It’s become an annual tradition for my Mom and me to visit the Kips Bay Decorator Show House every spring, and it’s something I really look forward to each year. We visited the 2015 House on Monday, which this year is being held at the Arthur Sachs Mansion on the Upper East Side. As always, it was filled with colorful, elegant, and creative design, eye-catching art, and incredible details. The townhouse was actually renovated by Interior Management before being unleashed to the designers, and the architectural details and finishes really stood out. Join me as we take a little peek at my favorite spaces in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2015… 

The Christopher Peacock-designed kitchen was gorgeous and functional, with dark cabinets, pretty backsplashes, fabulous light fixtures, and the uniquely shaped barstools above. The countertop was made of a durable, low-maintenance, and beautiful material called silestone, and the island ended in a slab of reclaimed wood.

Such a cool plaid backsplash.

I just loved the deep, dark cabinets and especially the brushed brass hardware. So, so chic and not something you always see in a kitchen.

A beautiful quatrefoil table and striking light fixture. Through the door you can see the first of the many outdoor spaces!

This second floor dining room by Mark D. Sikes was one of my favorite spaces…pictures do not do it justice! I loved the pattern mixing and how cozy the gingham felt. It seemed warm and fresh, not at all stuffy. I’m usually not even a fan of red, but I couldn’t get enough of this room!

This wavy wicker is something that I’ve seen before online (here), but never in actual use. I absolutely love it!

These little couches in the corners looked so inviting…I also liked the way the scale of the gingham was different between the bottom and top portions of the walls. The blue pottery looked beautiful as well…blue and red is a classic interior design color combo and this is probably the first time I’ve really enjoyed it.

I loved this bright little bar – every detail was perfect.

Love the wicker tray.

Ok, so here’s part of the amazing, multi-story winding staircase gallery wall, by Phillip Mitchell Design. First of all, the staircase itself is obviously an amazing focal point. Then the designer filled it with a gallery wall winding all the way up and down two flights, using every mix of art and framing that you can imagine. He used pieces old and new, big and small, photography, paintings, different frames, three-dimensional objects, brackets with vases and other items on them…it just went on and on. Every piece and every frame was honestly amazing and the mix of everything was together was just out of control.

Another amazing thing about the staircase is the beautiful toile grisaille wallpaper that Phillip Mitchell chose to use as a backdrop to all of the eclectic art – it’s just perfect, because it’s lovely on it’s own, but it’s neutral enough to fade into the background and not compete with the art. Anyone else (i.e., me), would just do white on a gallery wall like this, but of course a talented designer is able to make a much more elegant and interesting choice!

Absolutely love that he mixed three-dimensional objects in. Also, a close-up of the wallpaper…just gorgeous.

Another lovely red room designed by Alessandra Branca. I looove that artwork above the mantel.

Love this fabric, which was repeated in the curtains.

These red-pink tinged peonies perfectly fit with the color scheme!

Perfect pattern mixing.

An awesome piece by ceramic artist Malory Tate.

This bedroom by David Phoenix was an impressive mix of masculine meets feminine – for example, the plaid wall covering, which had a masculine vibe but was rendered in a soft, soothing gray.

The faded tones of the rug contributed to the soothing feeling as well.

Look at the beautiful, luminous wall treatment in this bathroom designed by Clive Christian Interiors.

Part II is coming up tomorrow…so much more to share!

Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2015
58 East 66th Street (between Park and Madison)
Open Monday-Saturday 11AM-5PM, Tuesdays and Thursdays until 8PM, through June 11

photos by me