Roche Bobois. Cestello cocktail tables, designed by Gabriele Fedele. Unfold
Experience Life Defined
A mecca of design and master planning set within the captivating landscape of the Gulf of Mexico coastline of Northwest Florida, Alys Beach is a living gallery of the works of some of the country’s most revered architects and designers. While the town inches towards full completion, a variety of home ownership options remain, with custom build opportunities presenting on a limited release basis. Creating a legacy of design, Alys Beach is built for resilience and longevity, cultivating a luxury coastal lifestyle to be enjoyed and sought after for generations to come.
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STARK delivers timeless luxury through innovative craftsmanship and expert service. For nearly a century, our master artisans and design consultants have transformed exceptional spaces with the world’s finest carpets and rugs, ensuring flawless execution every time.
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This This space was designed by John Beckmann of Axis Mundi, space was John Beckmann of Axis featuring the Cerebral Matter mantle from his Altared States the Cerebral Matter mantle from his Altared States collection collection exclusively for ABC Stone. for ABC Stone.
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MARCH | APRIL 2025
Celebrating Creativity
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE CREATIVE EXPRESSION.
Here at LUXE, nearly everything we see and touch has been thoughtfully conceived and skillfully crafted. As I travel across the country—visiting art fairs that showcase renowned artists and touring workrooms and studios where home goods are meticulously made by craftspeople whose names you may never learn—I marvel at the beauty produced by the creative community. Their talents are displayed on the most personal of canvases: our homes. At LUXE, we consider ourselves curators of these individualized, residential artworks. We are always searching for engaging projects and memorable homes that will captivate our audience. Being immersed in this creative world makes me feel deeply grateful and reminds me why home is so very special. Our homes, and every item within, have a proud story to tell. They are our own creative incubators.
In our March/April issue, you’ll nd a wellspring of inspiration with boundary-pushing design, rooms where color and pattern live together fearlessly and homes with dramatic natural surroundings—just to name a few. You can enjoy these beauties, and more, in your regional issues, or as they roll out on our freshly redesigned website luxesource.com.
As these descriptions suggest, you are about to see a refreshed explosion of color (both indoors and out) across our pages. Spring has arrived, and we are celebrating the imagination, inventiveness and talents of designers, makers and builders. While you’re at it, look around your own home with a renewed respect for the labor of love that goes into every detail. Then, open the windows wide, lighten up the linens and head outdoors.
Enjoy the season,
Jill Cohen Editor in Chief
Follow me @jilleditsluxe
There are many approaches to expand a living space. Perhaps none so captivating as walls of glass that transform entire rooms, and push the boundaries of interiors with a gentle glide. Fresh design without limits, a daily occurrence for doors and windows that never compromise. Learn more >
MAR APR
Scene
The little black book of all things new and fabulous in the local community.
Radar
Along with architect Tim Adams, designer Amanda Wyatt and landscape designer Alex Smith shape a serene North Carolina escape.
Showstopping rooms from our issues across the country suggest a shift toward fearless color.
THE ROOM
Brittany Bromley, Sasha Bikoff and Chauncey Boothby school us on sophisticated kids’ rooms. 80
Benner Landscape Design and Green 17 Design share their ethos for emotive California landscapes.
Read about the inspiring work of Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and a forthcoming book celebrating 50 years of the Decorator Show House.
Market
Discover spring’s new fabrics and wallpapers showcased within three distinct color combinations.
Shop the look of these eye-catching interiors pulled from our regional features.
Outdoor furniture company Harbour chats with LUXE about its evolution and what’s on the horizon.
The latest furniture, lighting and textile debuts for alfresco living that have caught our editors’ eyes.
A lush Palm Beach retreat by Marshall Watson is the perfect backdrop for entertaining in style. Living
Jeffrey Alan Marks takes us behind the design of his charming Connecticut kitchen and dining spaces.
Nickolas Sargent of DBA Sargent Photography
FEATURES
154
Individual Flavor
The bold personalities of collector clients shine in an apartment articulated by designers Anthony Baratta and Erick Espinoza.
Growing Up
Soft shapes, quirky patterns and confident colors distinguish designer Isy Runsewe’s composition of a NoHo duplex.
176
Fresh Start
Park Avenue takes a turn for the playful in an apartment whimsically modernized by designer Brittany Bromley.
Designed by Sarah Lederman, a family’s first home champions investment pieces—and the invigorating power of green.
ON THE COVER: A sycamore-clad moon door connects the living and dining rooms of this Upper East Side apartment designed by Anthony Baratta and Erick Espinoza. An Anthony Monaco Carpet & Textile Design rug anchors the furnishings while a Ross Bleckner painting hangs above the fireplace. Page 142
Written by Grace Beuley Hunt
Photography by Annie Schlechter
Written by Lauren Gallow
Photography by Kirsten Francis 164
Uptown Unwind
Written by Shannon Sharpe
Photography by Annie Schlechter Styling by Howard Christian
Written by Stephanie Hunt
Photography by Kirsten Francis
Styling by Frances Bailey
photo g ra phy: Robert Benson landsca pe: Wa gner Hod gson Landsca pe Architectur e
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
JILL COHEN EDITOR IN CHIEF
MANAGING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
STYLE DIRECTOR
DESIGN DIRECTOR Pam Shavalier DIRECTOR, DIGITAL Ileana Llorens
ART DIRECTOR
Candace Cohen
Brittany Chevalier McIntyre
SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR
Colleen McTiernan
Kelly Velocci Jolliffe
EDITORS
MANAGING
Krystal Racaniello, Clémence Sfadj
HOMES EDITORS
ARIZONA, GREATER CHICAGO
Brittany Chevalier McIntyre
AUSTIN + SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS + FORT WORTH, HOUSTON
Lara Hallock
COLORADO + THE ROCKIES, LOS ANGELES, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Kelly Phillips Badal
ART
ART DIRECTOR
Maria Pluta
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Jamie Beauparlant
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Kyle Anderson, John Griffin-Santucci
SENIOR RETOUCHER
Christian Ablan
CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITORS
Catherine Armanasco, Kristen Roeder
Kathryn Given
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Hannah Lavine
GREATER NEW YORK, HAMPTONS
Grace Beuley Hunt
MIAMI, NAPLES + SARASOTA, PALM BEACH + BROWARD
Jennifer Pfaff Smith
SENIOR MARKET EDITOR
Sarah Shelton
PACIFIC NORTHWEST, SAN FRANCISCO + NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Mary Jo Bowling
SOUTHEAST
Kate Abney
DIGITAL
SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Claire Evans
WEB EDITOR
Brooke Robinson
ADAM I. SANDOW
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SANDOW was founded by visionary entrepreneur Adam I. Sandow in 2003, with the goal of reinventing the traditional publishing model. Today, SANDOW powers the design, materials and luxury industries through innovative content, tools and integrated solutions. With its diverse portfolio of assets, SANDOW has established itself as the largest design media company in the world which includes the following brands: LUXE Interiors + Design, Interior Design, Metropolis, DesignTV by SANDOW; ThinkLab, a research and strategy firm; and content services brands, including The Agency by SANDOW – a full-scale digital marketing agency, The Studio by SANDOW – a video production studio, and SURROUND – a podcast network and production studio. In 2019, Adam Sandow launched Material Bank, the world’s largest marketplace for searching, sampling and specifying architecture, design and construction materials. Other SANDOW brands include definitive authority on all things beauty, NewBeauty; luxury sampling platform, Test Tube by NewBeauty; Leaders Magazine; and exclusive private airport newsstand network, MediaJet.
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LOS ANGELES · CHICAGO · DANIA BEACH · NEW YORK
SCENE
WRITTEN BY LAURA HINE | PRODUCED BY CLÉMENCE SFADJ
THE INSIDER
KATHY KUO
Kathy Kuo debuted Kathy Kuo Home, her furnishing line’s first showroom in Tribeca, last November. Open to homeowners as well as design professionals, the space is a natural extension of her brand’s stylish upholstered pieces. LUXE sat with Kuo to learn more about what’s in store for the spring. kathykuohome.com
How did you design this showroom experience? Our goal was to create a space that would feel magical and comforting. We want clients to kick off their shoes and curl up on one of our sofas while they look at fabric swatches, or enjoy a glass of bubbly during a consultation with one of our design specialists.
What’s new at the shop this season? I am a big proponent of timeless rather
than trendy. This spring, I think we’re going to see an emphasis on investing in pieces that are beautifully designed and crafted, and made from artisanquality, sustainable materials. We’re thrilled to have recently launched really special custom upholstery for sofas and living room chairs.
Spring in New York means kinder weather ahead. Any favorite outdoor design advice? Put as much thought and intention into it as you would for your indoor design. Do you picture yourself hosting alfresco cocktail parties at sunset? Or enjoying your morning coffee solo? If you’re fortunate to have outdoor space in the city, invest in high-quality materials like teak, wrought iron and all-weather rattan— you’ll be able to get many years of use out of your pieces.
IN THE STUDIO
MIRIAM ELLNER
You’re forgiven if you don’t know what verre eglomisé is off the top of your head: It’s the ancient art of gilding precious metals on the reverse side of glass. This March, expertly crafted pieces demonstrating its magic can be experienced firsthand in the heart of New York. Chelsea artist Miriam Ellner, a practitioner of the art form, is opening her studio to celebrate the publication of her first book, Golden Glass (Pointed Leaf Press). Her projects include commissions by designers and architects, as well as original museumexhibited works, which will be on display during her studio’s open house. “Eglomisé has an ancient, classical history, but I’ve developed it so it’s fresh and part of the 21 st century,” says Ellner, who discovered the craft after a career as a modern dancer followed by studies in decorative painting in Europe. “My pieces add a dimension to a room; it’s magical how they illuminate a space.” miriamellner.com
R. SCHWARTZAPFEL REGISTERED ARCHITECT
CHARLES
OPEN HOUSE
MANHATTAN’S DESIGN CENTERS ARE BUZZING WITH NEW AND RENOVATED SHOWROOMS RICH WITH INSPIRATION.
