Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York Celebrates 50 Years

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York has officially opened its doors, marking its 50th anniversary. This year's event features two dozen leading designers who have transformed a 9,000-square-foot residence into a showcase of imaginative and detailed interiors. The show house, located at 20 West 12th Street, serves as a crucial fundraiser, supporting vital afterschool and enrichment programs for children and teens in the Bronx.

A Half-Century of Design and Philanthropy

For five decades, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House has been a significant event in the design world. It brings together top designers to create unique spaces within a single residence. This year, the event returns after a delay from its usual spring schedule, offering visitors a detailed look at contemporary interior design.

More than just a display of talent, the show house is a core fundraising initiative. It supports the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, an organization dedicated to providing essential services to young people. These services benefit over 11,000 children and teens in the Bronx.

Diverse Design Approaches on Display

Upon entering the 9,000-square-foot residence, visitors encounter a range of creative expressions. Designers have used color, texture, and unique elements to craft distinct atmospheres in each room. The entryway, designed by Jack Ovadia of Ovadia Design Group, sets a dramatic tone with deep plum shades. This marks Ovadia's debut at the Kips Bay event.

Other designers like Leyden Lewis, Jim Dove, and Olivia Williams Studio also incorporate rich, dark jewel tones. These choices create a sense of depth and luxury. In contrast, designers such as Corey Damen Jenkins, Andrea Schumacher, Jennifer Cohler Mason, and Tiffany Skilling embrace bold patterns. They use whimsical wallpapers to evoke fairy-tale settings.

"This is a monumental moment—not only in the history of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, but also within the design community," says James Druckman, President of the Board of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. "We are deeply grateful to the members of our community who have supported the Show House and our mission over the years."

Showcasing Artisan Details and Innovative Materials

The 2025 show house highlights a wide array of high-quality furnishings and materials. These include pieces from Made Goods, wallpapers from Romo, Phillip Jeffries, and Gracie, and fabrics from Kravet and Sanderson. Artworks by notable artists like Isaac Julien, Robert Dash, and Jim Dine are also featured throughout the residence. Window treatments by The Shade Store and paints by Benjamin Moore complete many of the sophisticated spaces.

Each designer brings a distinct vision. For example, Ben Pentreath Studio brings British design to New York. They create a cozy drawing room with fabrics and wallpapers from Morris & Co. and furnishings from Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. This blend of classic and contemporary elements is a hallmark of the Kips Bay event.

Individual Design Highlights

• Ovadia Design Group: The foyer features a smoky plum palette with a custom Tai Ping carpet. This design includes a Jennifer Hansen Rolli tiger mural, creating a bold entryway.
• Andrea Schumacher: A modern speakeasy room combines Moroccan and Nigerian influences. It includes a painting from Schumacher’s personal collection and block prints.
• Alessandra Branca: Her drawing room reflects a "united nations of design." It blends works from Japan, Italy, and Norway, inspired by French interiors. A trompe l’œil Gracie wallpaper adds a striking visual element.
• Jim Dove: A narrow second-floor office becomes a study for an art connoisseur. It draws inspiration from John Soane’s London and Moroccan finds, maximizing space with carefully selected pieces.
• Tamara Feldman: The master bath takes cinematic cues from Alfonso Cuarón’s Great Expectations. It introduces a collaboration between Artistic Tile and Donghia, with Cipollino Green marble and a lime Kohler tub.
• Jennifer Cohler Mason: A writer’s room uses a new Gracie wallpaper in rich tones. A Holland & Sherry fabric covers a sofa, complemented by unique lamps and a Ghost mirror from Outcast Studios.
• Leyden Lewis Design Studio: A modern salon features Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Wine paint and a gilded Gracie wall covering. It includes a custom "menage-à-tête" chaise and a fireplace from Lewis’s collection.
• Alexa Hampton: Her room, "Oscar’s Orchid Reverie," transforms an Oscar de la Renta orchid dress into playful fabric. This fabric adorns a canopy bed, with surreal touches like a painted paper fireplace.
• Pavarini Design: This space is designed for podcasting and video conferencing. It features a Dakota Jackson Arabesque desk, Pierre Frey textiles, and a custom wall of walnut and Cosentino stone.
• Vicente Wolf: A living area draws inspiration from James McNeill Whistler’s Peacock Room. It combines gold and teal tones with Benjamin Moore’s North Sea Green paint and a curated selection of antiques.
• Tiffany Skilling Interiors: A Jack and Jill bath becomes a dressing room. It is influenced by Paris brasserie Bouillon Julien, featuring Gracie wallpaper and Pierre Frey fabrics.
• Eve Robinson: Her ninth Kips Bay contribution offers a quiet space that brings nature inside. A sueded sapphire-blue plaster treatment surrounds a custom bleached-oak bed.
• Corey Damen Jenkins: The dining room is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. It includes fantastical Schumacher murals, Kravet fabrics, and a Baccarat chandelier.
• James Dolenc and Thomas Riker: The back stair transforms into a Mediterranean journey. It features a honey-color Phillip Jeffries grasscloth with hand-painted details.
• Christopher Peacock: The kitchen uses cabinetry from his Motra collection in deep espresso-bean brown. Unlacquered brass hardware and Cosentino Sensa natural stone countertops complete the look.
• Jamie Drake: An outdoor area pays homage to Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavillion. It offers a dreamy setting for alfresco entertaining with Gloster chairs and a Richard Filipowski sculpture.
• Melanie Roy Design: A "gilded waters" themed bath features luminescent tiles from Artistic Tile and shimmering Kohler fixtures. Ombre Romo wallpaper adds metallic details.
• Cathy Purple Cherry: Her Kips Bay debut staircase uses a dreamy ombre rug and Phillip Jeffries wallpaper. It tells a personal story of love and growth through floral elements.
• Olivia Williams Studio: A 250-square-foot studio apartment offers small-space inspiration. It features a Japanese tapestry, a lantern from Dimorestudio, and rare furniture pieces.
• James Huniford: A top-floor loft provides a literal and sensory escape. It is enveloped in a Phillip Jeffries cork wall covering with furniture in hushed blues and greens.

According to Daniel Quintero, the Executive Director of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, the event is more than just a design showcase. "This event is more than a showcase of top design talent, it’s our biggest fundraising event of the year for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club," Quintero states. "The amount of dedication from each designer and our sponsors is truly remarkable. Each team shares our vision of making this year’s Show House the most impactful one yet."

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York remains open for public tours until October 19, 2025. It offers a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge design while supporting a vital community organization.