers, each leaving his or her stamp on their chosen space. Take a look around this luxurious and comfortable Manhattan home.
Foyer
The foyer, designed by Jamie Drake, sets the tone of elegance and refinement as you enter the home. The octagonal space was painted a deep burgundy and topped with a dusting of Japanese mica flakes, creating a surface that glimmers as you move around the room. Another notable features include the whimsical ceiling light sculptures and the carved marble mantel that is original to the house.
Ground Floor Hall
Curated art and sculptures were selected by Ronald Bricke & Associates, Inc. to complement the curve of the mansion's seemingly endless spiral staircase. Take a look in the mirrored tray on the chair, and you'll be staring five floors up to the skylight.
Kitchen
The huge kitchen by Christopher Peacock includes top-of-the-line appliances equipped with the latest technology. The painted cabinets each have brushed brass hardware with some drawer fronts featuring hand-picked English Wych Elm that you'll also find at the end of the Silestone-topped island.
Lounge
Bennett Leifer was inspired to create an intimate lounge where one can quietly retreat into relaxing activities. Hand-painted Japanese garden scene wallpaper set on a gold background is the show-stopper in this space that's adjacent to backyard garden.
Garden Terrace
Landscape Architect Janice Parker designed the lushly planted terrace with the goal of privacy, peace and softness to balance the urban surroundings. A contemporary cocoon-shaped seat calls for an afternoon behind a good book.
Formal Dining Room
Red gingham fabric walls, silk trims, regency mahogany antiques, gilt mirrors, modern art and a 19th century, director-style crystal chandelier bring it all together in the formal dining room designed by Mark D. Sikes. The space is inspired by a beautiful Italian home and introduces a fresh take on an uptown townhouse dining room.
Dining Lounge
This intimate space, located just off of the formal dining room, was designed by the duo of Tilton Fenwick. The pair imagined the space to host a casual group of two or three looking to continue a great conversation while mixing an after dinner cocktail. The walls, covered in the designers' own paisley-inspired fabric, is set above a fringed tape trim applied to the walls as a textural architectural detail.
Stair Hall
The stair hall designed by Philip Mitchell is so grand it deserves to be considered another "room." With each step you take, you're surrounded by a wonderfully curated art collection that spans various mediums and time periods. Looking up, the spiral staircase frames a skylight brings light all the way to the ground floor.
Living Room
Making your way up through the home, you'll step into Alessandra Branca's living room. You'll find texture at every turn in this liveable yet chic apartment that's outfitted with a feminine palette.
Powder Room
The graphic black and white tile on both the walls and floor inspired Gail Green's modern powder room. With different shapes on the tiles visually blending into each other like mazes, they are hardly distinguishable, yet decipherable. At a distance, they form a pattern; up close, they tell a story.
Master Bedroom
David Pheonix turned the master bedroom into a luxurious sanctuary featuring built-in bookshelves flanking the seating area and the home's original fireplace. Pattern and texture are abundant and show up in the plaid walls and cable knit carpet. A custom canopy bed beckons you after a long day.
Lounge and Bathroom
Pavarini’s lounge connects to one of the home's full baths. The deep blue, chocolate and cream color palette create a sophisticated backdrop for the design team's creative use of tile.
Home Office
A work day in this home office would feel like anything but. Designer Thom Filicia says he wanted to create a space that was subtly sophisticated, elegantly easy and playfully purposeful. He accomplished that and more with this appropriately named "Study in Style."
Master Dressing Room and Bath
British designer Clive Christian designed this space using contemporary handcrafted cabinetry in his signature rich black walnut wood and British burr veneers, which include monogrammed inlays. Luxurious elements such as crystal, marble, porcelain and Mother of Pearl make an appearance throughout the space.
En-Suite Bath
The standout star of this room by Peter J. Sinnott IV has got to be the hexagonal floor tiles. With a range of whites, greys, and charcoals, they serve as a neutral, almost three dimensional backdrop for this space.
Guest Bedroom
You're transported to Rio when you walk into the guest room by Brazilian designer Suzana Monacella of McMillen Inc. Built-ins are lit so that you almost think they are a window to a jungle outside. The custom low lying bed features a reversible headboard and pillows, making it just right for any guest.
Terrace
Off the guest bedroom is this outdoor space that's more like a spa than a patio. Founder of Greener by Design, Richard Heller created "Spa Naturel" as an intimate space where outdoors meets indoors. Surrounded by greenery is a chromotherapy tub that uses colored lights to trigger various healing properties.
Sitting Room
Michael Herold transformed the home's old two-room laundry area into an oasis.The palm-covered walls and the ceiling are heavily glossed along to look like wet sand.
Bedroom
The team at Cathy Kincaid Interiors created a bedroom that is layered with intricate design, yet peaceful and calming. Inspired by an Indian-style fabric, the intricate patterns are continued around the room through textiles and artwork.
Study
Alan Tanksley designed this top-floor room as a quiet destination to escape from the city crowds. He removed all traces of the room's once-traditional detailing, replacing it with rich walnut millwork and textured grasscloth wallcovering to create a quiet, relaxing oasis.
Top Staircase and Landing
The typically underappreciated top stairway and landing were given much-deserved attention by Paula Caravelli of PAULA+MARTHA. She highlighted the expansive ceilings with lightweight hanging aluminum sculptures surrounded by art. A group of geometric abstracts stand out on the white staircase wall ending at the landing's illuminated sculptures.
Rooftop Terrace
The roof terrace designed by Lauren Rottet and her Rottet Studio team is a welcome escape from the bustling New York City streets. Though it's not the only outdoor space in the home, it is the highest—and it features stunning views of what Rottet calls "the world's best city."