WEGNER FINE CABINETRY
Christi Rogers and Jorge Castillo have had design on the mind—and industry experience—for 30 years. After founding a full-service firm in 2011, the couple eventually shifted their focus to bespoke kitchens and cabinetry. With a recent move to the 18th floor of the D&D Building, they rebranded the company as Wegner Fine Cabinetry. “We’re not a local mill shop and we’re not mass produced,“ says Rogers. “Instead, we blend design skills and luxe materials with an A-team of craftsmen and artisans.” The new space displays the details that set their kitchens apart, like a custom metal range hood with a hand-burnished effect, or metal doors made at their workshop in Michigan that combine beautifully with white oak cabinets. “We wanted to do something different from what’s on the market,” Rogers reflects. “We’re excited to partner with homeowners and industry professionals on projects.” wegnercabinetry.com
BILOTTA KITCHEN & HOME
While Bilotta Kitchen & Home has been in the A&D Building since 2002, it was time for a full refresh, says director of marketing and advertising Kristin Ohnmacht. “We’ve developed relationships with people from all over the building, which makes for strong collaborations,” she says. The renovated showroom features the newest private label collection designed by architect Sarah Witkin, founder of Bilotta Architecture and daughter of Bilotta Kitchen & Home owner Regina Bilotta. The collection (right) pays homage to her family’s roots in Southern Italy and is called La Dolce Estate. From its stainless steel to the warm oak to the vibrant green marble, it’s inspired by Italy’s postmodern era and is a welcoming invitation to the rest of the showroom’s collections. bilotta.com
FORBES & LOMAX
With a bigger, newly renovated space on the 12th floor of the D&D Building, Forbes & Lomax can now show off its complete product line of switch plates, sockets and dimmers. Along with the Invisible switch cover (left)— the design that launched the brand—unlacquered and brushed brass are also popular options. “There’s more attention being paid to every detail of a home,” says business development manager Noah Pelletier. “Homeowners are looking at the hardware they’re putting on the wall and they want everything to be cohesive and nice.” And while the visual simplicity of the classic toggle switch is responsible for the initial appeal of the Forbes & Lomax brand, modern technology isn’t forgotten. Pelletier notes that the company’s switches integrate into home automation systems, so its hardware works equally well in a Brooklyn brownstone as it does in a modern skyscraper. forbesandlomax.com
Design with IMPACT
THIS SPRING, GIVE BACK IN STYLE AT THESE CHARITABLE DESIGN EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WRITTEN BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN, KRYSTAL RACANIELLO AND CLÉMENCE SFADJ
ROUND TOP DESIGNER SHOWHOUSE
Nestled on 2 acres and located just one mile from town square, the inaugural Round Top Designer Showhouse reimagines farmhouse living with a modern edge. Open March 20-April 5, during the famed Round Top Antiques Fair, this 3,500-square-foot custom dwelling celebrates sleek lines and elevated finishes for a timeless look. Ten acclaimed Texan designers—Marcus Mohon, Julie Dodson, Kara Childress and more—are bringing the interior and exterior spaces to life, showcasing their distinct styles.
SAN FRANCISCO DECORATOR SHOWCASE
On April 26, the San Francisco Decorator Showcase returns for its 46th iteration. This year, a century-old Pacific Heights home will be transformed by the region’s top designers, including Kelly Hohla and Geoffrey De Sousa. “The large roof deck will provide incredible opportunities for community engagement,” says Decorator Showcase Executive Director Stephanie Yee. Once again, the event will benefit the San Francisco University High School Financial Aid Program, having raised over $19 million for the cause since its inception. decoratorshowcase.org
“For the great room, I explored the relationship between antiques and contemporary living,” Mohon describes. “People come to Round Top first and foremost to shop for antiques. So, the show house needed a good dose of them.” The Austin designer further put his stamp on the space by incorporating pieces from his personal Round Top collection. “I’m pulling from my favorite finds that I’ve gathered from the fair over the years. This room is my own Round Top ‘best of’ album,” he muses.
The show house offers more than visual inspiration—proceeds support Camp For All, a nonprofit providing transformative camp experiences for both children and adults with illnesses, disabilities and special needs. roundtopdesignershowhouse.com
DESIGN ON A DIME
Starting April 23, New York’s Metropolitan Pavilion will host the 20th edition of Design on a Dime. The four-day event supports local nonprofit Housing Works, which helps provide communities with housing and healthcare. Helmed by co-chairs that include Alessandra Branca, Charlotte Moss, Miles Redd and Young Huh, to name a few, Design on a Dime’s model rooms will double as shoppable galleries at 50 to 80 percent off retail prices. “What began as a handful of designers at a Housing Works thrift store has evolved into an extensive fleet,” reflects founder and designer James “Ford” Huniford. housingworks.org
Designer Marcus Mohon’s sketch of his Round Top Designer Showhouse great room.
RADAR
CREATIVE APPROACH | SNAPSHOT | READ THE ROOM | ASK THE EXPERT | GIVING BACK
Step inside LUXE’s spring issue where we’re celebrating inspiring landscapes, creatives having fun with color, design doing good and so much more.
Appalachian IDYLL
There is one project recently completed by architect Tim Adams in Cashiers, North Carolina, that reads as something plucked from a dream. “The property sits in a beautiful valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, bordered by national forest on one side, with a pretty meadow that runs down the middle of it,” says Adams, whose clients asked him to craft an idyllic vacation retreat capitalizing on those comprehensive views.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURES ENHANCE A BUCOLIC WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA COMPOUND, TIED TOGETHER BY MATERIALS AND DISTINGUISHED BY MOOD.
WRITTEN BY KATE ABNEY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA ROMEREIN
STYLING BY ELEANOR ROPER
From the beginning, Adams’ winecollecting clients requested a creative method to store treasured vintages. An ingenious solution emerged as landscape designer Alex Smith was softening the incline of the lot’s topography into a gentle slope, integrating a stone retaining wall to hold back plant material and soil. Everyone agreed on a wonderful opportunity: tucking the cellar directly into this new hillside, complete with an antiqued oval door.
The same indigenous Doggett Mountain eldstone Adams chose for the main home reappears here on the façade, while native plantings spill over the structure, blending seamlessly with the landscape. “It becomes a found experience, something very personal,” Adams says. The result is a golden-hour retreat where savoring a rare bottle feels even more special, where teak seating can easily whisk onto the pea gravel courtyard for impromptu picnics.
“ Between the main house and the two guest cabins , we wanted to create three different experiences, three different languages.”
–TIM ADAMS
proportions complemented by hand-hewn ceiling beams and soft white plaster. Creating points of connection throughout the property was also a priority, so a guest bedroom in the main house (below) reflects a similar femininity.
Continuing threads of connection throughout the compound, Adams again used the same endemic stone on woodburning fireplaces in two guest cabins guarding the forest and meadow’s edges. “We wanted to create three different experiences, three different languages,” Adams says of this enchanting estate, which is set to be showcased in his upcoming monograph, Tradition Made New: Houses With a Sense of Soul and History (Rizzoli, September 2025). “One cabin feels more of the woods; the other, more of the meadow.” Meanwhile, interior designer Amanda Wyatt further differentiated the dwellings
through thematic touches. The woods cabin is darker and more grounded, while the meadow cabin (above) is brighter and airier, conjuring the European countryside through pale plaster, ivory textiles and botanical motifs. This lighter approach harks back to feminine spaces in the main house, including a guest bedroom dressed in cheery pinks (left). “It’s nice to have a space to get away that’s a little bit different,” Wyatt notes. “Much of this project was about moments of contrast, but everything works together.” tsadamsstudio.com, design-insider.com, alexsmithgardendesign.com
This Cashiers, North Carolina, estate by architect Tim Adams and designer Amanda Wyatt includes an outdoor wine cellar (previous page) and pair of cabins, each with a different material palette to reflect the destination. The meadow cabin (right) shines thanks to lofty
Designers
GONE WILD
LUXE spies fearlessly colorful interiors from coast to coast.
PRODUCED BY
GRACE BEULEY HUNT
“The rug was inspired by suiting fabric with superimposed flowers that pop off the surface. Conceptually, this den (right) was meant to feel ‘mod’ but in a modern sense, with very controlled color.” –Erick Espinoza, anthonybaratta.com
“We deliberately chose a neutral backdrop so that the serpentine sofa’s curves and pink color would burst onto the scene and draw you into the living room (below left).” –Julie Massucco Kleiner, massuccowarner.com
“The white linen-wrapped millwork featured in this home office (below middle) forms a soft canvas for a modern twist on the classic coastal blue and yellow color palette.” –Michael Cox, foleyandcox.com
“This sky-blue office (below right) doubles as a bedroom for the clients’ nieces and nephews. The emerald-green-striped circus ceiling isn’t visible on Zoom calls, but it’s a fun addition for young visitors sleeping over!” –Isy Runsewe, isysinteriors.com
New York
Florida Washington
New York
FOREVER YOUNG
TODAY’S TOP TALENTS ARE CRAFTING KIDS’ SPACES BRIMMING WITH DESIGN IDEAS FOR ALL AGES.
WRITTEN BY GRACE BEULEY HUNT
Christopher Farr Cloth’s La Jungle swathes the walls and ceiling of this Bedford, New York, bunk room designed by Brittany Bromley, continuing onto the lower bunk bed curtains. Taconic Builders crafted the custom millwork, which is painted Benjamin Moore’s New Born’s Eyes.
“Our brief was to create something fun and whimsical that didn’t take itself too seriously and managed to be durable and re ective of the home’s overall aesthetic,” shares designer Brittany Bromley of the multipurpose bunk room she designed in Bedford, New York. Bromley’s vision for the space (which would cater to games and crafts, homework sessions, movie nights and sleepover parties), was to offset a generous deployment of energetic colors and patterns with sophisticated furniture silhouettes and elevated lighting.
In turn, an envelope of hand-printed wallpaper bedecked with leopards and elephants sets the stage for a navy, green and sky palette popped with clean white and warm rattan accents that blend masculine with feminine, and youthful with elegant. The wallpaper also brings balance to the unusual dimensions of the space, which is tucked under a pitched roof. “Had we chosen to stop the paper before the eaves, the ceiling would have stood out and been plain by comparison. By having the pattern climb, we took advantage of the architectural detailing.” The nished mix, Bromley declares, makes for “everyone’s favorite room in the house!” bbromleyinteriors.com
Peter Dunham Textiles’ prints cover the sofa and chairs in the bunk room. A Currey & Company pendant hangs above, tying to the rattan Serena & Lily bistro chair at the Rove Concepts homework table (right). The rug is Fibreworks.
