The ZoyaB Blog

Johnny's Room Video Released to Celebrate Columbus Day!

By now, the kids are back in school and hopefully settled into all their new classes. Education really is such an important thing – no one can take away what you’ve learned – you carry it with you all your life. Designing a nursery has a huge impact on the development of a child and so if even just a little bit of educational material is present in the room at a young age, it’s likely there will be a positive impact.

In honor of back-to-school time and Columbus Day today, I am releasing a video explaining the inspiration behind my 2006 Merrywood Greenwich Showhouse, “Johnny’s Room”. The video can be accessed below on YouTube, Vimeo, and the Rooms by ZoyaB website.

   

Back in 2006, the Merrywood Greenwich Showhouse sought to benefit the campaign to expand and upgrade The Greenwich Family YMCA. The mission statement of the Greenwich YMCA drives home the point of “nurturing the potential of our whole family”. I want to express full support of the Greenwich YMCA organization, as they provide an unparalleled environment when it comes to childcare and youth and family development. But I also wish to remind the public that education is a major part of the nurturing of the whole person – specifically the mind. It is never too early to have a history lesson. If educational materials surround a child from the time he/she was born, in his/her nursery for example, they can only be better equipped when they start school and will quickly become a well-rounded person into adulthood!

Using this core idea of education in ‘Johnny’s Room’, three of the walls contain murals that center upon American History – the Mayflower, Amerigo Vespucci and last but not least, Christopher Columbus. I wanted the walls to tell a story, give the viewer a feel of magic, and be very peaceful and dreamy, all while sticking to the nautical theme, seen in my use of color throughout, with a variety of soft blue hues.

The video tour describes inspiration for the other pieces in the room including the William Armoire from the ZoyaB Collection, my custom American-made luxury baby furniture line, and Johnny’s Ship Chandelier, one of the focal points of the room. Perhaps a little known fact is that Prince William, now Duke of Cambridge, was the inspiration behind the William Armoire – furniture fit for your little prince. Each child should feel that they have their own space that makes them feel like royalty. ‘Johnny’s Room’ has been featured in New York Spaces.

A photo of Johnny's Room:

In honor of Columbus Day, Rooms by Zoya B. is having a Columbus Day sale on the website. For more information, call (212) 726-0006 or email sales@roomsbyzoyab.com.

Please do have a look at the Johnny’s Room video. Happy Columbus Day!

Happy Child… Better World!

- Zoya B.

Celebrate Labor Day with Rooms By ZoyaB. and Support American-Made Products!

Happy Belated Labor Day, everyone!

We hope you enjoyed your last "official" weekend of summer. Though it's difficult to come back to work after a long weekend, we felt strongly about taking some time to honor yesterday's holiday with a little reflection on the contributions of American workers to the economy and how they affect the prosperity of this wonderful country we live in. So, today we are releasing a video to promote the production and manufacturing of furniture in the United States.

 

This video stars our very own junior designer, Francesca La Para, who discusses why it's important to buy products with the Made in the USA label. As a young person working in today's unstable economy, Francesca realizes that every little bit counts - every American product supported strengthens the value of the American worker, creates more jobs, and ensures the security of jobs. She believes that everyone should be conscious of where their purchases come from. When we spoke about this earlier today, she said, “Supporting American-made products only helps stimulate our economy, which in turn strengthens our future. Why not become a more informed shopper?” I agree wholeheartedly.

As stated in our previous blog on this subject, World News with Diane Sawyer produced a series entitled Made in America that reminded us that “economists say that if every one of us spent an extra $3.33 on U.S.-made goods every year, it would create nearly 10,000 new jobs in this country.”  As far as the government goes, it is obvious they are dealing with a huge issue. However, recently, Obama hired economist and unemployment expert Alan Krueger as his chairman of his Council of Economic Advisors, as he moves forward with a new plan to launch a job program.

When I released my ZoyaB Collection, I had one thing in mind: the problem is that customers do not realize you can still buy a high-quality luxury product right here at home. The furniture does not have to be made in Europe to be ‘fancy’. Also, overseas, safety standards may not be enforced. With American-made goods, you can be sure your pieces are high-quality and safe. Releasing the line was a decision I made consciously and with the purpose of doing my part to contribute to rebuilding the economy.

As a reminder, we also carry numerous other American-Made furniture lines on our website, www.roomsbyzoyab.com:  Newport Cottages, Russell and MacKenna, and Lulla Smith. Our Iron Collection is also proudly Made in the USA.

We hope you take some time to reflect on the hard work of Americans today as you progress through the work day yourself.

Enjoy! Happy Child... Better World!

- Zoya B

Catherine's Room - The Princess Room Video Released in Honor of Royal Wedding

It seems that everywhere you turn, there is another magazine cover featuring Kate Middleton and Prince William, or the Royal Wedding, in general. In fact, today is the 4 month anniversary of the wedding! Every high-profile media website publishes at least one new photo of Kate on their blog each day. The idea of “princess” has been brought back into the spotlight, having faded with the unfortunate death of Princess Diana. Little girls have a new idol – a young one at that – easier to identify with.

