4.19.2020

The Lost Spring of 2020

Hey There,

We'll always remember the Spring of 2020.  Uneventful.  Makes me sad not be to planning my yearly trip to NYC with Kate in early May.  Kips Bay Designer House - postponed.  ICFF - cancelled until 2021, The Met Gala - postponed, Broadway - closed til... not sure.  It's a special time to spend with her and soak in all sorts of inspiration.  I will really miss it, selfishly.   But my heart goes out to my favorite place on earth, New York City.   I can only imagine, as I hold up in the woods here in Brevard, what must be happening there and all the sadness around. Such a bizarre time.

Not being able to see Kips Bay this Spring, I am remembering last year and some of the amazing inspiration I found .. and took with me back home.  Three spaces in particular made an impact.  The work of Cullman Kravis for one . . .

Cullman & Kravis Associates

Taken from AD Pro . . . . To create the “Rhapsody in Blue” dining room, Cullman & Kravis’ Lee Cavanaugh, Alyssa Urban, Katie Sutton, and Dani Mazza all came together to work in collaboration. The four women were drawn to the rooms’ height, as well as its round and square elements. On one wall, an antique mantelpiece from Maison Gerard serves as an anchor, while bay windows frame an adjacent side. A Fred Brouard piece draws its own aura of attention at the center of the room, while gold paillettes help lighten the room’s purposefully dark palette—made possible in large part thanks to Dedar's fabric. Perhaps most notably in a space that sought to mix curved and straight lines, old and new works, and more, is the choice to use three curved benches as opposed to dining room seats. “It’s more intimate to come up with a new design,” the designers say, adding that the process was, in the end, tons of fun.


photos by Nickolas Sargent

This firm has always created special spaces, in years past at Kips Bay I remember always loving what they designed.. take a look.



This space has always been one of my favorites !





Another favorite designer  . . . Eve Robinson.

Eve Robinson & Associates

Taken from AD Pro . . . .Eve Robinson’s room “pays homage to Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own," as the designer herself puts it. “The soft gentle curves are meant to evoke a women’s sensuality,” she adds, saying too that the room is intended to support a woman’s responsibilities, in terms of work and family. A Miriam Ellner fireplace and new plaster crown moldings easily catch the viewer’s eye. Robinson designed the room’s desk and had the couch custom-made. “It’s a mixture of contemporary and vintage furnishings,” she explains, noting that the chairs were borrowed from Donzella, while the cocktail table is vintage. More details persist throughout. The rug is from Crosby Street StudioJeff Zimmerman created the lights, and the end table was sourced from KGBL. Last, but certainly not least, Alpha Workshops’ beautiful and textural wall coverings unite the space.




What a dreamy home office.


photos by Nickolas Sargent


I think she's parcial to lavender, I remember this space from a few years ago as well !





And lastly Jennifer Mason.  Such a great space.


J Cohler Mason Design

Taken from AD Pro . . . .“My clients are a New York family,” Jennifer Cohler Mason says of the imaginary couple she had in mind for her living room design. “They are big art collectors and love to entertain at home.” While the Donald Sultan tar-covered floral work is just one piece that draws that imaginary scenario out, Mason’s room is ultimately more about texture—an element that she says is “really important to me.” The walls (another standout element of the house) have a plaster finish, while the entryway is covered in a Brutalist wallpaper. (Up above the entryway, bees dot the ceiling, “to create a bit of buzz,” as Mason explains.)

Beyond that, jewel tones abound—not only thanks to the amethyst stones situated in the fireplace. This was a welcome opportunity for Mason, who notes that her real-life clients tend to prefer gray, blue, and white. Interesting sourcing notes can be seen everywhere: Fifties lounge chairs from Guy Regal make for a lovely pair, while Todd Merrill’s sofas helps anchor the room. Studio Van den Akker is responsible for the cocktail table, while Dedar and Holly Hunt are behind the window seat and window treatments, respectively. Last, but certainly not least, Mason included a small framed photograph of her two sons. It’s a personal touch, the type of which Mason believes is “so important to include.”




photos by Nickolas Sargent


Take a read at my full post of last year's show  (here)...