“I’m a Virgo, so I take my organization very seriously,” shares designer Sasha Bikoff. Naturally, she tapped her longtime collaborator, California Closets, to outfit her son Dino’s playroom in East Hampton, New York, with workhorse built-ins.
“It’s always great to work with California Closets; they tackle the technicals so that I can focus on the design, and together we fine-tune,” Bikoff says. The resulting program—a clever combination of open and closed storage concealing all manner of kiddie clutter—is as hardworking as it is fun to look at.
One side of the room features twin closets with a pulldown bed tucked between, while the other side holds ample drawers and cubbies—as well as a workspace for mom. “I incorporated a desk because I imagine designing while Dino plays,” she muses. “The success to being both kid-friendly and sophisticated is to create an environment that you and your child can equally enjoy.” The fact that the room’s inspiration is the family’s beloved vacation destination (the multitone blues were plucked from the nearby bay, the oranges and yellows evoke East End sunsets and the ceramic veggie knobs nod to the Hamptons’ iconic farm stands) further cements the space as one for all ages to enjoy. sashabikoff.com
Benjamin Moore’s Mystical Blue, Tidal Wave and Clearest Ocean Blue create a color-block effect on designer Sasha Bikoff’s custom California Closets storage system. The shelf and play table are both Nestig and the rug is Sasha Bikoff for Flor.
For this playroom and little girl’s bedroom in Larchmont, New York, designer Chauncey Boothby employed a “playful yet subtly sophisticated palette” to craft a fairy-tale ambiance with timeless appeal. Hushed pink paint wraps the ocularly-shaped bedroom (which is located, fittingly, in a turret of the home), while creams, gray-greens and more soft pinks envelope the third-floor playroom. There, Boothby went all-in on storybook fantasy, crafting a scalloped tent valance to hide a projector and movie screen, and stashing an adorable built-in dollhouse behind a petite doorway.
“As the girls outgrow their kid furniture, those pieces can be moved out and the rooms will become chic sleeping and sitting areas in their tweens and teens. It’s a perfect haven for them to socialize,” Boothby continues. “When designing children’s rooms, I always look to accessories and other ‘smalls’ to create a youthful vibe, but pair them against beautiful wallpapers, fabrics, and in this case, lighting fixtures, that they can grow into and are not stereotypically childish.” chaunceyboothby.com
Aleta’s Bouquet Jal wallpaper was the jumping-off point for the playroom (above), which designer Chauncey Boothby paired with a Couristan rug, Poppie chairs and a Milton & Goose tables. Farrow & Ball’s Pink Ground decorates the bedroom walls alongside a pendant by The Urban Electric Co. and an RH Baby & Child crib.
GARDEN DELIGHTS
A PAIR OF GOLDEN STATE LANDSCAPES START WITH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
WRITTEN BY KELLY PHILLIPS BADAL AND MARY JO BOWLING
California is known for seamless indooroutdoor living, so it’s fitting that when looking to create a harmonious, integrated experience between house and garden, a landscape designer would consider a dwelling’s architecture. Such was the case for these two projects, and although one was sparked by a midcentury gem and the other by classic Mediterranean style, both are studies in serenity.
SoCal Sanctuary
Los Angeles is a hothouse of midcentury abodes, often with striking landscaping to match. So, after Patricia Benner’s client purchased a 1963 Buff, Straub and Hensman dwelling, the landscape architect immediately envisioned aligning the garden spaces with its modernist roots. The owner, committed to preserving the
home’s architectural integrity, “was all about cozy, beautiful and restful gardens, and had a definite idea about the mood she wanted,” notes Benner. A meditative interior courtyard—shaded by a partial roof—became the serene centerpiece of the project. Linear wood slats play off the home’s interior details and warm up the space; Boston ivy traces the walls, and a boulder was fashioned into a water element. Fluffy tufts of Irish moss billow around pavers and bonsai-like juniper trees nod to a Japanese garden design aesthetic. “We focused on layering different textures of plant material to create a sense of perspective within each space,” she muses, pointing out the kinetic nature of her choices. “This is a richly textured but also very simple sanctuary—a word we used again and again while creating it.” benner-design.com
In a midcentury modern L.A. home’s inner courtyard, a Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan rocking chair is situated beside a firepit and boulder-turned-water element, both the work of Roger Hopkins Stone Sculptors. Views of an enclosed side garden (left) are visible from the client’s bedroom and bath.
DESIGNER
LIGHTING SHOP NOW
IAN K. FOWLER KEARS LARGE BRACKETED WALL LIGHT IN AGED IRON WITH CLEAR GLASS VISUALCOMFORT.COM
Refuge in Napa
When landscape designer Tim O’Shea began crafting this St. Helena garden, he looked to his clients’ love of travel and their classic Mediterranean-style home for inspiration. “The residence is like an Italian villa in wine country,” he notes. O’Shea gave the project formal structure and symmetry—hallmark characteristics of Mediterranean gardens—using the column-like forms of sycamore trees to create allées and rows of boxwood to define spaces—important concepts for the couple who enjoy entertaining and dining outside. “When you create a beautiful garden, people enjoy looking at it,” the designer says. “But when you define rooms within the landscape, they can immediately understand how to use it. It creates an instant intimacy with the land.” Thus, there are clearly designated spots for small daily rituals like morning coffee as well as larger spaces for alfresco dinner parties. Amidst this order, there is also a profound sense of peace. “Elements such as low stone walls and bold but simple plant combinations create a restful environment,” notes O’Shea. “It becomes a place of refuge.” green17design.com
Landscape designer Tim O’Shea created defined spaces in this Mediterranean-inspired St. Helena garden by using rows of sycamore trees and boxwood (left). A kumquat tree is planted in an antique pot from Living Green (below and bottom left).
Open up to Spirit of Place
SWEET CHARITY
On the occasion of a milestone anniversary, LUXE celebrates the life-changing work of Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, as well as the Decorator Show House and the dynamic design community that supports it all.
WRITTEN BY JUDITH NASATIR
The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, a non-profit dedicated to improving kids’ lives in the Bronx, New York, often depends on the kindness of strangers. A unique synergy with its patrons though, changes destiny even further. Instrumental to Kips Bay’s mission is its bond with the design community, as evident in a half century of Kips Bay Decorator Show Houses, feted in a new book, and the club’s 10 facilities.
The growth of design industry involvement reveals the force multiplier of this charity’s
leadership—specifically executive director Daniel Quintero and Nazira Handal, director of special events and corporate partnerships, board president (and New York Design Center CEO and president) James Druckman, and board members like designer Ellie Cullman, who spearheaded a club culinary center. With Kips Bay show houses in Palm Beach and Dallas now joining the New York flagship, romancing the home is the gift that keeps on giving. Today, the club enhances the lives of 11,000-plus kids ages 6-18 with training in life skills, the arts, STEM subjects and more. How’s that for beauty? kipsbay.org
It’s Golden
A NEW BOOK SHOWCASES THE KIPS BAY DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE AT 50.
There’s nothing in the world like the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, both for its annual presentation of American design and decorative finesse at its most imaginative as for its ongoing devotion to the Bronx charity that gives it purpose. A new book, Iconic Rooms: Kips Bay New York Decorator Show House at 50, celebrates this half century of superlative beauty with glorious photos of iconic rooms from the 1970s to the present and brief essays by the club’s leadership and luminaries from the design world.
Developed and produced by Sandow Bo oks in partnership with Gibbs Smith
Nicky James, Principal Designer nkyjmes
Leigh Attwood, Design Coordinator lghattwd
nicky-james.com | 908.868.1794
MAUREEN KITSON HOMES
Maureen Kitson, Real Estate Agent maureenkitsonhomes williampitt.com/agents/maureenkitson
THEY SAY THAT THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER.
In the case of Nicky James, Leigh Attwood and Maureen Kitson, that saying couldn’t be truer. As the respective Principal Designer and Design Coordinator at Nicky James Interior Design, James and Attwood are known for their impressive portfolio of award-winning interior design projects. While Kitson, a highly trusted and respected real estate agent, is celebrated for her unparalleled work ethic, client-centric approach and the consistent value she brings to home buyers and sellers alike. Joining forces, they’ve created an exciting and seamless opportunity for those seeking a home that doesn’t just meet their wants and needs but reflects who they are, how they wish to live and what they love most.
Right Designed for entertaining, this North Stamford living room boasts rich woods, authentic midcentury pieces and a masterful mix of colors that complement the large stone fireplace. Opposite top Nicky James wanted to bring a note of simplicity and midcentury chic to this gut renovation. Handsome oak slats on the staircase and this Edward Wormley vintage chair did just that. Opposite bottom A 1960s credenza with a metal and stone Kelly Wearstler lamp, a shagreen side chair and a collection of photos from the home’s
DESIGN INSPIRED
What’s exciting James right now? “I’ve always loved modernizing vintage 60s and 70s furniture. Recently, I’ve begun selecting fabrics and finishes from that era that restore these pieces to their original charm and showcase the lives they’ve led.”
renovation bring elegance and whimsy to this dining room.
Photography Lofy Studios; Headshot by Sydney Sheehan Photo
THE DESIGN DUO
After a decade in the design industry, Nicky James took a leap of faith and launched his namesake interior design firm in 2019. “I became busy—almost too busy—very quickly,” he says. “At first, I was doing smaller jobs and then started to get larger renovation design projects, some of which were brought to me by Maureen.” With a firm that was rapidly growing, James made the decision to expand. “About two-and-a-half years ago, Leigh came on board as my Design Coordinator,” James adds. “With his experience as a business intelligence developer, he’s helped organize my design visions, create client presentations and utilize technology to streamline our process. This has given us the ability to complete projects more efficiently and build our reputation for exceptional design and service.” Attwood adds, “Our philosophy is simple create amazing, functional spaces that feel true to our aesthetic and connect deeply with each client’s personality and lifestyle.”
THE REAL ESTATE GURU
“YOUR DREAM HOME ISN’T FOUND, IT’S MADE.”
