Blogfest: Alexa Hampton and Kips Bay Showhouse

As I shared with you last week was a huge Design week in New York, filled with events, Blogfest, showhouse visits and listening to many panels of great designers and of those that shape the interior design world.

My tour of Blogfest 2012 began with a tour of the new Kips Bay Showhouse on the Upper West Side at The Addyn Residences which began in 1973 "when several dedicated women’s committee members of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club launched the Decorator Show House to raise funds for much needed after school and enrichment programs for New York City children."

There are a few new elements to this year's showhouse as Bunny Williams takes the helm as Chairman on it's 40th anniversary year, including a lecture seris by Sotheby's with the next key dates:

1. May30th @11am: P. Allen Smith "Natural Elegance at Moss Mountatin Farm"
2. May 31st @11am: Ward Landrigan "Verdura and Women of Style"
3. June 1st @11am: Miles Redd "Fashion & Inspiration in Interior Design"
4. June 5th @11am: Tom Savage "Addicted to Old Houses: Iconic Rooms and Influential Interiors"

While visiting the many rooms by these great designers which I will be sharing over the course of my next posts, I wanted to begin with the Bedroom designed by Alexa Hampton.

Alexa Hampton's textile collection for Kravet is masterfully incorporated within the design of her room in the Kips Bay Showhouse, and as she herself describes it..

"designing a collection is like taking your own temperature" - Alexa Hampton

via Kravet Showroom - Alexa Hampton Collection

Fabrics left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 source: kravet

Alexa Hampton & Ann Omvig Maine (Editor in Chief of Traditional Home)
Kravet Showroom (D&D Building)

Part of our 2nd day in Blogfest while visiting the Kravet showroom in the Design & Decoration Building where we were able to listen to Alexa Hampton speak candidly with Traditional Home Magazine Editor in Chief, Ann Omvig Maine, as she shared how her "2nd grade class trip was to a Kips Bay Showhouse..." and many other such personal stories that allowed us to have an insight into how this new collection came to be and her thoughts and inspirations while designing the showhouse. 

Beginning with a "highly glossed lacquered wall in an atypical color, Dragon's Breath", Alexa shares with us how she balanced the decision as it may appear cold, or acoustically less welcoming in one's bedroom setting....

Smokey "Dragon's Breath" high gloss lacquered walls

with other elements of warmth and traditional overtones.

These warm mahogany doors (which were simply gorgeous)

a chinoiserie screen which doubled in helping hide the existing column by the window and simultaneously help create a little more privacy in the otherwise very exposed glass bedroom.

The juxtaposition & tension is electrifying of the very sleek and modern architectural details of the modern apartment building in the center of New York City, by adding these traditional elements in the choice of fabrics, antiques, art and drapery as well as the ethereal canpoy bed in mainly monochromatic fabrics.

There was no detail left unattended:
Art all the way to the ceiling..
Silver leaf wallcovering on the ceiling..

MEADOWMERE DUNE fabric
Kravet - Alexa Hampton Collection

Beautiful Jansen Ebonized desk, Chinese Black Lacquered & Gilt Screen

As described by Cosmo, ..Alexa Hampton is "fun, fearless female" and a lover of words..
Here are a few of her favorites:

ef·ful·gent:

Shining brightly; radiant.

(of a person or expression) Emanating joy or goodness

lu·gu·bri·ous

Adjective:

Looking or sounding sad and dismal.

san·guine

Adjective:

Cheerfully optimistic

What are yours?




So if you have the chance to visit the Kips Bay Showhouse, in the process be part of helping
contribute to the cause as well as feel inspired - what could be a better way to spend the afternoon?

Kips Bay Showhouse: Event Date: May 16 - June 14, 2012
Manhattan’s Upper West Side, at The Aldyn Residences, 60 Riverside Boulevard (Blvd., NOT Riverside Drive, between 62nd & 63rd)
Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8 p.m.
Sunday: noon - 5 p.m.