Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse

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Last Friday I was really excited and honored to be invited to the press preview for the Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse. As you probably already know, Sotheby’s is a famed auction house on the Upper East Side of New York City specializing in fine art, antiques, and much more. What they’ve done for their 2015 Designer Showhouse is to construct basically an entire house (13 rooms), on their fifth floor. A different designer decorated each space using a selection of Sotheby’s pieces (around 20 pieces per room), mixed with furnishings of their own choosing. The showhouse is open to the public through April 19th, and will end with an auction on April 20th for the lots (Sotheby’s items) used in the rooms. Read on for more pictures and information! 

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As they explained at the press preview, even though the Sotheby’s pieces used in the designs hail from a variety of different time periods, these spaces were not designed to be period or historical rooms. The point is more to show how these fine antiques can be mixed into contemporary spaces, creating an eclectic and more relatable feeling. The rooms are mixed and matched, reflecting the way that people actually live and decorate today. I have to say, the Sotheby’s pieces mixed so seamlessly into these interiors that I honestly couldn’t tell which pieces were the incredibly rare and valuable Sotheby’s items, and which were modern day furnishings!

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This is the Master Bedroom, designed by Trey LaFave Architectural and Interior Design.

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The Master Study, designed by Laurel and Wolf.

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I absolutely LOVED the shade of pink chosen for the walls in the Bedroom, designed by Harris Dean Interiors. Very Wes Anderson, Grand Budapest Hotel. The paintings are depictions of Windsor Castle, circa 1830.

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The Family Room designed by Eric Cohler, features this amazing gallery wall.

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My favorite space is the Sunroom designed by Meredith Ellis Design. The Sotheby’s pieces and the contemporary furnishings blend perfectly, and I love the Bunny Williams coffee table.

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I really love these hand-colored botanical engravings as well, which came from a book published circa 1737!

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Outside the Sunroom is a garden space designed by Hanna Packer and Susan Cohen.

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I love the wallpaper in the Breakfast Room designed by Ashley Darryl Interiors.

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The Kitchen was designed by St. Charles of New York and CURATED, and featured Sotheby’s silver along with a huge selection of their wine in the wine fridge! I love the gray cabinets and brass hardware.

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A signed Andy Warhol screen print decorates the mantel in the Dining Room, designed by Russell Piccione Design.

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The Living Room, designed by Cullman and Kravis.

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The Library designed by Capital C. Interiors features an amazing English oak library step ladder.

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The Foyer was designed by Area Interior Design. Above, a Salvador Dali painting.

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The lovely Garden designed by Hanna Packer and Susan Cohen.

For the full list of designers, the floor plan, artists renderings of the rooms, and more information on the items up for auction and used throughout the showhouse, you can visit the Sotheby’s Designer Showhouse website.

all photos by me

Leave a Comment

  1. What a cool showroom! I love all the different rooms and design elements! I agree with you, I need a room with that pink wall!!

    Published 4.13.15 · Reply
  2. So many amazing spaces – love the entrance and the kitchen…stunning! Happy Monday!

    Published 4.13.15 · Reply
  3. Elana wrote:

    Absolutely beautiful! I definitely need to swing by before they close! xo

    Published 4.13.15 · Reply
  4. Thank you for covering our kitchen space!! Glad you found the silver accents as wonderful as we did.

    Published 4.13.15 · Reply
    • York Avenue wrote:

      You’re welcome Lindsey! It’s a beautiful space.

      Published 4.13.15 · Reply
  5. Holly K wrote:

    What beautiful items and gorgeous images!

    Published 4.13.15 · Reply
  6. It was lovely to meet you Jackie! Thanks for stopping by and hope we cross paths again. Great photos too!

    Published 4.16.15 · Reply