“Having always had a desire to help people realize their full potential, I began my career as a teacher,” Maureen Kitson says. After a number of years as a respected educator, she decided to move into real estate. Joining William Pitt/Sotheby’s International Realty in 2018, Kitson quickly rose to the pinnacle of her
profession by putting her skills and passion to work—she is currently ranked in the top 15 agents companywide. “Real estate is a lot like teaching, in that I not only help clients find the right property but show them what their homes can become and how they can build an amazing life there.” Having worked together on several projects, Kitson and James realized that they shared the same ideals and that they wanted to create a deeper partnership based on making, not finding, the perfect home for their clients. “Working alongside Nicky and Leigh is truly exhilarating,” Kitson says. “In this industry, being collaborative is the key to being successful.”
THE RESULT
The extraordinary synergy that James, Attwood and Kitson share is proving to be a benefit to their clients, to themselves and to the way they work. “I’m really loving the push to be creative with my clients,” Kitson states. “Learning how to make a house work through design has been extremely exciting and inspiring. It truly shakes things up.” Attwood jumps in, “We like to call ourselves casual designers who get things done. Whether we are updating a living space in a client’s much-loved current home or working with Maureen to reimagine a property for a first-time home buyer, we always welcome the challenges and the fun!”
From left to right Leigh Attwood, Maureen Kitson, Nicky James
ALTURA PUENTE DINING TABLE
TED BOERNER DOMAIN CONSOLE
RANDOLPH & HEIN FELICIA DINING CHAIR
POWELL & BONNELL PARK CONSOLE
MARKET
Feast your eyes on gorgeous textiles, a plethora of exciting design finds, chic outdoor furnishings and a dreamy alfresco tablescape.
Clockwise from top right: Bahia Fabric in Lemon by Serena Dugan
Fabric in Euphorbia / houseofhackney.com Lucia Fabric in Seafoam by Nathan Turner / jamesshowroom.com Canvas Chenille in 07 Gold by S. Harris / fabricut.com Shantung Silhouette Sisal Wallpaper in Yellow / schumacher.com Mystique Fabric in Citrine by Peter Fasano / johnrosselli.com Bursa Willow Fabric in Peacock by Ferran Textiles / johnrosselli.com Benjamin Moore Majestic Blue and Tranquil Blue Paint / benjaminmoore.com 60 Oaks Fabric in Buttery Blue by Isobel / studiofournyc.com Linara Fabric in Jonquil / romo.com Vista Fabric in Seafoam /
It’s All in How You Frame It.
Bring the natural textures of the outdoors into the interior with Feeney®’s DesignRail® resin infill options with organic embedded materials.
Welcome to the World of Feeney, where our designer custom options make it easy for you to create your own masterpiece, all while keeping it perfectly within frame.
Reach out to a Feeney Design Specialist to learn more: design@feeneyinc.com
COBALT + COTTON + SKY
Clockwise from top: Benjamin Moore Mistral and Cumulus Cotton Paint / benjaminmoore.com Lunar Dot Fabric in Ivory by Kravet Basics / kravet.com Hedgehog Fabric in Denim White with Neisha Crosland / schumacher.com Fresh Air Sheer in Blanca / perennialsfabrics.com Malachite Wallpaper in Sky by Harlequin / sandersondesigngroup.com Luster Linen in 01987 Chambray by Trend / fabricut.com Dorset Fabric in Ocean by Cowtan & Tout / cowtan.com Medina Fabric in Indigo / pierrefrey.com Vita Fabric in Blue by Décors Barbares for Namay Samay / johnrosselli.com Enzo Print Fabric in Coastal / schumacher.com Arene Santorin Fabric in 006 (on button) / metaphores.com Linara Fabric in Surf (on button) / romo.com Jenga Fabric in 104 Marine by Stroheim / fabricut.com Ishi Fabric in Ice Blue / perennialsfabrics.com Arene Santorin Fabric in 006 / metaphores.com
TERRA COTTA + BUFF + MELON
Clockwise from top right: Seaweed Fabric in Birch / salvesengraham.com Ishi Fabric in Shell / perennialsfabrics.com Lunaria Fabric in Blush on Terracotta with Drusus Tabor / schumacher.com Iford Floral Fabric in Sienna Pink by Kate Loudoun Shand (on button) / studiofournyc.com Scarlet Stripe in Blush / thibautdesign.com Nurole Sheer in Bianco / coraggio.com Agafay Fabric in Terracotta / pierrefrey.com Comfort Zone Fabric in Desert Rose / perennialsfabrics.com Leni Stripe Woven Sheer in Potter’s Pink by Imogen Heath / studiofournyc.com Regia Fabric in Paprika / thibautdesign.com Loxley Fabric in Ivory by GP & J Baker / kravet.com Pittura Fabric in Blush by Clarke & Clarke / kravet.com Iford Floral Fabric in Sienna Pink by Kate Loudoun Shand / studiofournyc.com Linara Fabric in Serandite / romo.com Benjamin Moore Pink Moiré and San Antonio Rose Paint / benjaminmoore.com Prisma Fabric in Blush / thibautdesign.com
COLOR CUES
INTERIORS FROM OUR REGIONAL ISSUES OFFER FRESH PALETTES FOR SPRING. PRODUCED BY SARAH SHELTON
Go Graphic
Behold a daring Manhattan kitchen designed by Anthony Baratta and Erick Espinoza that proves the timeless combination of blue and white is always ripe for reinterpretation. anthonybaratta.com Counterclockwise from top left: Norma Wall Mirror with Megan Molten / Price upon request / cooperclassics.com Pumo Lamp with Fabio Novembre in Blue / $245 / kartell.com Katya 8990F Rug in Blue/Beige/ Price upon request / feizy.com Silhouette Dining Table / Price upon request / bernhardt.com USM
Bright Idea
Kemble Interiors infused a Palm Beach villa with Sunshine State-appropriate colors: cheery yellow and soft shades reminiscent of the sea, resulting in a mood-boosting space for all to enjoy. kembleinteriors.com
from top right: Calvari Performance Fabric in Limone with Veronique de Soultrait / Price upon request / christopherfarrcloth.com Greek Key Mirror in Sugar Bag Light by Farrow & Ball / Price upon request / studio-atkinson.com Curtain Call 3 Seater Sofa in Sky Laidback Linen / Price upon request / nicolaharding.com Citron Bowl / $437 / caitlinwilson.com Carson End Table in Gold / Price upon request / chelseahouseinc.com Joie de Vivre Tibetan Knot Rug / Price upon request / perennialsfabrics.com Murphy Table Lamp with Yellow Shibori Linen Empire Shade and Yellow Ceramic Base / $325 / us.pooky.com
Clockwise
FAMILY AFFAIR
AUSTRALIAN-BORN OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS COMPANY HARBOUR CONTINUES TO MAKE ITS MARK STATESIDE.
WRITTEN BY MAILE PINGEL
“We’re a family effort,” says Nicholas Condos, chief creative officer of Harbour, the outdoor furniture company founded by his father, in Sydney, in 1976. While Nicholas leads design, his brother, Harrison, CEO, oversees manufacturing.
“Our father was a blacksmith by trade, and while we’ve expanded his ideas, we’re
committed to his principles of simplicity and functionality,” he adds. The Condos’ shared vision is also rooted in their Mediterranean ancestry. “We spend a lot of time outdoors with our family, and we want our pieces to offer the same sense of comfort for other families, too.”
Headquartered in California since 2012, the brothers divide their time between Los Angeles, New York and Sydney, while spending part of the year in Asia and Europe. “Travel inspires us— architecture, hotels, fashion—and our new collections tell stories about different destinations,” says Nicholas. Originally crafted in aluminum, today Harbour offers teak and stone pieces, as well as
in Asia and “Travel us—
upholstered seating, and launched six new collections this year alone. “I’m really excited about the fresh curves of the Chloe Collection, while the Palm Beach Collection speaks to our expertise in materiality.” The company also recently partnered with Sunbrella on a line of fabrics, which includes plush velvets and chenilles—a rarity for outdoor seating. “Giving customers the ability to make our designs their own,” Nicholas explains, “is especially satisfying.” shopharbour.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY HARBOUR.
Harbour’s new Chloe Collection (pictured) includes a sculptural teak-framed coffee table. Nicholas (standing) and Harrison Condos lead the outdoor furniture company today.
This Isn’t Wood. This is Fortina.
Fortina is a remarkable architectural system that looks and feels like real wood, but is made with aluminum and a hyper-realistic non-PVC surface.
Available in over 100+ wood and metal finishes and 50+ profiles for interior and exterior applications. Now with integral lighting as well as larger, up to 2" x 12" profiles.
OUT & ABOUT
UP THE ANTE ON OUTDOOR LIVING WITH NEW AND INNOVATIVE FINDS THAT DELIVER ON COMFORT AND STYLE.
PRODUCED BY KATHRYN GIVEN AND SARAH SHELTON
Did you hear? Tuuci, the Miami-based manufacturer known for ultra-posh umbrellas and pergolas, has debuted outdoor furniture. The Sail Collection (pictured), which lives up to its name with a spinnaker weave upholstery treatment, is one of four new lines created by founder, CEO and designer Dougan Clarke. tuuci.com
Not all umbrellas are created equal. Dreamed up by Henrik Pedersen for Gloster, the Ambient Sol tures a chic, all-weather wicker canopy with a builtLED light that provides a warm glow as the sun goes down, making this shade accessory a double-duty workhorse gloster.com
created Dreamed up Henrik Pedersen for the Ambient Sol features a all-weather wicker canopy with a builtin LED that a warm as the sun goes this shade accessory a
Tom Dixon is taking his industrial design sensibility outside—a first for the company—with the Groove collection. The curvy and coiled aluminum silhouettes embody an Art Deco flair across chairs, tables and stools in shades Putty (pictured) and Moss. tomdixon.net
Behold Jeffrey Alan Marks’ Asilomar Outdoor Wall
Lighting is one of the brand’s fastestgrowing and this boasts a special synthetic wicker that won’t fade or split—standing up to the elements and the test of time.
