David Collins Studio decorates the Kips Bay Show House

The 44th iteration of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House opened its doors this week, in a converted parking garage just off New York's Fifth Avenue

(Image credit: David Collins Studio)

By Elly Parsons

last updated 5 October 2022

For 44 years, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York has been recruiting some of the world's eminent designers to transform Manhattan townhouses into eclectic show-homes, the proceeds of which benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club charity.

Yesterday, a converted parking garage just off Fifth Avenue opened its doors, revealing a five-story, $49.5 million limestone mega-house, featuring an art-deco kitchen, a handful of bespoke parlour rooms, two outdoor terraces and a roof deck with views that skim over Barneys and the Pierre Hotel, settling upon the treetops of Central Park.

This year, London-based interior architecture firm David Collins Studio created 'The Collins Room' entrance hall, taking their cue from the Berkeley's Blue Bar, which they designed in 2000. Now an infamous celebrity trap, the Blue Bar is known for its signature azure furniture and 'Lutyens blue' walls.

This unique shade (christened after Sir Edward Lutyens, creator of the original panelling that clads the hotel's walls to this day) was the starting point for the Kips Bay interior, explains creative director Simon Rawlings. 'It was something I wanted to do to mark the importance of the Blue Bar project, to signal its timelessness and to create something iconic.'

Akin to their collaborative house-style, David Collins Studio teamed up with with a host of renowned design talents to realise their Show House contribution. A hidden 'English garden' installation of wild bramble and wisteria comes courtesy of Emily Thompson, and nine curious acrylic artworks have been created by long-time Studio collaborator Alexander Innes. Uniting the various shades of blue is a seriously classy hand-screened 'Chiyogami' wallpaper in lapis, claret and gold, part of the upcoming 'David Collins Studio for Baker' range.

The piece that truly shines a light on Lutyens' work is the inclusion of cream and scarlet-shaded pendant lamps by Sir Edwin's granddaughter, Candia, that dangle from the ceiling on lengthy cord pulleys. Rawlings concludes, 'This has been a very unique opportunity to realise a vision which is so important to me, and to the Studio, and to pay tribute to the project which started my career.'

The Collins Room' entrance hall. — London-based interior architecture firm David Collins Studio created 'The Collins Room' entrance hall, taking their cue from the Berkeley's Blue Bar, which they designed in 2000

The starting point for the Kips Bay interior. — The 'Lutyens blue' wall colour, named after Sir Edward Lutyens, creator of the original panelling that clads the hotel's walls to this day, was the starting point for the Kips Bay interior

Beautiful red colored flowers. — David Collins Studio teamed up with with a host of renowned design talent to achieve their Show House contribution – a hidden 'English garden' installation of wild bramble and wisteria comes courtesy

The wall has been decorated in red color. — Nine acrylic artworks have been created by long-time Studio collaborator Alexander Innes

The various shades of blue. — Uniting the various shades of blue is the seriously classy hand-screened 'Chiyogami' wallpaper in lapis, claret and gold, part of the upcoming 'David Collins Studio for Baker' range

Scarlet-shaded pendant lamps. — The piece that truly shines a light on Lutyens' work is the inclusion of cream and scarlet-shaded pendant lamps by Sir Edwin's granddaughter, Candia, that dangle from the ceiling on lengthy cord pulleys

Information

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House is open until 9 June at the Carlton House Townhouse. Admission benefits the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. For more information, visit the Kips Bay Decorator Show House website (opens in new tab)

Photography courtesy David Collins Studio

ADDRESS

The Carlton House Townhouse
19 East 61st Street
New York, NY 10065

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Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.