See what 26 designers and architects did to bring this home to life.
Attention, design lovers: The second annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas opened its doors today. For the Texas iteration of the iconic show house, 26 designers outfitted spaces inside (and occasionally, outside!) of a Georgian-style home located in Old Preston Hollow’s Sunnybrook Estates—despite delays, conflicts, and other difficulties created by the pandemic. All proceeds from the show house tickets will benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, which has raised more than $25 million since its inception in 1915. Keep reading to see each stunning space of the show house—and how they all came together. In Dallas? You can purchase tickets to the show house here, which is open through Sunday, October 24th.
Bobbitt & Company’s sweeping entry makes for a dramatic first impression, with a work of eye-catching sculpture art by Larry Whiteley floating mid-air. A Zuber wallpaper that showcases the mythological Goddess of the Soul, Psyche, echoes the sculpture's suspended branches. And you can never go wrong with a classic black-and-white marble floor!
“I am ever leery of forecasting trends,” confesses Alexa Hampton. “But, sometimes, when things go zig, it makes me want to go zag.” Here, the designer opted to create a maximalist bedroom with splashes of red and russet tones and variations of sunbursts throughout.
Leave it to Fulk to go all-out with a rich, jewel box of a space. Art deco was a key source of inspiration for Fulk’s regal study—see the Lalique cabinets in Black Ebony and the custom de Gournay wallpaper for the most opulent of references.
Deemed “a tent for new beginnings," Corey Damen Jenkins created an intersection of haute couture fashion, luxurious textures, and fantasy, which was inspired by Cirque du Soleil. Using jewel tone fabrics by Sanderson and Zoffany and a tented ceiling and canopy by French Finish of New York, the designer created a maximalist oasis that’s certainly worthy of entertaining only the best of guests.
Inspired by fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy’s dining room at Le Jonchet, Caroline Gidiere incorporated a custom scenic wallpaper by Gracie and tassel-trimmed drapery from Samuel & Sons, then layered in textual accents like ginger jars, botanical prints, and an antique mirror, which give the space depth while keeping things fresh.
Taking inspiration from the past, Outside Garden looked to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to transform the home’s former playhouse into a retreat for the Martha Stewarts of the world—and it’s certainly leaving us wanting to do the same to our backyards.
When designer Shelly Rosenberg was tasked with creating a bedroom for the show house, she knew she wanted to create a space that was accessible, so that all could enjoy it. Taking inspiration from her eight-year-old son, who has Down Syndrome, as well as a friend with Rett Syndrome, the designer fashioned a room that is giving us some major wallpaper envy. And for some whimsical pizzazz, a hanging chair complete with a patterned cushion and pillow is the finishing touch.
In order to create a space that paid homage to modern women, Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry turned to the unexpected, including a crimson red ceiling color and a sofa to match! There’s also a sly, snake-themed wallpaper throughout this room, which echoes the designers’ self-proclaimed mix of wild and wicked personalities.
Father and daughter design duo Barry and Amanda Lantz created a vibrant maximalist first-floor space for this show house, which includes a gallery wall filled with modern and vintage works above a crushed velvet sofa. “Start with the art,” advises the designers.
For a slightly bohemian dressing room designed by Burkle creative, a tufted window seat (complete with Roman shades from The Shade Store) in a muted shade of green faces an antique gold mirror that’s ideal for getting ready for a night on the town.
Yates Desygn’s Bryan and Mike Yates conjured a retro basement living space that's both moody and useful. A curved B&B Italia sofa is the centerpiece of this room and is complemented by sleek fixtures and appliances by Kohler and Signature Kitchen Suite.
“Designed with the idea of exotic travel, my guest bedroom is an ode to fantasy and the Orientalist movement that became so popular from the mid-19th century,” explains Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Look no further than the French sepia palm garden wallpaper and pair of faux ivory beds (topped with canopies from The Shade Store), which are a nod to the guest bedrooms in the estates of Baroness Rothschild and Nan Kempner.
Liz MacPhail created a cozy lounge using various familial elements—including glasses that her grandmother once used as a hostess—all the while mixing colors and textures, thanks to a patterned sofa and dark color palette.
Using a textured-and-scenic wallpaper and a retro wall seat, Traci Connell wanted to create a space with an “ever-evolving story that is left up to the imagination of the guest.” The result is a flexible space that can serve as a lounge, entertaining spot, or even a reading nook.
Michael Hilal says that although his space is meant to be a “her study,” he “really thought about how to make it a space that is non-binary and really inclusive to the modern-day person.” As such, the designer looked to the American Southwest in the late 1970s and early 1980s, given the color palette of the space, which includes celadon, nude shades, wood tones, and earthy ceramics. The matching drapery is from The Shade Store.
The inspiration for Janet Gridley’s space was close to home and her heart: her grandfather, “Doc” Gridley, a doctor and lifelong horseman who even rode into his 100th year. His own home study was “dark, layered, and felt cool on the hottest summer days,” the designer explains. “It was full of the evidence of an active mind with volumes of books on medicine, animal husbandry, beekeeping and my grandmother’s library of yoga, transcendental meditation tracts and novels in the original French.” Naturally, Gridley kept all of this in mind when designing this moody basement space.
“My primary goal was for [this] room to appear as if it previously functioned for a different purpose”—explains Brant McFarlain—“as if it was converted to be a beautiful bathroom with the bones of what once was.” In the end, the designer says this space is boasts a “simple, refined style with layers that add depth and interest.” Layers that include both a show stopping marble shower and an inviting freestanding Kohler tub.
Slim Aarons photographs were the main source of inspiration for Robin Henry’s outdoor terrace and pool deck creations—and there’s no denying how perfectly spot on the final product is, between its 1960s low lounge furniture by Danish, a bar lined with a mirrored trellis, and a backgammon tray floating in the pool.
“I decided to stay somewhat in keeping with the traditional Georgian architecture of the house but also mix in modern elements to make it feel current,” explains Dennis Brackeen. “In reflection of this past year with the pandemic, I felt compelled to create a mood of escape and even a bit of fantasy; however, the space will maintain a level of sophistication and livability.” One such example of this fantasy element is a vibrant floral wallpaper in a sunshine yellow.
For a mix of Parisian and Chinese flair, Michael Aiduss created a salon that’s swathed in antiques from a range of places and time periods, including a black lacquer panel screen from Newel Gallery and a coffee table by Karl Spring from Lobel Modern NYC.
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