Alan Marks’ Asilomar Pendant for Palecek. the brand’s fastestcategories, and this unique piece non-toxic, recyclable that won’t fade or to the elements and palecek.com
Adding to its colorful trove of fabrics and wallpapers, Thibaut has launched outdoorfriendly rugs for all manner of alfresco living. The preppy New England-inspired striped designs (above) are named after Newport and Nantucket, respectively, while other styles are ideal for mountain or city living. thibautdesigns.com
PALM BEACH CHIC
IN HONOR OF HIS FORTHCOMING BOOK, DESIGNER MARSHALL WATSON SHARES A SPECTACULAR OUTDOOR RETREAT WITH LUXE.
Travel the country in high style in Marshall Watson: De ning Elegance, the designer’s latest tome, which takes readers on a decorating journey from one sophisticated scheme to the next. The wide range of spaces prove just how adept Watson is at crafting re ned, pared-down interiors that remain layered and full of life. For a Palm Beach project (pictured), Watson and his team transformed a
once-sad spec home into an inspired and beautiful Mediterranean Revival abode. Below, the designer shares his distinct take on this one-of-a-kind residence.
As for our approach: My partner, Kate Reid, and I agreed that the success of the interiors relied on certain inviolate principles. First and foremost, the house had to be authentically, unmistakably, “Palm Beach.” From tropical Jazz Age
panache to 1950s swank, from Moroccan romance to Persian exoticism, our design would precisely re ect the locale’s worldly sensibility. We wanted the home to be inviting, witty, and stylish, but free of anything trivial. The idea was to preserve a measure of the formality typical of the local style in its heyday. marshallwatsoninteriors.com, rizzoliusa.com
Surrounded by lush flora and fauna, a Palm Beach pool cabana features a bold interweaving of colors and materials, providing the perfect perch for a fabulous fête.
Verde Sim Dinner Plate by Ivo Angel / $53 Granada Napkin in Thistle / $174 for four
Cirql Nu Armchair with Werner Aisslinger / Price upon request dedon.de
FIRST ANNUAL
Texas Designer Showhouses is thrilled to present the inaugural Round Top Designer Showhouse, benefiting Camp for All, which opens to the public on March 20 and coincides with the Round Top Antiques Show.
Eight of Texas’ top designers will transform the home and landscaping, incorporating state-of-the-art materials, products and furnishings that will inspire ideas for your own home.
MARCH 20 – APRIL 5, 2025 |
ROUND TOP, TEXAS
Tickets on sale now at RoundTopDesignerShowhouse.com or at the door. roundtopdesignershowhouse
FEATURED DESIGNERS:
✦ Marcus Mohon (Austin)
✦ Kara Childress (Houston)
✦ Julie Dodson (Houston)
✦ Kurt Bielawski (Dallas)
✦ Darla Bankston May (Houston)
✦ Renea Abbott (Houston)
✦ Staci Steidley (Dallas)
✦ Susan Semmelmann (Dallas)
✦ LB Walden (Landscape: Houston)
Transform your home at Calico! ransform
From custom window treatments to upholstery, bedding, rom and more, we’re your one-stop shop for custom decorating. Enjoy free design advice every step of the way. Start today njoy at calicocorners.com or visit a design shop near you!
CRAFTING COMFORT
DESIGNING DREAMS
INNOVATIVE AND INSPIRING, WARM AND WELCOMING AND FUNCTIONAL AND FABULOUS BEST DESCRIBES THE IDEAL FAMILY KITCHEN.
Achieving this delicate balance requires a design expert with a collaborative approach to creating unique kitchen environments. These comprehensive spaces should not only inspire the family chef, but provide the perfect place for doing homework, playing games, relaxing with a glass of wine or healthy snack and entertaining guests. That is why we at AjMadison are proud to present the Kitchen Design Collective.
Showcasing the remarkable work of some of our most celebrated and accomplished design partners, the Kitchen Design Collective combines their unique creative genius and affinity for function with our exceptional inventory of world-class brands, unmatched expertise, extensive product knowledge and white-glove service. Turn the page to see what Coco Kanakis Design and AjMadison were able to accomplish in New York.
Vent-A-Hood’s professional range hood blends power with style.
Cooking with Monogram brings professional performance and high style home.
Ethereal Elegance Abounds
MIXING STRONG LINES WITH CRISP DETAILS AND A MOODY ORGANIC COLOR STORY PRODUCED AN EXCEPTIONALLY EYE-CATCHING, INNOVATIVE AND ENDURING FAMILY KITCHEN.
Curating designs that blend a home’s unique architectural language with the homeowner’s personality and lifestyle is an art form. And when it comes to the kitchen—undoubtedly one of the most important spaces in any home—this is particularly true. Since founding her namesake design firm in 2008, Coco Kanakis has built an outstanding reputation for awardwinning designs that reflect her clients’ wants and needs and are as bold, refined, innovative and playful as herself.
A REMARKABLE REMODEL
The kitchen in this Bedford, New York, home had weathered two decades of family life when Coco Kanakis’ clients—a couple with three small children—approached her. “It was well overdue for a transformation,” she says. What did Kanakis deliver? “A delightful cooking zone, better throughway circulation, increased refrigeration space, upgraded storage access, a homework area and a drinks fridge, all with an inviting modern feeling complemented by a big dash of drama.”
AWE-INSPIRING APPLIANCES
Sourcing the ideal appliances meant a visit to AjMadison where Zak Ali, Kanakis’ representative, helped her find just what her clients needed. “We predominantly chose Monogram appliances because they strike the perfect balance between quality, durability, professional-level performance and competitive pricing,” Kanakis shares. “We also went with a Liebherr undercounter beverage fridge drawer that accommodates everything from full-height bottles to snacks for the kids.”
A SUPERLATIVE PARTNERSHIP
AjMadison’s exceptional inventory, product knowhow and service allow Coco Kanakis to achieve the ideal designs that elevate her clients’ lives.
How long have you worked with AjMadison and what’s been your overall experience? I began collaborating with AjMadison when I was working in kitchen and bath showrooms in New York City, well before I started my own business.
All of the AjMadison consultants I’ve worked with over the years have been highly knowledgeable and extremely professional. Whenever they’ve encountered something outside of their immediate expertise, they’ve consistently taken the time to do the research and reply with thorough and informed responses.
Talk about your current AjMadison representative.
My current AjMadison rep is Zak Ali, who’s always full of fresh ideas, eager to help and provides us with the best pricing and service possible.
Did AjMadison help you navigate any particular design challenges?
To overcome an unmovable structural column, we created a bookended cocktail/smoothie bar near the entry to the family room with a new freezer column and an undercounter beverage refrigerator. With AjMadison’s help, we were able to elevate the whole design concept and create a bar area that became an unexpected highlight for my clients.
Share a design or engineering feature that is enhancing your clients’ kitchen experience.
The Monogram wall oven’s French door opening allows easy one-handed operation. Our clients immediately loved this clever and convenient design.
A Chef’s Dream
DISCOVER THE APPLIANCES THAT MAKE COOKING AND ENTERTAINING A TRUE JOY.
Monogram 36-Inch Panel-Ready Premium Column Smart Refrigerator Conceal the kitchen’s largest appliance with Monogram’s panel-ready smart refrigerator, which offers both premium preservation and elegant design.
$9,000; SKU: Monogram ZIR361NPRII
Monogram Statement Series 36-Inch Slide-In Professional Gas Rangetop With its robust burners and sleek design, this Monogram professional rangetop delivers true precision cooking.
$4,400; SKU: Monogram ZGU366NTSS
Monogram 24-Inch Fully Integrated Smart Dishwasher Enjoy a spotless clean with Monogram’s fully integrated dishwasher, featuring advanced smart technology and quiet operation.
$2,300; SKU: Monogram ZDT985SINII
APPLIANCES NOT SHOWN: Monogram 24-Inch Panel-Ready
Double-Convection
Smart Electric Wall Oven
Effortlessly cook multiple dishes with Monogram’s 30-inch doubleconvection oven with smart features and French-door design.
$8,300; SKU: Monogram ZTDX1FPSNSS
Monogram Statement Series 30-Inch Warming Drawer Perfect for busy weeknights or holiday entertaining, this warming drawer keeps meals at the ideal temperature.
$2,100; SKU: Monogram ZTW900PSNSS
Liebherr 24-Inch Panel-Ready Undercounter Pull-Out Refrigerator, $2,799; SKU: UPR513; Vent-A-Hood Professional Series Wall-Mount Range Hood, $2,883; SKU: PRH18248SS; Monogram 24-Inch Microwave Drawer, $1,900; SKU: ZWL1126SRSS
A Collective Cheer!
When asked what AjMadison’s Kitchen Design Collective means to her and her firm, Coco Kanakis says, “Being a part of AjMadison’s Kitchen Design Collective is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase this project, while shining a light on our work and our brand. We look forward to connecting with and learning from other talented, like-minded designers, and we hope this unique program will open the door to many future collaborations.”
“Being a part of AjMadison’s Kitchen Design Collective is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase this project, while shining a light on our work and our brand.”
“
Coco Kanakis, Owner and Principal Interior Designer, at Coco Kanakis Design
LIVING
KITCHEN + BATH
Tour the dreamy Connecticut estate that designer Jeffrey Alan Marks imbued with light, color and effortless West Coast style.
The colorful hues of designer Jeffrey Alan Marks’ Plain English kitchen, with dual islands painted Mushy Peas, are tempered by white lacquering and oak planks from New England Custom Floors. The sconce is from The Urban Electric Co.
California Calling
When the opportunity struck to purchase a 1928 Georgian Manor-style home in Greenwich—once decorated by his personal icon, Billy Baldwin—designer Jeffrey Alan Marks packed up his life in Montecito, California, energized by the prospect of test driving the Connecticut idyll and restoring the residence to its former grandeur. Naturally, one such home needed a showstopping kitchen at its heart.
“The house merited this very interesting kitchen,” muses Marks. The designer teamed up with Plain English (“their clean lines and
simple yet elevated cabinetry matched the legacy of the property perfectly,” he notes) to craft a layered space defined by a blue, green and pink palette—a request from his five-year-old daughter, James, that proved surprisingly sophisticated.
The challenge: Bringing an airy disposition to the room’s dark, patrician architecture. “By adding a large picture window over the sink, gallons of high-gloss white paint on tongueand-groove siding, and window screens to enclose the bar, the space became breathable,” he explains. And oh, what a bar it is.
