Shop local. Nominate your favorites.

The Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse might have closed, but a number of its aesthetic highlights are staying with me. While I’m not likely to immediately redecorate around a custom sofa, a large-scale light sculpture or an undulating ceiling, there are a number of smaller-scale inspirations that offer a more immediate injection of Kips Bay magic. 

Here are some of my favorite ideas that (mostly)  don’t require a major time or budget commitment — plus some local finds to get the look.

TREND: Yellow is the new blue. From Justin Moreland’s front door onward, yellow was this year’s standout color. I like it because it combines a tropical retro feel while offering an alternative to the classic blue and white. For inspiration, look to The Lewis Design group’s very Palm Beach-friendly pale pink and seashells, paired with yellow floral wallpaper from Casa Branca Atelier, while Kate Ives Marshall was more conservative with tonal strié paneling in butter yellow paint. Pappas Mirron Design kept it interesting in all the best ways by anchoring a salon with a citron velvet sofa. 

Pools feel like the easiest entry point for bright yellow. With Slim Aarons-inspired yellow tiki stripes by Schumacher, Riverbrook seems to agree. For a more permanent commitment, Firefinish Interiors outfitted their outdoor shower with citron zellige tile.

TREND: What’s old is new. Linoleum! Glass blocks! Landlines! I was thrilled to see so many 1950s heroes regain their place in the sun from the ground up (although I was sad to find that an original green mid-century bathroom and a pink bathroom had both been ripped out). Steven Walsch embellished original terrazzo floors with a brass overlay and Alexandra Pappas used nostalgic checkered linoleum; Deborah Wescelman and Sherrill Canet returned to allover carpet.

In the bathroom, Danielle Balanis installed a glass block wall, and LTA Interiors added a pink toilet. Colorful appliances are also making a comeback, as evidenced by Leanne Yarn's gold range and Riverbrook’s yellow grill. There were at least three analog phones, courtesy of Tori Alexander, Kate Ives Marshall and Tartan & Toile; I’ve already rigged up my cellphone to an old pink phone. And finally, I love a smoky gold mirror. So do Wescelman and Edward James of Lori Morris Design. 

TREND: For the birds. Avian accents brought whimsy to light fixtures, tables and more. Favorite examples this year are Riverbrook’s tropical bird figurine, Colleen Rosar’s peacock table, Eerdman’s hanging pendant, Lisa Eerdman’s sconce and Tartan & Toile’s chandelier. They were joined by fish sconces (also Rosar’s) and monkeys (from Tartan & Toile) — to name a few! 

TREND: Looking behind the curtain…Curtains are a necessity at the showhouse for hiding unwanted architectural elements, creating visual separation or just concealing clutter — but I’m inspired by the look of an undulating curtain in place of a flat wall just for the drama and texture alone. Designers often hang artwork and mirrors on top — a very “designer-coded” touch that is easy to implement. 

Bamo used curtains to great effect in its surrealist sunroom, Emily Eerdman did it to conceal a fireplace and Tartan & Toile did it to conceal a hot water heater. Riverbrook hung their curtained tiki wall with artwork and a mirrored TV, while Sherrill Canet used a patterned curtain to create a headboard canopy effect. - Maghan

New in Town: Del Mar 🌊

PB Town Leaders annual resident update 🏫

The capybara pups are here! 🦫

Hmm: Tay Tay may be single-handedly bringing back Vinyl ⚫