One of the driving principles of who I post on Habitually Chic is that the person must be nice. And not just nice to me. One person who is niceness personified is interior designer Michael Herold who designed by foyer at the 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. I arrived later than expected to the press preview last Friday and after a morning walking people through his space, Michael was still happy and excited to tell me about his design for the entry. When I reached out to say that the photos I took on that rainy day weren’t doing his space justice and inquired if he had photos I could use, he was kind enough to send his photos by Marco Ricca on opening day of the show house.

For Kips Bay, Michael wanted to create an entry that transported each guest to a place far from the hustle and bustle of city life. That was achieved by the Nicolas Poussin inspired 17th-century landscape wallpaper by Iksel Decorative Arts that is actually printed instead of hand-painted. “The classic Italian scenery draw you in and make you feel as if you have stepped into an Old Masters painting.”  Michael also decided to keep the original antique mirrored walls to give the illusion of an infinite countryside landscape.

The entry is flanked by doors on either side but the matching dark antique bachelor chests help draw your eye away from them and to the mix of modern art and sculptures on display. They include two Joan Miro lithographs which add a pop of color and a cheeky classical torso. Instead of matching the upholstery to the mural, Michael chose to add graphic striped Schumacher fabric on all the seating which perfectly relates back to the black bachelor chests. Most entries are just a pass through space but Michael created a foyer that definitely makes you want to stay and enjoy the space.

Interior designer Michael Herold.

Photos 1,2, 4, 6, 8 by Marco Ricca. Photo 3 from AD. Photos 7, 9, 10 by me.