Luxe Styling at 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Study by Brian del ToroJanet Ramin - Sweeping views of the Hudson River as well as the penchant for green colors were the major features of the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Every year interior decorators have the opportunity to design a room to their heart’s desire – rather than a client’s – with only their imaginations as their limits. The location of this year’s show house is a beautiful condo complex, the Aldyn Residences, overlooking Manhattan’s river.

Our first room above by designer Brian del Toro is a jewel-like study rich in beautiful materials and a brilliant blue-green and lime green color scheme. The walls are painted in a teal grid-like pattern and the sofa upholstered in a matching teal strie velvet. The throw pillows are wrapped in Japanese obi, the sash used to tie kimonos. The gold, silver, and champagne check rug is from F. J. Hakimian Antique Rugs. The cubist glass mirror by Verner Panton further contributes to the sparkle of the room. Del Toro worked for the famous duo Parish Hadley before opening up his own firm. 

Dining Room by Todd A. RomanoTodd Alexander Romano designed this ultra-sophisticated dining room with many tongue-in-cheek accessories. The dining centerpiece is a Mexican Hilario Madrigal sculpture of a purple pineapple. Can you spot the brass giraffe? The long-neck animal by Sergio Bustamante brings your eye up to the spectacular two-story space and the Venetian Murano glass chandelier. Providing elegance to the room are the French Directoire chairs. They're upholstered in Brunschwig & Fils fabric of the popular lime green color, brightening up the warm chocolate-painted walls. 

Family Room by James RixnerThis sunny family room designed by James Rixner is suffused with chartreuse touches complemented by a rich blue. The walls are covered in Lotus green grass cloth and the chartreuse is picked up in the velvet pillows and the linen curtains from Osborne and Little. The blues are picked up by the dreamy Nocturne rug by Orley Shabahang. To create the serene atmosphere and pull the lively colors together, a white leather upholstered sofa and chair were chosen.

Living Room by Susan Zises GreenThe zen living room designed by Susan Zises Green was fittingly called, “Living Room: Surroundings Inspired by the Flow of the Hudson.” With spectacular views on most of its walls, Green might have had a challenge in coming up with a design to compete against it, but she tackled the task and produced a complex and intriguing space in harmony with the river. She envisioned the room for a newly-married couple combining their collections from their travel-enriched lives. Throughout the room, varying earth-tone patterns and textures are layered and then brightened with soft sky blues to reflect the river skies beyond. The rugs are by Stark Carpet and F. J. Hakimian. Adding drama on the one large wall is a sunburst mirror by Newel.

Living Room by Suzan Zises GreenTraveling across the Pacific, we have the exotic Oriental writing room by Chuck Fischer. Fischer is both artist and writer, his creative background providing impetus for the mural covering the walls. He hand-painted the mural in chinoiserie style, with scenes full of Asian pagodas and gardens. The floor lamp with Asian-inspired hats is from Alan Moss Antiques. The Tournesol mirror and Arden cabinet is both by Downtown, available at Profiles. 

Writing Room by Chuck Fischer

Coming Soon

More beautiful interiors from the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House!

Thanks to Janet Ramin and Sheffield School for this Kips Bay article. Interested in learning more about interior design? Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design. At Sheffield, you will learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories. 

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