Downtown, Decked Out

Viviane Ashcroft
Oct 1
3 min read

Inside the 50th Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Greenwich Village just got a little more glamorous. The long-awaited 50th Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York has flung open the doors of a storied townhouse at 20 West 12th Street—marking the first time the iconic fundraiser has landed downtown. Consider it a grand tour through the design world’s group chat: 21 top talents, one very chic address, and ideas dialed all the way up. The house is open to the public September 30–October 19, 2025, and yes, your feed will thank you.

If you’re new to Kips Bay, here’s the quick brief: since 1973, the Show House has raised over $30 million for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, fueling after-school and enrichment programs for more than 11,000 kids and teens in the Bronx. It’s the rare place where exquisite plasterwork and philanthropic impact share the same spotlight—and where tastemakers happily climb multiple flights of stairs in good shoes for a worthy cause.

This golden-anniversary edition is chaired by Alexa Hampton, Bunny Williams, Jamie Drake, and Andrew Torrey—a Mount Rushmore of decorating—and the talent roster reads like a who’s who:

Corey Damen Jenkins flips tradition on its head with a Looking-Glass-meets-disco-ball dining room (the ceiling is a moment, the Baccarat Le Roi Soleil chandelier a whole mood).
Ben Pentreath Studio serves up an English Country “Drawing Room” that feels drowsy, bookish, and autumnal—like Highgrove stopped by Greenwich Village for a weekend.
Christopher Peacock goes deliciously nocturnal in a kitchen of inky woods, burnished brass, and late-night jazz energy. Thermador meets quiet luxury; cocktails practically shake themselves.
Jamie Drake turns the terrace into an “A Patch of Peace”—modernist lines, gleaming stone, and sculptural surprises that make you linger (and plot your garden makeover).
Andrea Schumacher dreams up the “Pink Rhino Club,” a speakeasy of blush, brass, and global memories—complete with a rhinoceros-shaped dry bar that’s begging for a martini and a close-up.
Leyden Lewis revives the salon as a true conversation pit—champagne-gold ceilings, aubergine walls, and a soul made for ideas (and very good playlists).
Vicente Wolf nods to Whistler’s Peacock Room, bathing a jewel-box salon in North Sea Green with glossy, light-catching layers. It’s opulence with a modern wink.
Ovadia Design Group stages “A Midnight Check-In,” where foyer and stair become a dreamlike hotel passage—think tigers, Tai Ping, and just the right amount of after-hours drama.
Tiffany Skilling transforms a former bedroom suite into “The Dressing Story,” all hand-painted Gracie murals, antique lighting, and Paris-by-way-of-Broadway swoon.
Eve Robinson offers a serene, texture-rich bedroom retreat with a verdant terrace—an antidote to New York’s delightful chaos.
Pavarini Design future-proofs the home office with “The Zoom Room,” a glam broadcast backdrop that says “yes, I am that put together at 3 p.m.”

There’s more—Mark Hampton LLC (hello, Oscar de la Renta orchids), Melanie Roy’s sculptural bath, Huniford’s nature-bathed loft, Purple Cherry’s storybook staircase, Jim Dove’s MoMA-minded study, J Cohler Mason’s secret writing room, Olivia Williams’ smart city “appartement,” and a tight edit of other spaces that make a convincing case for maximal craftsmanship and minimal rules.

What ties it all together? An anniversary-level attention to detail. Hand-applied plasterwork. Custom millwork that would make a cabinetmaker tear up. Murals drifting across ceilings. Tiles, stones, textiles, and wallpapers that remind you why we still show up for in-person inspiration. And yes, the sponsor roster is stacked—from paint and tile to appliances and textiles—because beautiful rooms are a team sport.

Kips Bay has always been about more than great rooms; it’s about what great rooms can do. As James Druckman, President of the Board, notes, this is a milestone for the Club and the broader design community—one built on decades of generosity, creativity, and unabashed enthusiasm for making spaces (and futures) brighter. Daniel Quintero, the Club’s Executive Director, calls the Show House their biggest fundraiser of the year, and you feel that pride in every meticulously pleated drapery panel and every lovingly burnished brass knob.

Go—wander, touch (lightly), and steal ideas shamelessly. Snap the terrazzo, the tapestry, the tiger carpet, the chandelier that reminds you of Studio 54, the banquette that’s definitely coming to your Pinterest board. And when you leave, you’ll have supported a cause that turns inspiration into opportunity.

Details:

Where: 20 W 12th St, New York, NY (Greenwich Village)
When: September 30 – October 19, 2025
Tickets: From $50, available via the official Kips Bay Decorator Show House site
Follow: @KBShowHouse | #KipsBayShowHouse #KBShowHouse #KipsBayNewYork