A breakfast nook off the kitchen is enlivened by collected artworks. The banquette is clad in Loro Piana velvet and joins a Richard Wrightman table, Paul Ferrante pendant and Paul Smith for The Rug Company rug.
More glossy paint—this time emerald green, gives the feel of an old-timey pub room. Another star detail is the cocktail serving island Marks fashioned from an oversized antique French laundry basket purchased on a whim. “We spend a lot of time in there as a family; it’s cozy and intimate,” Marks re ects. “And whenever we have parties, it’s the room that everyone gravitates towards.” Coziness similarly de nes the breakfast nook, a sunken space off the kitchen where casual meals are enjoyed reside, ensconced in a green velvet banquette that echoes the tones of the bar.
The living room, trimmed with Baldwin’s original moldings, graces the cover of Marks’ new monograph This Is Home (Rizzoli).
Featuring an array of residences for repeat clients, the tome explores the idea that we don’t stay in multi-generational dwellings as our ancestors did—we move and change with the people we call home as compass. Practicing what he preaches, Marks recently sold the Connecticut property, embarking on a California comeback and leaving a transformed piece of history for its next lucky stewards.
Living Laboratory
“I have always loved to garden, so elevating the outdoor spaces was a real passion project for me,” shares Marks of his property’s transformation. “The original owner in the 1920s treated the grounds with meticulous care, and I’m so happy they survived the past century,” he notes, pointing to a vast green lawn with meandering seating areas, a “play garden” favored by James and the family puppy, a magnificent array of old growth lilac trees and a 100-year-old sunken English garden. There, injecting his signature flair, Marks composed an outdoor dining room rimmed with espaliers “to give structure” and dotted with boxwoods in woven planters designed in collaboration with his longtime partner,
Palecek. Known for their emphasis on natural materials and traditional artisanal techniques, the Bay Area-based brand has collaborated with Marks since 2012, finding common ground in their shared coastal-chic ethos and attention to detail. “I love mixing my pieces into the garden. Right now, I’m experimenting with 10 different types of ropes for a new collection in development with Palecek,” shares the designer, as he preps for his West Coast move. “It is a testing ground for all of my exterior product collections. People think California sun is tough, but I’m learning from the seasons here what will last and what won’t!” jeffreyalanmarks.com, palecek.com
A Palecek lantern and chairs alongside a Sutherland table create a dining destination within Marks’ English-inspired garden. More of the designer’s home can be seen in his new monograph, This Is Home (below).
Now available in the US
Little Greene is an eco-friendly, family-run business cataloguing 300 years of paint and wallpaper. Based in the UK, using only the very highest quality ingredients. ‘Intelligent’ paints allow you to prime and paint any surface from a single tin. Suitable for almost any surface in the home, these finishes do not require a separate primer.
New Little Greene Retailers
Luu Color Center in Rockville, MD | The Paint Store Online at Ron Shaffer Interiors in West Palm Beach, FL
C & T Design in Natick, MA | Blue Mist Paint & Flooring in Spartanburg, SC
Rainbow Paint & Decorating in Birmingham, AL | Hart and Hill in Wilmington, NC
Foxtrot Home in Southport, CT | Chance’s Hardware in Latham, NY | CLT Paint Cures in Charlotte, NC
Tindade Paint Store in Marthas Vineyard, MA | The Paint Department in Nantucket, MA
John Boyle Southington in Old Saybrook, West Hartford, CT | Island Shade Shoppe in John Island, SC
Order free colourcards on our website. Showroom now open: 9 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830. Tel: 1-888-516-6130 | getintouch@littlegreene.us tlegreene.us
Live Brilliantly
The Talia series, designed by Julie Neill for Visual Comfort & Co., offers a whimsical and elegant reinterpretation of the simple glass globe light fixture. Each artisanal glass orb is crafted with swirled details, allowing the light to shimmer beautifully. Brilliant projects start at Capitol Lighting, where homeowners and professional designers find inspiration in illumination. With unsurpassed service, an unparalleled selection, and our best price guarantee, you can always trust us to put you in your best light.
Visit any of our convenient showrooms or shop online at 1800lighting.com today.
DESIGN FINDS: DESIGNER’S CHOICE
Being given carte blanche on a project is every interior designer’s dream. But when that opportunity arises, where do these creative pros go to turn their visions into realities? The answer is the A&D Building. With 12 floors of showrooms representing the world’s best makers, manufacturers, artisans and brands, the A&D Building is the perfect place to source exceptional furnishings, accessories, lighting, textiles and upholstery, appliances, rugs, decorative hardware and so much more. When presented with the chance to choose her ideal pieces for a fantasy story board, Penny Drue Baird was all in. As the Owner of Dessins LLC and a noted author of five interior design books (PowerHouse, her fifth book, is scheduled to be released this autumn), Drue Baird is celebrated for the impressive portfolio of award-winning residential design projects she’s amassed across the United States and Europe over the last 30 years. “Working from our headquarters in New York City and outpost in Paris, we thrive on diversity,” she says. “From high-rise modern to rustic country chic, I’m focused on finding the perfect balance between geographic location, architectural style and the client’s lifestyle.”
WHERE LUXURY DESIGN DEFIES EXPECTATIONS
150 East 58th Street, New York, NY adbuilding.com | adbuilding Open To The Public
Taking on Design Finds: Designer’s Choice, Penny Drue Baird embraced the treasure trove of possibilities that only the A&D Building can provide. With the idea of a sumptuous en-suite in mind, she assembled a list of pieces, products and designs that inspired her creativity and excited her soul. A visit to Hastings netted exceptional discoveries, including pieces from their Tuby Anime, Vola, Tricot, Ciotola and Elite collections. Exploring the Drummonds showroom, Drue Baird was drawn to the freestanding shower, the Coln bathtub by Marc Newson and dispensers from the Arrow collection. Stopping by Paris Ceramics, she was most intrigued by their Hammered German Silver and French Metro Ceramic tiles. Ornare’s unique look, feel, function and long-lasting quality enchanted her from an aesthetic and a practical place. And at Edward Fields, Tai Ping’s Biophilic Series rugs caught both her eye and her fancy. The result is a visionary design concept that encompasses the highly personal luxury, livability and comfort that Dessins LLC is known for. “A truly successful project,” Drue Baird shares, “is one that makes the client feel that the very best place on Earth is their own home.”
The A&D Building is the ultimate destination for discovering the finest and most imaginative pieces and products for residential and commercial projects. A true microcosm of the world’s best brands, makers and artisans, a visit to the A&D Building is like going on a global shopping spree under one roof.
Designer Picks
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
• ORNARE
With certified solid wood as its main material, the Timeless collection combines innovative technology and manufacturing to create a high-quality, long-lasting result.
• DRUMMONDS
The eye-catching centerpiece in any bathroom, this freestanding shower is a true showstopper that has the unique power to transport one to another time and place.
• PARIS CERAMICS
Handmade in France, these French Metro tiles exude refinement and timeless charm that adds an air of artisan-inspired elegance to both classic and contemporary spaces.
• TAI PING
Tai Ping’s environmentally conscious Biophilic Series is crafted in undyed wool, flax, felted wool and jute—which produces a contrasting sheen, naturally.
OPPOSITE :
• HASTINGS BATH COLLECTION
From cabinet and drawer styles to relief patterns, fluting and diverse material selections, the Tricot collection offers beauty and flexibility that is truly unique.
There’s Always Something New in Town.
INDIVIDUAL FLAVOR
Interior Design: Anthony Baratta and Erick Espinoza, Anthony Baratta LLC
Home Builder: Tony Wala, Simply Elegant General Contracting LTD
Layered inspirations and a collaborative love of art and design yield an inimitable apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
WRITTEN
BY
GRACE BEULEY HUNT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNIE SCHLECHTER
A view from the dining room through the sycamore veneer-clad moon door takes in a Ross Bleckner artwork framed by Charles Edwards sconces atop the fireplace. The ottoman boasts an appliqué top by felt artist Holly Johnson and legs finished by Osmundo Studio.
Previous page: Artworks by Robert Townsend (left) and Marilyn Minter (right) frame the entrance to the den.
A rug by Anthony Monaco Carpet & Textile Design grounds custom furnishings including a chair and sofa, both wrapped in Pierre Frey cotton velvets.
When someone is a collector, an interior comes out so much more interesting. It has personality before the design even starts,” reflects Anthony Baratta of the Upper East Side apartment he and firm partner Erick Espinoza crafted for longtime clients. With a view to showcasing the couple’s dynamic and ever-expanding art collection, as well as their fearless personal style, the residence, set within an inconspicuous 1940s building, had to first be stripped to the studs in order to be reborn as something far more fabulous.
The clients—two women with a love of color, pattern and European design—were passionately involved in the project, with one homeowner stewarding the architectural transformation alongside general contractor Tony Wala. Reimagining the space from scratch allowed for a gracious home office, a separate den off the living room, an expanded kitchen courtesy of absorbing the former maid’s quarters, bespoke storage (the hallway has three closets for shoes alone) and compelling points of transition throughout. See: gracefully arched case openings, peep-through lucite shelves to display a prized collection of Italian and American art glass, and, not to be upstaged, a moon door connecting the living and dining rooms.
A whimsical request from the client, Baratta and Espinoza channeled a sleek ’70s vibe in their interpretation, cladding the feature in sycamore wood veneer with a high-gloss finish.
The clients’ irrepressible ideas—many torn from design magazines and presented to Baratta and Espinoza in paper form—flood the residence. Other star examples include the dining room’s geometric, 3D-effect painted floors, the office’s color-blocked shelving unit replete with a built-in desk and the kitchen’s showstopping tiled ceiling. Featuring a Gio Ponti design from the ’40s, the geometric blue-and-white tiles were sourced through an Italian tile fair and painstakingly installed to flush perfection. They join a bevy of interesting surface treatments and materials throughout the home, including custom-mixed terrazzo floors, waxed Venetian-plaster walls
and glossy lacquered casework, which together lend a bold and fashion-forward bent to the architectural canvas.
