Show houses are like the fashion runways of the interior design world — a chance to push boundaries, set new directions, and challenge norms. While you probably won’t spot anyone wearing a runway collection at happy hour or when picking up your kid from school, the season’s colors, shapes, and ideas influence what everyday people (like me) end up wearing.
The concept behind designer showhouses is the same, and you know what that means… challenge accepted.
Our guest suite in the Kips Bay Designer Show House quickly became our boldest design yet. We tested the limits of color and pattern, explored new concepts with digital art and NFTs, supported diversity, and bridged the spaces we inhabit physically with those we inhabit virtually.
Today (after you all blew up my DMs) I’m finally revealing each and every product we used to create the In Real Life Guest Suite, generously donated by our amazing sponsors. Whether you’re obsessed with the whole design or different pieces of it, I hope these spaces inspire you to think differently about your experience of home…
In Real Life: Bedroom Design
1 / Blueprint Lighting Counterbalance Chandelier in Brass and Vineyard. This modern yet funky shape is perfect for creating a past-meets-future vibe. I can’t believe that this wasn’t a custom color in how perfect it was for the wallpaper and room. Blueprint and their myriad of colors is an amazing vendor, and I’m super excited we got to work for them.
2 / The Shade Store Motorized Drapery with S. Harris Fabric. Perfect pattern, perfect length, perfect functionality. LOVE these. You can also walk in and say “Alexa, good morning” and they’ll open on their own. That’s crazy! (See a video of it in action here!) We also included a woven wood shade from the Shade Store under each motorized treatment to add texture and balance all the color in the room.
3 / The Shade Store Motorized Flat Roman Shade with S. Harris Fabric. For smaller windows, we went with a more streamlined style and layered a neutral shade underneath for cozy texture. Yes, these open on command too.
4 / Blueprint Lighting Bedside Sconce: Torno Wall Lamps in Brass and Vineyard. These slim sconces are perfect for nighttime light without the side table clutter. They are also plug-in, which allows you to use them anywhere!
5 / Digital Art by Kianne Patrice, a Jamaican photographer, digital artist, wall art creator and muralist. Sets an unforgettable mood, doesn’t it? She customized it to match our color palette and I’m in love.
6 / Artistic Tile Stone. We integrated this beautifully veined stone into the bedframe and bench for a pop of luxury, elegance, and functionality.
7 / Le Jeune Upholstery. This bed, nightstand, and bench were expertly fabricated by Le Jeune Upholstery. They were amazing to work with, and I can’t wait to work with them on future projects. The S. Harris fabric was used to upholster the pieces and also create the custom pillows. A true work of art.
8 / Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress and Mattress Foundation. For a good night’s sleep of course.
9 / DEA Fine Linens in Palm Beach, Cavriglia Collection Linens custom colored to match the three Benjamin Moore colors used throughout the room. DEA’s collection of linens is ideal for their comfort and options for customization.
10 / Benjamin Moore Paint in Dark Burgundy strikes the ideal balance between vibrant and moody.
11 / Curry and Co. Happy 40 Vases. LOVE the shape of these. They are also super versatile.
1 / Candice Luter XL Lyric with Custom Color Dowel. With all the tech in the room, we wanted to bring in some more organic texture and weight. Anyone else feel a strong compulsion to touch it? Just me?
2 / S. Harris Custom Wallpaper Ceiling. This custom wallpaper was a no-brainer from the moment I saw it. We actually were working on this wallpaper design before we decided to do the showhouse, and then decided to custom color it with the 3 colors used in the room. With the lighter white tones, it also plays a role in helping open up the space. It is, by far, my favorite part of the design and really informed everything in the space. I can’t wait until we are able to sell the design to others!!
3 / FORME Smart Home Gym with 4K Touchscreen Mirror. This tech is epic, transforming from a barre studio to a weight room, filled with fitness classes, and effortless to store. Your Peloton might have a competitor…
4 and 6 / Photography by the talented Kelly Marshall. We decided to show one photograph as a print and one in a digital frame, to show how it works in both applications. Kelly’s work has been exhibited at MOAD: The Museum of The African Diaspora, Southern Exposure, PhotoVille & Rush Arts. Frames from Minted.
5 / Digital art by Kianne Patrice. This piece really spoke to me, and I definitely wanted to include her in the mix.
7 / Live panel of rotating digital art from Minted and NFTs from Melanated Studios. Displaying digital art and traditional art together in one collage is just one way we brought the digital world and physical world together in this innovative space.
Kips Bay Kitchenette Design
1 / Minted Customizable Fine Art. We sent Minted the same 3 colors in our palette and they customized it to match. Using softer tints of the same colors helps visually lighten this saturated space.
2 / Myoh Studio Single Bay Spider Shelving. I love how the metal brings out the lighter metallics in the backsplash tile.
