Inside the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

After some complicated real estate developments that delayed its opening for six months, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House opened its doors over this past weekend, and Benjamin Moore was there to enjoy (and partially sponsor) the event.

The installation is an annual showcase that began in 1973 as a fundraiser for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, whose mission is "to improve and enhance the quality of life for all young people, with special emphasis on those who need us most between ages 6-18."  (It has raised over $16 million dollars since its inception).  This year it takes place in a 10,000 square foot, six-story, 17-room townhouse on the Upper East Side.  Pretty swell, right?!  Each room, or sometimes set of rooms, is done by a different interior decorator.

Below are pictures of a few of our favorite spaces that, of course, make wonderful use of paint!  While you might not live in a $28 million dollar house near Park Avenue, we think you can take away some great color ideas for your own place.

photos courtesy of 2Michaels

Doesn't this room make you feel completely relaxed with its warm tones and curvy furniture?  That's appropriate, because it's a meditation room (done in a very contemporary way) by 2Michaels Design, which consists of twin sisters Jayne and Joan Michaels.  The walls are a soothing pale green, with a nook (for a stack of Buddha heads carved from phone books) lined in metallic gold.  Furnishings are in earth tones and wood to complete the organic vibe.  Create a room like this and you'll be breathing more deeply in no time.

Next week, we'll be talking to Jayne and Joan about their experiences doing a room in the show house, with behind-the-scenes photos and all the mayhem involved in undertaking such a project.  Stay tuned!

photo courtesy of Jennifer Post

Black and white can be very hard-edged, but here the combo looks relaxed in this spa treatment room by Jennifer Post.  Walls are bright and matte, which both reflects and diffuses the sunlight streaming in.  Trim is pale gray and floors are stained jet black, which gives the room the feeling of being really, really large.  (Okay, this room actually is quite large, but it looks even bigger than it is).  It has a crisp, tailored feel yet isn't at all uptight.  Now what time is my massage?

photo courtesy of Brett Beldock

Your home office looks just like this, right? Well, it ought to!  If you're going to spend all day somewhere, it should be energetic and reflect your personality.  Here, somewhat busy wallpaper is given a few relatively restful moments in a persimmon lacquer.  It's a nice touch that "work" elements--shelves, cabinets--are solid (indicating focus) and the rest is patterned (for inspiration).

photo courtesy of Cluuman & Kravis

Pulling off something like this takes real talent, so we were very impressed with this formal dining room (this is just a corner detail) by Cluuman & Kravis.  The walls are a complex finish of grey and gold which, up close, is a bit free form and rustic but, when you pull back, is utterly elegant.  This type of finish requires either a professional painter or a strong sense of daring.  (More than I have, I'm afraid!)

photo courtesy of Coffinier Ku

Talk about a Bubble Bath (which is what this room is called, by the way).  It's interesting in that nearly all of the color is on the ceiling.  (The trim is white, the wall and floor tiles a warm off-white).  But what a great way to have a great colorful moment but still have the room be very pale, neutral, and modern feeling.  If you're feeling your inner Michelangelo, buy a few sample pots of paint and create your own masterpiece on the ceiling.

photo courtesy of Sherrill Canet

Finally, here's an amazing living room by Sherrill Canet.  Although the walls look like expensive paper, they're actually made with alternating bands of matte and high-gloss blue paint.  This kind of statement painting really gets us excited, as you can imagine!  And it's not that difficult, although you have to be very patient and careful about applying your tape! 

If you're in New York in the next couple of weeks, definitely check out the show house.  Here are the details:

2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House
Thursday, October 14th-Thursday, November 11th
Location: 106 East 71st Street, New York
Hours: Monday through Saturday: 11 am-5pm Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8pm Sunday: noon-5pm
Admission: $30, which includes the Journal and Source Book.  Group Admission is $25 per person for groups of 20 people or more.  No entry 1/2 hour before closing.  Children under 6 (including infants) and pets are not admitted. 

www.kipsbay.org

Comments

[Get your ex back]

Im not sure about the home office but each to their own . I like the way you have put your personal stamp on it. I just need to discover what mine is.

[Roulette Sniper]

I love the 2nd meditation room. When I build my house I want a room like that for sure.

[Jessamy]

Wow, some amazing creativity here. Very inspiring, thanks for sharing!

[Kelly @ JAX does design]

I love, love, LOVE the Bubble Bath! I could soak in that tub for hours and just admire those gorgeous bubbles hanging from the ceiling :-)

The blue in the living room is beautiful too, and love that ottoman.

Kelly

[Stacy]

wow i really like the Bubble Bath...spacious, gentle and clean...it has this "i-am-resting-on-a-cloud" feeling to it...and those plastic (or glass?) bubbles..i want them ASAP...i'm so jealous cuz my bathroom is so tiny it can hardly fit a tub...

the worst room is the pink one, and this is me sayint it, the zealot of the pinks...i think it's too much of everything...too much pink, too much coral, too many accessories, absolutely crazy carpet, that sorry, but looks too cheap...all in all, this place made me think of some wounded animal with its guts out...