The design industry lost a legend earlier this year when Albert Hadley passed away in March at the ripe age of 91. So at this year’s Kips Bay Show House, his spirit was definitely alive as so many of the designers paid tribute to Mr. Hadley in their spaces. Above is a living room designed in honor of Hadley by Bunny Williams (who is also the event’s chair) along with Brian McCarthy and David Kleinberg. It features pops of red throughout which was Albert’s signature color. All three of the designers who collaborated on this room worked for Albert Hadley in their early careers and many of the other participating designers at this year’s show house also worked for or were mentored by Hadley over the years. Below is a look at some of the touching little tributes to Hadley that I spotted around the show house…

In the Albert Hadley tribute room, a photo of Hadley beaming sits on a side table by the sofa…

And a bar console in the room is styled with another framed photo of Hadley looking on…

 In decorative painter Chuck Fischer’s room, an inspiration board full of photos, post cards and art work includes a photo Chuck had taken with Albert years ago.

A few rooms in the show house included Albert’s signature “Don’t Forget” notepads scattered about in a subtle wink to the late designer. This photo is also from Chuck Fischer’s room.

Thom Filicia, who started out working for Parish-Hadley, featured four room sketches done by Albert in his gallery space that were lent to him by Bunny Williams. Below is a closer look…

_{A sitting area in Bunny’s office features BeeLine Home’s ever-popular Nailhead Sofa, gold Hourglass Table, Lemon Leaf Ceramic Lamp and Copper Lotus Hurricane (on coffee table).}

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of attending a cocktail party hosted by Bunny Williams at her office where she gave a group of bloggers and editors a sneak peek at some of the exciting new projects she’ll be launching this fall. I got to see photos of Bunny’s BeeLine Home Collection II which includes 45 new furniture, accessories and lighting pieces that will premiere at High Point Market in October. Her first BeeLine Home collection launched last spring to much praise and I’m certain the beautiful new additions to BeeLine Home will be a huge hit too! Bunny also announced that she’ll be debuting an all-new bunnywilliams.com in September which will combine the online homes for her eponymous interior design firm, BeeLine Home and Treillage (the chic garden shop she owns with her antiques dealer husband John Rosselli) into one website. The new site will feature an expanded portfolio of Bunny’s interior design work, beautiful photography of her new BeeLine Home Collection and the Treillage portion will feature online shopping and a bridal registry.



I’m especially excited about the impending arrival of her newest book, A Scrapbook for Living, due out November 1st which also happen’s to be Bunny’s birthday! Published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, the book takes readers on a room by room tour of several homes designed by Bunny who offers offers practical advice, insider tips and boundless inspiration for creating a beautiful home.

Aside from hearing all of Bunny’s exciting new updates, a highlight was having the opportunity to tour her gorgeous office. A hallmark of Bunny Williams’ work is her ability to create spaces that radiate a sense of comfort and livability. Her office is  filled to the brim with books and beautiful objects and is so warm and inviting it feels more like a home than a workplace. The space is also impeccably decorated with beautiful furnishings and accessories from BeeLine Home. The above photo shows BeeLine’s blue Regale Armchair, Workhorse Desk, Chicken Feather Lamp and possibly the chicest trash receptacle I’ve ever seen – the Tote Debris Waste Bin made of brass and designed to look like a shopping bag! I also love how Bunny kept her beloved dogs in mind when designing her office space. You’ll notice the stylish cheetah printed doggie bed underneath her desk and another underneath a coffee table in the top photo.

_{A stylish bar display at Bunny’s office}

Bunny has a reputation for being a consummate and gracious entertainer and this event was full of fabulous food and drinks, interesting people, beautiful decor and, of course, Bunny’s warm hospitality which made for a fun, inspiring and truly special evening!

Margaret Russell with A-List Designer Darryl Carter. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

 

In Elle Decor’s June issue the magazine announced it’s first annual A-List which payed homage to 25 talented designers who define the way we live today plus 5 up-and-coming young designers to watch. The 2010 A-List included designers like Kelly Wearstler, Eric Cohler, Steven Gambrel, Charlotte Moss, Thomas O’Brien, Miles Redd, Michael S. Smith  Jeffrey Bilhuber, Matthew Patrick Smyth,  Madeline Stuart, Bunny Williams and many more! Among the 5 to watch were  Jesse Carrier, Oliver M. Furth, Grant K. Gibson, Katie Lydon and Marie Turner. I was lucky enough to get to celebrate the occasion with Elle Decor at a party hosted at the McGuire showroom at the New York Design Center a few weeks ago. All but 2 of the honored designers were in attendance and all of the top names in the New York design industry came out to fete the honorees.  It was a fabulous event set amidst the backdrop of McGuire’s beautiful furnishings and gorgeous floral arrangements designed by Bronson Van Wyck. Above is Elle Decor Editor-in-Chief Margaret Russell with DC based designer Darryl Carter who I was thrilled to see included on the A-List and I had the pleasure of meeting that evening. He was beyond humbled to be included on the A-List and is obviously very deserving of the honor. He filled me in that his book  Below are a few more of my favorite snaps from the night!

Margaret Russell with Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller of Carrier and Company. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

Designers Thomas Jayne & Bunny Williams. Photo: Patrick McMullan

The Atmosphere at the Elle Decor A-List party. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

A beautiful peony arrangement by Bronson van Wyck. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

Margaret Russell and Oscar de la Renta. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

About a week after the A-List event Elle Decor also hosted an intimate cocktail party to celebrate Oscar de la Renta’s new upholstery fabric collaboration with Lee Jofa. I was thrilled to attend and was absolutely blown away at the beauty of his fabrics which mirror the elegance and sophistication of his fashion collections. The to-the trade collection includes beautiful ethnic inspired patterns in bold hues inspired by Oscar’s fashion archives. The fabrications include rich wovens, luscious silks and elaborate embroideries and brocades. Below is a peek of the store window of Oscar’s Madison ave shop which features ball skirts made of his gorgeous new fabrics! I also included a few snaps of my own! Designers, look out for the new Oscar de la Renta fabrics coming this summer to a Lee Jofa showroom near you!

Skirts fashioned from Oscar de la Renta’s new fabric collection. Photo: Patrick Butler for Elle Decor

Beautiful fabrics from the new collection