Sneak Peek: Design Tricks From the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Filed under: Design, etc, House Tours, Architecture, News & Trends

After a six-month delay, the annual decorator show house opens its doors to the public -- and it is well worth the wait.

This year's Kips Bay Decorator Show House, the annual fundraising event for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, got off to a rocky start when the original location was sold before the show house could open. Six months later in a new location across town, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House is finally ready for design enthusiasts to come in and drool.

While the 10,000-square-foot limestone mansion is a far cry from our own humble abodes, we found plenty of inspiration in the rooms decorated by twenty top designers -- and lots of good design tricks. Shall we take a peek inside?

Decorator Show House Tip #1: Go Bold in the Entryway
The house opens with a punch -- a tropical sort of punch, that is -- with Katie Ridder's coral and taupe entryway. The wallpaper is Ridder's own design, and the bright painted trim is Benjamin Moore's "Autumn Cover."

Steal the look: Don't let your entryway languish in dull hues, follow Ridder's lead and greet your guests with a bright, bold color in the entryway.



Decorator Show House Tip #2: Use Lucite in Small Rooms
Just off the entryway is a petite room designed by Brett Design Inc. The wild snakeskin patterned wallpaper is part of Brett Design's unusual collection of transparent wallpapers.

Steal the look: A Lucite desk is a smart choice for a small room, as it practically disappears. Plexi-Craft offers several ready-made options or you can custom order one to your own specifications.



Decorator Show House Tip #3: When Using An Unexpected Color, Go Neutral With Accents
Lavender is a tricky shade, but Eve Robinson Associates make it work in this kitchen with a full dining table. The crisp white trim and cabinets compliment shades of the palest purple and darker hues.

Steal the look: West Elm's Wrap Dining Chair is a close match to the white dining seats in this elegant room.



Decorator Show House Tip #4: Take Care When Decorating Bookshelves
Cullman & Travis's room took its inspiration from New York's rich culinary world and the elusive dinner-at-eight restaurant reservation. The dining table was set for eight of the design firm's favorite chefs and the artwork throughout the space is food-themed.

Steal the look: Bookcases go from boring to beautiful when books are interspersed with decorative objects like the turquoise ceramic pieces shown here.



Decorator Show House Tip #5: Consider the Wingback
Vicente Wolf was blessed with a wood-paneled backdrop for his white furnishings. A pair of over-size wingback chairs (a signature Wolf move) makes for a dramatic moment before the fireplace, which is topped with a piece of contemporary art from Wolf's private collection.

Steal the look: The wingback chair is making a comeback -- copy Wolf's style at a fraction of the cost with West Elm's Ellery Chair. Or pick up a copy of his book Lifting the Curtain on Design for inspiration when it is released next week.



Decorator Show House Tip #6: Drama is Encouraged
McMillen Plus's petite bedroom is pretty and soft in shades of gold, sea foam and ivory. The portrait above the bed (of designer Elizabeth Pyne's grandmother) inspired much of the color scheme for the space.

Steal the look: Add drama over a daybed with a DIY canopy to mimic the one Elizabeth Pyne had made for this room.




Decorator Show House Tip #7: Try This Unique Idea for a Shade
Perhaps the most contemporary and Zen-like of the rooms in the show house, 2Michaels' "urban sanctuary" was a study in minimal, serene decorating with references to birds and nature throughout.

Steal the look: We love 2Michaels' window treatments which is a simple, sheer shade that has been mounted to make the windows appear much larger than they are, filtering the light as it enters the room.





Decorator Show House Tip #8: Make Wall Decals Work
Darren Henault designed his and hers dressing rooms for the show house and adorned the violet walls in the feminine side with a photograph by Alex Prager, a rising star in the contemporary art world.

Steal this look: For similar wall flourishes, Blik's Iron Vines decals offer feminine swirls that mimic the designs on Henault's walls.




Decorator Show House Tip #9: Reinvent Thrift Store Finds
Whites, ivories and metallics all mix in this boudoir designed by Jeffrey Design Group. Inspired by Hollywood glamour of the 1930s, the look is feminine and sophisticated without looking too girly, thanks, in part, to 70s table lamps and black accents.

Steal the look: Create your own custom lamps like the ones shown above by spray-painting a pair of thrift store finds white, then add a simple, off-the-shelf, white drum shade to each and copy the Jeffrey Design Group's trick of adding a border of black suede ribbon for a custom look.




Decorator Show House Tip #10: Bubbles in the Bathroom Add Whimsy
Inspired by a classic photograph by Melvin Sokolsky, Coffinier Ku Designs, Ltd.'s two rooms were filled with bubbles of all shapes and sizes, including an installation of hand-blown glass bubbles in the bathroom.

Steal the look: While glass artist Suzan Etkin's hand-blown orbs are a true luxury, you can recreate a similar feeling in your own bathroom with Hanging Ball Vases from Jamali Gardens and a bowl of CB2's Bubble Balls. Note: We do not advise bathing with glass balls - this is for inspiration only!




Decorator Show House Tip #11: Use Mirrors in Surprising Spots
Outfitted with a bar, books and piles of throw pillows, Aman & Carson's study was a room we'd be happy to curl up in. The camelback sofa is the firm's own design.

Steal the look: Have mirrors cut to fit the back of your bookcases, and they'll open up your room with light. Plus, the mirrored surfaces add drama and depth to a space.





Decorator Show House Tip #12: You'd Be Surprised What Paint Can Do
With shades of pink, purple and lots of neutrals throughout the show house, Sherrill Canet Interior, Ltd.'s room stood out with its bright blue walls. The room stays grounded with mostly white upholstery and a neutral gray rug from Canet's new rug collection for Stark Carpet.

Steal the look: At first glance, the walls of Sherrill Canet Interiors, Ltd.'s room appear to be wallpapered, but Canet reveals it's actually paint! She had the walls coated in Benjamin Moore's "Blue Suede Shoes" and then added stripes of clear lacquer on top.



Decorator Show House Tip #13: It's Easy to Match With Neutral Colors
Perched at the top of the townhouse are Jennifer Post's black and white TV room and yoga room. Post says she figured anyone who resided in a limestone mansion like this deserved a really elegant place to retreat to.

Steal the look: Restricting yourself to a black, gray and white palette like Post means you'll never have to worry about whether or not something matches your space.

For more decorating inspiration, check out:
- A Tour of Rob Lowe's House
- Decorating Styles 101: Modern Coastal

And we're loving this story on DIY Life about Vanilla Ice's new remodeling show. Really!

 

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