Kips bay showhouse 2011

I just returned a week ago from a fun trip to NEW YORK---I always go in the spring in order to time my trip around seeing the Kip’s Bay Showhouse, which benefits the KIPS BAY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

This year I was particularly interested in seeing the showhouse since some of my favorite designers were participating. The house originally belonged to Jock Whitney.

Here are my FAVORITE rooms this year:

This is a very small space and I think she was clever to paint it red and MAKE A STATEMENT---that is always a good idea with a small entry. It is dramatic, and darker walls make a space look larger because the walls recede.

I loved this room---the overall effect was wonderful and the DETAILS were very impressive. The RUG and the CEILING were two of my favorite elements in this room. Celerie was there when Jim and I did the tour and she told me about the challenges of doing this room----Bravo, Celerie! Great job!

Amanda is a friend of mine---we share the same birthday, so we have another connection! Her work is always wonderful and COLORFUL as well as UNEXPECTED. This room has the original paneling from Surrey, England and it is wonderful. Amanda covered the available walls in a hand painted fabric she designed for Holland and Sherry. Stunning, very feminine and lots of fun…just like Amanda!

This was one of Jim’s favorite rooms---very MASCULINE and an ode to Jock Whitney according to Mr. Platt.

There were some wonderful ANTIQUES in this room----it had a great mix of pieces.

This room was very well done, especially since Mr. Smyth had to work around the hand painted wall covering that had been given to Jock Whitney by the sister of Madame Mao! He did a masterful job and I loved the DRAPERY. 

This was one of the most talked about rooms this year----very cleverly executed on the top floor---the round objects on the wall are all SPEAKERS that look like art. We wanted to sit down and stay for a while!

If you are in New York before MAY 26, be sure to go by and see these wonderful rooms!