“There are very contemporary design elements in the architecture, which led us to approach the interior design in a very streamlined way as well,” explains Espinoza of the ensuing decoration. “Nothing is too fussy. There are lots of clean lines, solid blocks of color and simple Italian forms.” Crucial to the brief was finding use for the many custom furnishings built just 10 years ago for their prior—and notably, allpink—Manhattan apartment. “We love seeing the beautiful pieces our clients really invest in evolve and continue on in their life cycle,” says Espinoza. Adds Baratta, “Good design is good design. Why get rid of beautiful things?”
And so, rather than starting over, existing pieces were lovingly cataloged and reinterpreted before being paired with choice new acquisitions selected to enhance the modern mood and punchy palette of black and white popped with yellows, blues and pinks. In the living room, a previously lacquered, scroll-shaped coffee table was transformed with silver-leaf cladding and a bright blue underbelly. The primary bedroom’s plush tufted bed frame was wrapped in a jazzy new lipstick-pink felt. And a freestanding kitchen island designed to resemble an elegant chest was refinished and topped with a cerulean lava-stone countertop. “It’s almost as if the whole collection matured and grew up a little,” reflects Espinoza.
The couple’s remarkable assemblage of art, which includes works by Cindy Sherman, Marilyn Minter and Ross Bleckner, to name a few, adds a top layer of panache, elevating the residence to one-of-a-kind—as well as a movable canvas that continues to excite. “We just love to collect. We’re limited on wall space now to the extent that we’re hanging things on doors,” laughs one homeowner, to which the other adds, “You can’t be afraid to lean into what you love.” It’s a sentiment the designers are inclined to agree with: “There’s not a person on earth that has this interior,” says Baratta. “We all got to create something completely fun and completely custom here. I love that these clients want individuality and don’t care what other people think, because that is when design gets exciting.”
Floors painted in a geometric motif ground a Deco Revival dining set lit by a Venini chandelier. Art by Cindy Sherman, Pablo Picasso and Helmut Newton (left to right) hang on walls clad in Japanese silver-leaf squares from Studio Zen Wallcoverings.
Above: Tiles from Ceramica Francesco De Maio line the ceiling and backsplash of the kitchen, where glossy cabinets mimic the La Cornue range. The breakfast nook features a diner-inspired banquette, a Mecox table base with a custom top and an antique Venetian-glass chandelier.
Opposite: Leading off the dining room, resin-based terrazzo floors flow from the wet bar through the kitchen. A black-and-white Diane Arbus photo complements the lacquered cabinetry topped with polished granite counters. The chrome tap is Kohler.
The primary bedroom walls and windows are wrapped in a Quadrille textile installed by Maison de France Interiors. Above the bed wrapped in a Thibaut fabric hangs Kelly Reemtsen art. The armchairs are a custom Anthony Baratta LLC design.
The blue tones of the Stark Carpet rug flow into the primary bathroom, which features mosaic tiles from Complete Tile Collection, a lacquer vanity and a mirror from Mirror Image. Rodney Smith photographs flank the doorway.
Opposite: The office is a study in geometry with its desk and shelving unit fabricated by general contractor Tony Wala and Stark Carpet rug based off a Pucci scarf. A bespoke armchair sits at the desk lit by a Murano-glass lamp.
A COUPLE’S NOHO APARTMENT TOES THE LINE BETWEEN YOUTHFUL PLAYFULNESS AND A SOPHISTICATED SENSIBILITY.
WRITTEN BY LAUREN GALLOW | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIRSTEN FRANCIS
Growing Up
Interior Design: Isy Runsewe, Isy’s Interiors
A colorful Jacob Ouillette piece enlivens a corner of the living area, joined by a red hutch from Anthropologie. Alongside a pair of Four Hands swivel chairs, a Polspotten side table procures a perch for drinks.
Previous page: A graphic Jonathan Adler rug anchors the same space, where an Oka ottoman links multicolored sofas. The sculptural side table is from the MoMa Design Store and the 3D artwork is by J. Margulis.
After an eye-catching redand-teal rug on Instagram stopped her in her tracks a few years ago, Isy Runsewe couldn’t get it out of her head. “For whatever reason, that rug really spoke to me, and I was desperate to find a way to use it,” says the designer, who launched her eponymous New York studio in 2020. Fast forward a few months and the perfect project presented itself: a NoHo apartment for a young couple seeking a punchy, fresh aesthetic. Having designed their previous home, a smaller two-bedroom in the West Village where she introduced a playful tropical theme, Runsewe knew they would be open to something equally as spirited in their new place. Located in a nondescript postwar building, the dual-level residence was a better fit for the homeowners, who wanted more space for an office, guest quarters and a lounge area where they could spend time with friends and family sans TV.
“They’re a very fun couple and they wanted the apartment to reflect that,” says Runsewe. “At the same time, they wanted things to feel more grown up than their previous place.” While the pair wasn’t ultimately sold on the red-and-teal rug from Runsewe’s mood board—“It was one of the only things I showed them that they didn’t love,” she laughs—they were besotted by the color combination itself, which became the jump-off point for the design. Runsewe’s background in fine art (she studied art history and spent the first decade of her career working in London auction houses and galleries) informed her approach, where each room feels like a curated exhibition.
In the living area, red and teal touches, including a velvet couch, striped rug and embroidered ottoman, pop against a crisp backdrop of white walls and floors. A sculptural side table and flourishes like red tassels on the ottoman and draperies invite a youthful sensibility and help the room feel cohesive and
artful. A dimensional, abstract artwork that Runsewe helped the couple source for their previous apartment made the jump to their new home, alongside new pieces curated by the designer. In the dining area, a geometric table and a suite of teal chairs are set against a feature wall covered in a dreamy wallpaper bedecked with birds and branches. The pattern has the effect of emphasizing the uniquely arched ceiling, a quirky architectural detail that Runsewe was happy to highlight.
Also on the main level, two bedrooms were designated as guest quarters and a home office. In both, a bold mix of patterns, colors and unexpected furniture profiles keeps the party going. “I always love to create fun moments and push playfulness and color to the max,” says the designer. In the guest room, Runsewe’s approach took form around a collection of different shapes including scalloped bedding, an angular side chair and a curved upholstered headboard. A teal patterned wallpaper continues the home’s signature palette and nods to the couple’s previous tropical-themed apartment. Knowing the office needed to be more reserved for video calls, Runsewe put the wallpaper on the ceiling—a green-and-white striped pattern that lends a French Mediterranean feel and works well when the space is converted to a kid’s room during family visits. “How fun to be a kid, go to bed and look up at this circus-tent ceiling!”
A luxurious primary bedroom, outdoor terrace and cozy lounge area complete the upper floor. High ceilings in the lounge were a challenge for Runsewe, who envisioned a large chandelier in the space but couldn’t run electrical that high. Enter: a Calderesque ceiling mobile that introduces diamonds of violet, red and blue. “I love that it constantly swivels and moves,” says the designer. A feature wall with a painterly wallcovering completes the space, where the homeowners enjoy playing board games and hosting poker nights. In sum, the apartment serves as a reminder that one is never too old for fun, even as tastes mature. In Runsewe’s estimation, “Life is too short to have a boring house.”
Rebel Walls’ Songbirds wallpaper steals the show in the dining area, which features velvet chairs via Homeinfun around a lacquered CB2 table. A Troy Lighting chandelier illuminates the scene. Samuel & Sons trim amps up the linen Shade Store draperies.
palette carries through
The apartment’s red-and-teal
to the guest bedroom, where Danika Herrick for Spoonflower wallpaper backs a bed from One Kings Lane. A pair of rattan-detailed Candelabra Home nightstands are topped with Penny Morrison lamps.
This page: Whimsical
include a
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lounge area
kinetic mobile and Rebel Walls’ Waves wallpaper as an accent. The curves of the Athena Calderone for Crate & Barrel coffee tables mimic those of the bouclé-covered Castlery sectional.
Opposite: In the office, a Matilda Goad & Co. rug ties to a ceiling surprisingly clad in Rebel Walls’ Rays paper. The mustard tones of the Soho Home desk chair and lamp offer warm notes against walls painted Benjamin Moore’s Sheer Romance.
UPTOWN UNWIND
Confident color and pattern play infuse a classic Park Avenue apartment with joie de vivre.
The reasons people fall in love with prewar Park Avenue apartments are numerous: old New York elegance, historic charm, distinctive details. These are the things that drew designer Brittany Bromley’s clients to their Upper East Side residence. But, as a young family with three children, they knew they needed something livable—a home in which food could be spilled, guests could relax and kids could play in any room. In short, they wanted it to be elevated, but whimsical and fun rather than stuffy and precious.
This lighthearted vibe can be seen immediately as one glances down the entry gallery into the punched-up dining room. “It was a very formal, heavy space,” Bromley says, pointing to the builtin display cases the former owners had used to showcase their collection of objets d’art. For a fresh perspective, she coated the walls and ceiling in a pale blue-gray lacquer, creating colorful contrast with a Natasha Law painting in shades of peach, pink and orange, as well as dining chairs upholstered in a paprika fabric with a flame chevron pattern on the backs. “I knew I really wanted those chairs to be as interesting from the front as they were from the back,” muses Bromley, “as that’s the view from the gallery.”
Like the dining room, the living room emanates playfulness, which is fitting since the owners sought a space to host mahjong parties and football game viewings. White silk wallpaper and a ceiling lacquered in whisper-soft blue to “give it a pop,” Bromley says, are elegant without feeling stodgy. A multitude of colorful works from the couple’s art collection—acquired over many years working with consultant Kate Bellin—play to the mix of solid and patterned furnishings in vibrant shades of blue, pink, green and yellow. The combination of it all makes the room feel “much more modern than when we inherited it,” notes the designer.
It’s an unexpected twist, then, when one opens the living room’s double doors to a cozy library decoratively painted with tortoise-shell
patterning. “With those wood walls, it was never going to be anything but dark,” Bromley says. “We leaned into that idea. It’s a moody space in the midst of all this light.” The room, however, doesn’t completely stray from the rest of home’s eclectic style thanks to a mix of geometric and floral patterns, along with pops of red, orange and blue. It’s the perfect setting, the designer says, for these consummate entertainers to retire with guests after a leisurely dinner.