3 / Château d’Esclans Rock Angel Rosé. Because what bar area is complete without rosé? None. We are also avid drinkers of Whispering Angel (the most common one) and decided to go the fancier route for this space. It’s a little more complex and just as delicious.
4 / Made Goods Sand Realistic Faux Shagreen Jasen Box. For storing bottle openers and other small bar essentials.
5 / Artistic Tile Garden District Mirror Metallic Field Tile Gloss. This backsplash tile is responsible for the serious wow factor in this space. I love the movement, the colors, the luster — it has everything.
6 / Made Goods Wesley Ice Bucket. And why not a fun, marble-veined ice bucket to match that backsplash?? My thoughts exactly.
7 / Myoh Studio Caterpillar Refrigerator Pull. The ombre look of this brass refrigerator pull is on point.
8 / Jenn Air Under Counter Glass Door Refrigerator. If you’re thinking of adding a small refrigerator somewhere (bar area, home office, etc.), this is the one to go for.
9 / Kelly Marshall Photography in a Minted Frame. This eye-catching, mood-setting photo has depth, detail, and emotion.
10 and 11 / Curry and Co. Black Bone Mosaic Set and Villette Black Table Lamp. These help ground this bold space, and I love the shape of the lamp too. The small base has the added benefit of keeping the counter clear.
12 / R HUGHES Thing 1 Stool. I honestly can’t get over this stool. It has velvet, brass, and texture all in one. Plus, it brings its own attitude, doesn’t it? I can see why they called it Thing 1. (Zoe has been angling for this stool since the day I brought it home…that’s a big nope :)).
Kips Bay Dressing Room & Bathroom Design
1 / Whisper 2 Custom Artwork by Melanie Severin in a Minted Custom Frame. Another light-toned composition to help soften the overall look and feel of the space.
2 / S. Harris Moko Nanua 03 Wallpaper in collaboration with the Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) and from the Orejen Collection. The pattern creates great depth and dimension in this space, and I love that it celebrates the African diaspora. JSD loves the BADG, so we’re always happy to support.
3 / Kohler Purist Showerhead in Rose Gold. This rosy-hued brass fits our color scheme perfectly.
4 / Artistic Tile Alison Rose NY Collaboration: Euclid Onyx WJ Mosaic Tile. This geometric patterned tile is a showstopper, isn’t it? I love how the gold-toned veins add in warmth that plays perfectly with the brass fixtures. Stunning.
5 and 6 / Artistic Tile in Nero Marquina Marble Slab. To help break up the pattern a bit, we brought in this thick, dark slab with great veining. I love the drama and separation it adds to the room. We also added a shelf/ledge to the shower (#5) because it gives so much more space for toiletries in various heights.
1 / Kelly Marshall Photography and Minted Frame. We created a tile inset in the wall for this frame, making it a fixed feature of the room and adding that extra something. The richness of this photo from Kelly Marshall was a showstopper!
2 / Artistic Tile in Duomo Calacatta Gold Marble Mosaic Dimensional Polished Stone. Another stunning tile with character. Placing this light white hue on the top half of the wall also makes the room feel more visually spacious.
3 / The Shade Store Flat Roman Shade with S. Harris Fabric. We used a different fabric from the living room — this one is lighter, again, to help open up the space — but it incorporates the same color palette as the others. This makes the bathroom feel cohesive with the bedroom.
4 / Kohler Eir Comfort Height Toilet with Sunrise Gold Trim. It comes with a heated seat, bidet, automatic flush, night-light, and UV Light cleaning technology. Sleek and smart. And this gold-colored trim makes the design, doesn’t it?
5 / Blueprint Lighting Segment Wall Lamps in Wisteria. The perfect slim, modern addition to the vanity.
6 / Benjamin Moore Paint in Kalamata. This color unifies the space with the bedroom and kitchenette, but overall, we used color minimally in the bathroom. We wanted it to feel like a refreshing retreat from the moodier bedroom.
7 / Kohler Components Ombre (!!!) Bathroom Faucet and Components Lever Handles. Yes, that faucet is metal and, yes, it is ombre. Little details like this are really what make the design special.
8 / Oomph Home Kensington Vanity customed colored to match the Benjamin Moore Kalamata paint color used in the rest of the space. Great color, great shape, great storage. This vanity was the perfect fit.
9 / DEA Fine Linens in Palm Beach, Cavriglia Terry Towels with Embroidery Finish. DEA brought their A-game with soft terry towels that any guest would be delighted to use.
Annnnnd we’re done. Did you ever imagine that one ensuite space would take that many special pieces to look and feel one of a kind? That’s design for you.
Before we wrap up, I just want to say that this project was a true labor of love, from the design work our team did alongside our generous sponsors to the physical installation and decoration of the space. I hope you loved it as much as we do!
And now, on to the next…
— Kelly
