This from Virginia Bauer, D Home‘s former New York editor, with whom I had the pleasure of touring this year’s Kips Bay:
“Last night the 39th Annual Kips Bay Designer Show House closed its understated Neo-Federalist doors. It had a short run — just four weeks. The pedigreed four-story mansion on East 63rd Street hosted a parade of seemingly recession-proof Upper East Siders, curious designers, and aspirational types from the suburbs (but “no strollers please”). Twenty-two interior designers, landscape architects (yes, even in the city), and photographers carved up 16 rooms with varying degrees of success.”
Three rooms — by top tier designers — stood out:
Richard Mishaan's living room was awash with art; chic, tailored furnishings; and gilt accessories. It was gorgeous. What made the room even more memorable was the wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries Ltd. Trellis Pattern #5912 orange stitching criss-crossed on ivory manila hemp. You can't see in this photograph, but the ceiling has a pale peach cast, a brilliant foil for the walls. If you look in the left corner, you'll see the only miss: crystal teardrops cascading from the wall, which in another context might have worked. Here, no. (Photograph courtesy of Laforce+Stevens)Elegant, yet whimsical touches were found in Celerie Kemble's first floor library. Her starting point was the home's studious 1950s Norfolk Pine paneling which she twisted with Lucite shelving and accessories; a pink tete-a-tete, and an over-the-top (pun intended) gold leaf verre eglomise ceiling. I learned that Lucite shelving can't tolerate weight; it bowed under very little duress. (Photograph courtesy of Laforce+Stevens)Barbara Ostrom must have gone to the Sistine Chapel as a child. All of her work gives big - really big --play to ceilings. In the Kips Bay guest room, she used a sky motif, which -- along with the mirror -- enlarges the room substantially. The room originally was dark and featureless. She created custom woodworking throughout. It's difficult to see here, but this is a tiny room (at least by Dallas standards) but manages to be welcoming and opulent with a sumptuous canopy bed, a sitting area complete with a fireplace, and a desk. Very European. (Photograph courtesy of Laforce+Stevens)
Attorney Mark Melton started helping people on Facebook during the pandemic. Before he knew it, he’d assembled the country’s only group of lawyers focused full time on stopping illegal evictions—and saving taxpayers millions.
