2009 Kips Bay Show House Designer: Garrow Kedigian
by habituallychic
04 . 15 . 09
The best part of attending the press tour for the 2009 Kips Bay Decorator Show House is that I was able to speak to most of the designers directly and ask them questions. Most of the established interior designers usually take one of the larger rooms in a show house because they can afford to decorate them. They have great relationships with many vendors and workrooms and since their clients usually spend a lot, they are able to call in favors and get many goods and services donated. Younger designers without deep pockets usually choose a smaller room but as is the case with interior designer Garrow Kedigian, they can often make a big impact in their small space!
Garrow had just 95 square feet to work with on the 5th floor of the Show House but it’s full of great style and design ideas. His inspiration was actually a room he had created for a client on Park Avenue who was a psychologist who wanted a room of her own to get away from her husband and children. He turned a small maid’s room into a multi-use space where she could read and eat and get away from all the hassles of her day. Couldn’t we all use a room like that?!
The room was painted a lovely orange/brown color which were varnished to create a sheen that reflects light. There were absolutely no architectural details in the room so Garrow created them using paint, an easy trick that anyone could try at home. We discussed how hard it is to choose a paint color and he tried about four colors before settling on Benjamin Moore Terra Mauve. You really need to try paint out in your own space so you can tell how it will look because it can look dramatically different in a magazine or online. They can even look different in regular photos as you see from the first two photos that I took and the last three that were taken by Bruce Buck. Of course, Bruce is a much more talented photographer than I am so that might also have something to do with it!
What’s so great about the space are all the details that you only start to notice as you look around the room. The banquette was a great choice since it anchors the room and doesn’t take up as much space as a regular sofa might. The pillows were actually made from fabric samples but don’t tell anyone! The marble top table from Amy Perlin Antiques serves as a dining table and work space. The Greek key motif from the pillows is picked up in the custom rug which also complements the wall color. There are many classical elements that play off each other including the large painting of the Russian post, Mayakovsky that was found rolled up in another client’s attic!
Outside the room is the skylight so Garrow opened up the wall near the ceiling to allow for a mirrored oculus and two other “windows” on the side wall let more light into the small room. The mirror on the other wall also helps open up the space. This was definitely one of my favorite rooms and I heard that interior designer legend Mario Buatta also declared it one of his favorites as well! Just goes to show you that big things come in small packages!
26 Comments
I so appreciate that you are posting about this showhouse since us West Coasters are so far away. What a great room! Thanks Heather. 🙂
I love the use of vases with the large flowered branches. They make such a statement in the rooms!
hot damn orange. what a spectacular space . . . and an amazing use of a “forgotten” little corner.
and, yes, thank you for sharing these images for those of who are miles (and states) away.
Yes, I have seen the room and it is the Jewel box of The Showhouse. Kudos, Garrow. We will see your name in lights soon.
This space is incredible. Very warm and cozy; perfect for unwinding with a good book. Thanks for sharing.
Any idea where the carpet came from?
pretty. especially the walls, of course. did you happen to catch the name of the BM color? i always LOVE to know what other designers use.
lovely photos, thanks for sharing!
ps- jealous of your press tour!
oxxo
i love how he created ‘architecture’ with white paint. beautiful!
Love this room. LOVE.
He only selected four BM shades before choosing one? Amateur.
I choose hundreds before choosing one.
🙂
Thanks for the peek.
Katie – it’s too bad you can come and see it in person! It’s a great house this year!
Madella – this year’s house is full of fabulous branches and flowers! They look so beautiful!
Tartanscot – I think I might need to post the floorplans for each floor of the house so you can see just how small it is compared to the other rooms! Amazing!
Anonymous – Garrow has been featured in magazines but I hope everyone will know his name now! He’s a wonderfully talented designer! And so nice too!
Dawn – I wish I could hang out in that room! It’s so cozy!
Anonymous – According to the catalog, the custom area rug is by Mark Nelson Designs.
Maison21 – I think he said it was Terra Cotta something but I can’t remember so I emailed him for the exact name. I will let you know as soon as I find out. The press tour was exhausting but so wonderful!
Found – I know! I read that Garrow is a trained architect so that makes sense now!
TreadUpon68 – it’s even better in person!
Hello Gorgeous – Ha! That’s why Garrow is at the Show House and we aren’t! What a talent!
That light blue velvet chair with the black trim and nailheads…I want it!
xoxo
Rebecca June
Amazing what you can do with talent and creativity to transform a tiny room into a faboulous retreat.
where did he find the chandelier? perfect choice! what a sweeeet room.
Just fabulous!
Bravo!
Great post, Heather. Love it. 🙂
I’m also interested in knowing the wall color name. Will you please let us know? Thank you for sharing all these wonderful rooms!
Christ, HC…now I’ve gotta repaint a wall or two. It’s the perfect color!!!
I emailed Garrow and here is some of the information requested…
“The wallcolor (main field) is: Benjamin Moore Terra Mauve, and the painted panel lines are Benjamin Moore HC-39 (Putnam Ivory), my favorite of all time mocha/beige tones…
The carpet is by Mark Nelson Designs- he is a fabulous one-man carpet operation, who had years of experience working for Patterson Flynn & Martin, and then A.M. Collections; Mark recently started his own business, and has sources to the most fabulous carpeting… he was able to make this carpet for me in both a tight deadline, and also completely customized the product to my every detail (I selected the color palms, did a drawing for the size & scale of the pattern in the carpet), and they delivered it a few short weeks later, for an excellent price-point!! Mark’s contact Info: (646)-861-3293.”
I absolutely LOVED this room. As a classicist, it hits ALL of my buttons. I would love also to try and find out the fabric source for the two pillows with the Greek vase motifs. I’ve been looking for something like them forever. And, I just can’t say enough good things about the color orange (terracotta)!!!
To answer the other questions, the light fixture is from John Salibello Antiques and the pillow fabrics are from Schumacher, Bergamo and Clarence House. I’m pretty sure Garrow said the Greek Key fabric was from Schumacher.
Hi Heather, I love this room…the classic with the adventurous. I love the big pieces in a small space and the colors. I wonder what he will create next. Love that Louis XVI style chair with the overscale modern table. Thanks.
Hi Heather, Love these spaces–especially Garrow’s, he perfectly intertwined the classic with the adventurous…the colors! So happy to see the greater use of antiques with modern–cozy, but high energy–Yum! Thank you.
Love the rust-colored walls. This is such an elegant space. Great pictures!
Fabulous spot to “get away” from the ones you love.
I think I like that best – a “retreat” of sorts.
Everyone needs a room of their own.
pve
I thought right away it was a portrait of Vladimir Mayakovsky. Do you know who was the artist? was the painting brought from Russia or was it painted by someone in the States (Mayakovsky visited the States ones).
Irina