We’ve just returned to London from an exhilarating experience in New York, where we had the privilege of designing, curating, and installing the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. It’s been an honour to be part of one of the premier design events of the year.
The project has been nothing short of thrilling, from the initial initiative and brief to collaborating with other talented designers. This event serves as a fundraiser for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, supporting educational and developmental programs for over 10,000 children in need. Over the years, the show houses have raised an impressive $30 million and have been instrumental in inspiring design worldwide for four decades.
For the 49th edition of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York, Kit Kemp Design Studio was among 24 top designers and architects invited to transform a showroom. The venue, a magnificent creation by architect Charles A. Platt, is a 12,000 square foot, 1904 neo-Georgian townhouse situated at 125 East 65th Street. With its expansive footprint and spacious plan and ceiling heights, the building provided an ideal canvas for our creative expression.
Our excitement soared upon discovering that our assigned space for transformation was the dining room, bathed in natural light streaming through a bay window. We were determined not only to showcase our work and latest ideas but also to push the boundaries and infuse the room with elements of surprise and fantasy. It was truly an opportunity to breathe new life into a space that had fallen into disrepair.
Allow us to introduce ‘A Dining Room of One’s Own’, where stepping into this jewel box transports you to the English countryside. Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own,’ we embarked on our own interpretation of the story. The design journey began with the layering of fabrics from our new collection with GP & J Baker, custom colourful wainscoting from Schotten & Hansen, and our ‘Tall Trees’ tableware for Spode.
Gazing upward, you’re met with a cheerful sight: the ceiling painted in the vibrant hue of ‘Bright Yellow’ by Benjamin Moore, infusing the space with a sense of joy. The room is framed by bespoke coloured wood paneling.
As your gaze drifts along the walls, it encounters the mesmerising painted mural by Tess Newall, a captivating focal point that adds depth and character to the room.
In collaboration with Annie Selke, the ‘Deer Leap Hand-Hooked Wool Rug’ graces the floor, featuring a soft yet dramatic mosaic pattern that anchors the space. This mosaic motif extends upward onto the magnetic Pit-A-Pat dining table, showcasing the natural beauty of the wood in eight vibrant colours. This table, a result of an exciting experiment and collaboration with Schotten & Hansen, is set to be unveiled at the upcoming Clerkenwell Design Week, promising to captivate with its innovative features and design.
Completing the scene is a whimsical tablescape adorned with florals by Lewis Miller Design and complemented by our dinnerware collection for Spode, ‘Tall Trees,’ adding a touch of elegance and charm to the dining experience.
Encircling the table are our ‘Susan’ chairs covered with our ‘Knight’s tale’ fabric on the backs in various colourways, while ‘Bunty’ graces the fronts, weaving a captivating narrative throughout the space. At the ends of the table, ‘Leo’ chairs clad in the same fabric as the walls, with a unique pocket crafted in ‘World’s Apart’ to complement the sofa, create a harmonious ensemble.
Adjacent to the sofa, two bespoke Kit’s Wing Chairs steal the spotlight, featuring a delicate, hand-stitched flower appliqué, adding a touch of whimsy and elegance to the setting. As a gesture of gratitude for our participation in Kips Bay, we’re donating one of these chairs and auctioning it on our website, Shop Kit Kemp, with all proceeds benefiting the Kips Bay organisation. Don’t miss your chance to own one of these unique creations while supporting a worthy cause! The bid for the chair has now closed.
A heartfelt thank you to all our collaborators who brought this space to life!
We invite you to visit our ‘Dining Room of One’s Own’, open to all until May 28th at 125 E 65th Street, New York, NY 10065. Stay tuned for more insights on the art and collaborators of the space next week.