Designing the Future

In the world of Interior Design, there are few honors as meaningful as being asked to design for the Kips Bay Designer Show House. Not only does it raise millions of dollars for charity, it is the height of recognition and the opportunity to define the direction of interior design. Twenty-two hand-selected designers from around the world come together under an impossible timeline of 8 weeks to completely transform a house while experimenting and challenging norms—pushing design forward. At Urbanology, we are so honored and thrilled to design for Kips Bay Show House Dallas. And we wanted to give you a window into both the roller coaster ride of being part of an almost impossible task, as well as the “why” behind it.

Kips Bay Show House: Design for a Cause

Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club was founded in the Bronx in 1915 to support kids who were falling through the cracks—providing students 6-18 with after school programming. In 1973 the Designer Show House was conceived to raise money for the program, with an initial location in Manhattan and then expanding over the years to Los Angeles, Palm Beach, and Dallas. Over the years, the show house has raised millions of dollars for Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club but also for local charities. With the Dallas show home in its 4th year, proceeds will benefit Dwell with Dignity and The Crystal Charity Ball—both organizations that serve local children and their families.

In attendance at the President’s dinner kicking off the Dallas Show Home, were 3 graduates of Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club who had dedicated their careers to give back to an organization that had given them so much. Amidst the drama of looming deadlines and construction snafus, meeting those individuals brought back the reason that we do this. Yes, we design beautiful spaces, but we also better lives through spaces that bring joy and inspire well-being. And what better way to reinforce that mission than to help this incredible organization?

The Challenge

One house. 22 designers. A full gut remodel. 8 weeks.

If it sounds like a reality show, it would make a great one. We start with a Dallas house—either one on the market or one with an imaginative and willing owner—in need of a complete transformation. 

When we first got the call that we’d been chosen and offered the primary bathroom suite, immense pride soon gave way to panic. It is a very short window for a complete remodel from plans and elevations to materials selection, nevermind the sourcing and actual construction. It was the worst possible time—right in the middle of several projects already underway. It would require a significant financial investment and convincing our contractors to divert their attention to this project. There were many reasons to gracefully decline.

When I approached the team, I laid out all of the reasons why this was not the right time for us. Without hesitation, my incredible team agreed that when you’ve been asked to the dance, you show up. So we got to work.

Photo courtesy of the homeowner

The Approach

When we considered the task in front of us, we had to move away from our normal process of design iterations and tweaking elevations to tapping into what moves us. How do we see design evolving? Show House is an opportunity to experiment and play. We anchored around one element: a hand-crafted vanity that would be a focal point with unique shape, massive scale, and elements that draw you in: an oversized trough sink and marble from an abandoned quarry, named The King’s Marble for its prevalence in manor houses throughout Europe. Then we expanded off of that theme, mixing traditional and modern with a touch of whimsical. We aim for timelessness, an interplay of elements that defy categorization into a specific era.

How it’s Going

We are about 3 weeks out from our deadline. Even if things had gone perfectly, 8 weeks would have been a difficult task. Add on negotiating the design with the homeowner, ripping out all of the plumbing and electrical work we had done because the bathroom above us had structural issues, negotiating with the primary suite designers on overlapping spaces, and waiting on sheetrock installation. As of now the floors are in, the tilework has started, and the vanity is being installed. Surely there will be other hurdles and unexpected surprises, but we are starting to see our vision realized. And as it does, we are constantly in awe of this opportunity we have been given—tired, yes, but honored to have been selected, challenged by the task, inspired by our peers, and humbled to contribute to changing lives. And we can’t wait for you to  join us in witnessing the vision of 22 world-class designers come to life in order to better the lives of countless children and families.

Before

Progress

Visiting Kips Bay Dallas Show Home

KIPS BAY DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE DALLAS
​9446 Hathaway Street, Dallas

November 3rd through November 15th, 2023
10AM - 4PM

November 2nd, 2023
12PM - 8PM

November 6th - November 15th, 2023
GENERAL ADMISSION 
Tickets start at $50
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

November 3rd - November 5th, 2023
VIP WEEKEND
Tickets start at $150
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS