Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2018

The Drawing Room is inspired by the history of family and the love of collections. I grew up split between a traditional family home in the Canadian countryside and the urban contemporary sprawl of Los Angeles. In either reality, I was surrounded by luxurious details; antiques, custom upholstery, window coverings and cushions in fabrics that were rare or hand-woven artistry and even lampshades that were bespoke. My mother made each space about comfort first; personal touches, classic pieces mixed with some whimsy - her character and how she loved to live clearly showed through our homes. The Drawing Room is curated diversity within a space. It's a place I see my mother and other fascinating personalities mingling, sipping cocktails, discussing art and life and everything in between. Architectural detailing is essential to my design process, as it provides a context and a canvas on which I begin to layer with colour and texture. Wall coverings, carpets, window treatments and upholstery are all extensively researched and often are bespoke pieces of artistry unto themselves. These hand-treated commissions make the design even more meaningful. I focus on curating timelessness and I do this in The Drawing Room by selecting pieces from different design periods, diversifying materials, layering styles and building a story for the room to tell. Art selection and placement is integral to my process as well as the story the room tells about the people it serves, which is why we have included collections in The Drawing Room. People love certain things and get attached to them from when we're children right up to adults. We start collecting things for passion and souvenir and as I do this myself, I wanted to fill the room with these things of beauty which personalize the space and inspire a sensation of intimacy. The Drawing Room is about the nostalgia I have for all that is grand about living well with beautiful things and entertaining enchanting people.