Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends
Thomas O'Brien, ELLE DECOR's Editor-in-Chief Margaret Russell with Michael S. Smith and Bunny Williams at the event. Photos: Patrick Butler.
ELLE DECOR toasted the 25 designers (and five designers to watch) on their A-List at the McGuire showroom in the New York Design Center with electric pink peonies, lots of champagne and a gorgeous magazine spread on some of their favorite homes.
We had a blast -- both at the party, and back at home paging through the issue. But we also wanted to get in some of the fun of choosing. So we've handpicked the three ELLE DECOR A-List designers that we think are the leaders of the pack. The magazine made their choices by poring over photos and sites and arguing -- err, "conversing in a lively fashion" -- over which designers best reflected their hallmarks of high style, serious comfort and snappy ideas. But we're focusing on the three most high-profile, high-style designers -- think of it this way: If the interior design world was a high school, these three would be the Prom Queen and Kings. (What? A tie is allowed!)
So if you don't have time to go through the magazine or slideshow (though we highly recommend it!) here's our CliffsNotes on the A-Plus of the A-List.
Our Faves from the ELLE DECOR A-List
What makes Michael S. Smith so A Plus? His clients range from Cindy Crawford to the Obama White House. The common thread? His easy, breezy, elegant California style.
Our Faves from the ELLE DECOR A-List
Don't you want to sleep until noon in this comfy-luxe bed?
Our Faves from the ELLE DECOR A-List
How can you not love Charlotte Moss's dealbreakers? "Bad shoes. Polyester napkins. A 'library' with no books." And she's working on her seventh -- yes, seventh -- design book. Epic.
Our Faves from the ELLE DECOR A-List
Totally elegant, totally restrained and the number one place we'd love to have a glass of iced tea.
Our Faves from the ELLE DECOR A-List
Can't afford to hire Thomas O'Brien as your decorator? Buy some of his incredible wares at Aero. Can't afford those? Thomas's Target Collection is swoon-worthy.
Our Faves from the ELLE DECOR A-List
Chocolate brown sofa + larger-than-life artwork = perfect weeknight retreat.