While the library may be the draw for late-night cocktails, during the day the family can most often be found in the kitchen, where a breakfast nook provides plenty of seating for meals, homework and conversation. “We wanted something comfortable and organic,” Bromley muses, pointing to the textured performance textiles on both the banquette and chairs that ensure no one needs to stress over spills or stains. “The kids could literally pour ketchup on them,” she laughs.
This careful consideration of the children’s wants and needs shines through in the daughters’ sleeping quarters. Previously a stately guest room, Bromley transformed it with color and fantasy. A textile with a bold dragon design set against a backdrop of peachy-pink striped walls makes for a retreat that’s “girly without feeling overly feminine,” Bromley says.
Whether juxtaposing pattern and texture, midcentury modern and Art Deco, or bright color with dark wood, for Bromley, it’s all about the mix. It’s a design philosophy on proud display in her new monograph, Relaxed Elegance: Rooms for Living Well (Rizzoli), which showcases interiors with a joyfully collected sensibility from Manhattan to Palm Beach. “If I’m doing my job properly, it shouldn’t feel like I bought everything this year,” continues the designer. “And that’s a defining aspect of this couple’s style, too. They can appreciate the history of an antique as much as they can appreciate something new.” It’s only natural, then, that their home espouses the same sensibility. Concludes Bromley, “It’s a beautiful prewar apartment that’s been reimagined with a modern aspect for this young family.”
A piece by Kikuo Saito above a custom chair in a hand-painted textile makes for a bold moment in a living room corner. Designer Brittany Bromley layered the look with a Patterson Flynn rug and drapes of Cowtan & Tout fabric.
Previous page: Art by Sebastiaan Bremer hangs over a bespoke sofa, with a set of eight works by Spencer Finch above the banquette. A Schumachercovered ottoman sits between vintage chairs and a settee clad in a painterly Pierre Frey fabric.
Pale blue lacquered walls softly contrast with Natasha Law art and vintage chairs in Schumacher velvet with a Claremont fabric on the backs. Above the custom table hangs a Niermann Weeks chandelier. The Gustavian chests were sourced from Chairish.
Above: A Roman shade in the wife’s favorite Schumacher pattern pops against glass-front cabinetry and Calacatta Gold countertops sourced from ABC Stone. The brass faucet and sink, both Waterworks, add further dressy touches.
Opposite: Designed to withstand messes, the breakfast nook features chairs in a Scalamandré performance leather and a Pierre Frey-upholstered banquette. Coleen & Company sconces frame a Gray Malin photograph against a Holland & Sherry raffia wallcovering.
Above: Vintage pieces define a nook in the library. Antique prints stack above the Chairish-sourced, marble-topped walnut chest and gilt buffet lamps with Penny Morrison shades.
Right: Between the tortoise-shell-patterned cabinetry painted by artist Shelly Denning, a sofa in a Schumacher chevron packs a punch. Bromley turned to a Pierre Frey floral for the Roman shade and accent pillows, while a Designers Guild faux leather covers the coffee table.
A yellow-and-pink Schumacher textile steals the show in the daughters’ bedroom, composing the drapes, bed canopies and accent pillows. High-gloss trim paint is color-matched to the Kathryn M. Ireland ticking-stripe wallpaper.
Opposite: The girls’ bedroom palette carries into their bathroom, with Jim Thompson wallpaper, a custom vanity painted by Theresa Nardone of Bella Terra Design and Ann Sacks subway tile. A Coleen & Company sconce crowns the Mirror Home acrylic mirror.
Interior Design: Sarah Lederman, Sarah Lederman Interiors
Fresh Start
A FAMILY’S FIRST HOME CALLS FOR EQUAL PARTS FUN AND FUNCTION, WITH A DOSE OF VERDANT FABULOUSNESS.
WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE HUNT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIRSTEN FRANCIS
STYLING BY FRANCES BAILEY
Sarah Lederman gets it. With two kids of her own, the New Yorkbased designer understands that practicality is paramount with little ones, but function should never override flair. Case in point: the Upper East Side abode she infused with bohomeets-Scandinavian whimsy for a young family.
“Designing a family’s first home feels like a big responsibility; it’s usually their first time making big purchases,” she says. But Lederman enjoys the balancing act of finding unique workhorse pieces with classic staying power and coupling them with high-impact, low-commitment embellishments.
“This is actually my favorite type of client,” affirms the designer, who gladly signed on to enliven what had been a very sober, gray canvas.
“The solid bones were there,” she continues of the three-bedroom dwelling with handsome moldings and excellent flow for a tight Manhattan space. Given that in a New York apartment one typically sees all rooms at once, Lederman designs holistically, “otherwise it feels disjointed,” she says. Here, that cohesion comes from using a bright, happy green as a through line. “It’s fresh, vibrant and cheerful—and that’s what a young family is.”
In the dining room, green pops up on mosshued linen upholstered chairs and, in a delightful surprise, swathes a glossy wet bar hidden behind a wallpaper-wrapped door. Said wallpaper—an airy graphic of abstract botanical shapes outlined in black—works almost as an oversize stripe, echoing the box-pleats on the custom pendant shade. The same green that peeps out from the bar is repeated on living room book casings that Lederman designed in the spirit of Josef Frank. The cases, finished with cabinet knobs that are “like jewelry for the room,” are freestanding, so if the clients ever move, they can travel with them.
Green is picked up again on drapery trim and on an upholstered side chair and midcentury settee. “I’m always looking for textiles that are new to me and that I haven’t seen elsewhere,” Lederman says, pointing to the olive-toned print augmented by browns and pops of eggplant, which in turn inspired pillow fabric selections.
The living room centerpiece, a deep camel sofa, is a Lederman go-to, especially for first-time owners. “If they grow out of this apartment, this sofa will go anywhere. It’s a forever piece,” she says. Similarly, the rug, robust in texture and lush pile, “looks good in any context, and is soft and cozy”— perfect for when there’s a young crawler in the house. And to further layer in interest, Lederman commissioned a decorative painter to hand comb the coffee table for “a retro spin on tortoise.”
In the bedrooms, the designer’s knack for being sensible without sacrificing sophistication shines through. In the primary bedroom, a structured floral wallpaper lends a nod to tradition, while nightstands featuring rattan-wrapped drawer pulls tie to the breezy natural-fiber rugs in the public spaces. The pulls are the same color as the desk in the guest room that, for now, doubles as an office. “That way, if this space one day morphs into another kids’ room, the desk can shift into the primary bedroom and coordinate.”
But, in the nursery, Lederman happily committed, “right off the bat,” to a bold, playful wallcovering that need not do double duty; it simply singularly delights. “It’s my favorite moment in the apartment,” she says. Inspired by the nearby iconic Bemelmans bar at the Carlyle Hotel and created by an artist friend of the clients’, the wallpaper is “a fun, kooky nod to the neighborhood,” she adds. “When the sun hits that yellow, the room comes alive with dimension. You go in there and it’s cozy and feels happy. Who doesn’t want that for their kid?”
Bookshelves with insets painted Benjamin Moore’s Oak Grove and hardware by Matilda Goad & Co. are clever freestanding pieces. The sconce is Matt Alford Studio, the tufted chair wears a Claremont fabric and the coffee table is custom.
Previous page: Designer Sarah Lederman anchored the living room seating, which includes a settee and lounge chair upholstered in the same Lake August textile, around a Carmine sofa by Maiden Home. A Temple Studio rug grounds the space and a 1930s chandelier hangs above.
Right: Painted Benjamin Moore’s Oak Grove, a hidden bar is a chic surprise. Neisha Crosland for Schumacher’s Caterpillar Leaf wallpaper drives home the garden theme. The tableware is from SL & Co.
Opposite: In the dining room, Maiden Home chairs in Zak+Fox linen with backs covered in a Classic Cloth floral rim a Doorman Designs table. The pinch-pleated drapes and Blanche Field box-pleated pendant feature fabrics by Carolina Irving.
Palm Stripe wallpaper by George Spencer Designs swathes the primary bedroom, joined by an Oomph Home bed upholstered in a Penny Morrison textile. The lantern is by Shades from the Midnight Sun. Vaughan lamps top the Chelsea Editions nightstands.
Above: A Serena & Lily glider in timeless blue gingham feels like a picnic blanket against the park-themed mural backdrop (left). Playful vignettes keep the nursery entertaining, while a dresser doubles as a changing table (right).
Opposite: The nursery delights with a Prospect Park Mural wallcovering by The Lawns. An Annie Selke herringbone linen rug is a comfy place for floor play and book reading. The crib is Serena & Lily.
Panoramic Views and Magical Sunsets Two Separate Houses | Total 7 BR, 4.5 BA EHWaterfront.com
Shannan M. North
631.445.0461 | snorth@bhsusa.com
Peter M. Turino
631.235.9098 | pturino@bhsusa.com
3. Waterfront Hotel | Hampton Bays
$6.9M Turnkey Resort | 1.1± Acres 27 Rooms | Clubhouse with Gym, Business Room + Breakfast Area Pool + Terrace | Large Dock Area HamptonBaysCommercial.com
Anthony C. Cerio
516.456.2031 | tcerio@bhsusa.com
Mitchel L. Natter
516.318.5858 | mnatter@bhsusa.com
Jared Schiavoni
631.786.9353 | jschiavoni@bhsusa.com
4. Hither Woods | Montauk
$3.850M | 0.88± Acre | 4,600± sf 4 BR | 4.5 Baths | Sophisticated Interiors Expert Millwork + Masonry Throughout 20’ x 40’ Pool | Pergola | Koi Pond 3 Blocks to the Ocean Beach Adjacent to 1,000+ Acres of Parkland 39DogwoodSt.com
John P. Vitello
516.315.6867 | jvitello@bhsusa.com
Anthony C. Cerio
516.456.2031 | tcerio@bhsusa.com
5. New Luxury | Sag Harbor Village
$6.295M | Custom Built 2024 0.21± Acre | 3,850± sf | 5 BR | 6 BA
4 BR | 5.5 BA | Gunite Pool & Spa 1 PalmaTerrace.com
Leslie Hillel
631.513.1144 | lhillel@bhsusa.com
Crafting exceptional outdoor furnishings since 1920. Premium collections in sustainable teak wood, brushed stainless steel and powder-coated aluminum. Recipient of twenty international design excellence awards.