In 2006, I participated in The Designer Showhouse of New Jersey with ‘Catherine's Room - The Princess Room’. I knew the name ‘Catherine’ was fit for a princess. Catherine (Kate) Middleton is exactly who I had in mind when creating this room. So, in light of all the buzz around the Royal Wedding, I am releasing a video explaining how the room came together. The video can be accessed below on Youtube and Vimeo as well as the Rooms by ZoyaB website. 

 

The Designer Showhouse of New Jersey benefits the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ. Though my participation in the Showhouse was in 2006, I want to take the time now to express full support of the Cancer Center for all that they do in saving and extending lives, keeping up with scientific advancements, and providing and accumulating innovative research. For six years, the Designer Showhouse of New Jersey has displayed the work of fabulous interior designers for such a worthy cause.

Kate Middleton is a classic beauty and an inspiration for young girls everywhere. While it is probably a one-in-a-million chance that a young woman will become a princess, it is possible to make your daughter feel like one, by simply providing her with a room decorated with beauty, elegance, and whimsy. Filled with a feminine color palette of lavender, green, pink and floral rose patterns everywhere, ‘Catherine’s Room’ does just that.

The focal point of the room, which I imagine Princess Kate has something similar in her childhood or even current bedroom, is the Princess Bed from the ZoyaB Collection, my custom American-made luxury baby furniture line. The canopy bed was inspired from an original design owned by a 19^th-century baroness.

Educational value is also important to me and I tie it into the pieces in ‘Catherine’s Room’ with a series of needlepoint canvases, each depicting a different fairy tale that every little girl knows and loves: Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, The Wizard of Oz, and The Nutcracker. I hope that the artwork will evoke a curiosity in the child as well as a thirst for literature and knowledge of all kinds.

Here is a photo of Catherine's Room:

The video walk-through describes inspiration for the other pieces in the room, including the mahogany “Cafenero Dog Bed” from the ZoyaB Collection, and the custom rug made to look like a luxurious rose garden. ‘Catherine’s Room’ has been featured in Array Magazine.

Please have a look at the video and share it with your friends. Perhaps Kate will design her own little princess’ room in this way one day!

Happy Child… Better World!

- Zoya B.

Ariel's Room Video Released in Support of 2011 Hampton Designer Showhouse

Can you believe another year has passed and it’s Hampton Designer Showhouse time again? If you have not yet been out to visit this year’s house, you must, before it closes on Sunday September 4^th. As usual, the work of the 25 or so participating designers is absolutely spectacular.

Back in 2007, I participated in the Showhouse with Ariel’s Room – Under the Sea, inspired by The Little Mermaid – both the Disney classic and the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. In honor of this year’s house and to support the Southampton Hospital, I am releasing a video explaining the inspiration behind Ariel’s Room. The video can be accessed below Youtube and Vimeo as well as the Rooms by ZoyaB website.

 

Every year the design community comes together to contribute to such a wonderful organization that saves thousands of lives and provides the community with the utmost care. I am really blown away by how community driven the Hospital is as well, and it ties directly into what I’m inspired by in my own designs. A strong sense of family is important to establish during childhood. If a sense of community starts at home, your child might be more inclined to extend love to their community as an adult, just as the Hampton Designer Showhouse does with the Southampton Hospital. It’s so nice to see good works being carried over into the interior design field.

You can see more in my video above, but I kept this idea of family and close-knit bonds in mind when designing ‘Ariel’s Room’. I included a Needlepoint Art piece depicting Neptune protecting his daughters, each of them holding a special item representing their unique significance in their father’s life. For the basis of the design of the room, I was of course immediately inspired by the beach town of Bridgehampton, the whimsical nature of mermaids and seascapes coming to mind. Growing up in the Ukraine, one of my favorite fairy tales was “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Anderson. For my daughter, the Disney version of the classic represented a more fun and adventurous narrative, and so I wanted to incorporate both feelings into the design.

The video walk-through describes my inspiration for the other pieces in the room, including the “Princess Bed” from my ZoyaB Collection, the custom American-made luxury baby furniture line, and the hand-blown Murano Glass chandelier. ‘Ariel’s Room’ has been featured in Bergen Health & Life and New York Spaces.

A photo from Ariel's Room:

The Hampton Designer Showhouse opened on Sunday, July 24^th and will run until Sunday, September 4^th at 1224 Scuttle Hole Road, Bridgehampton, NY. It is open daily, Monday through Sunday, 11AM to 5PM. Admission is $30 and includes a journal. For more information on the 2011 Hampton Designer Showhouse, visit http://www.hamptondesignershowhouse.com.

Again, make sure you go visit the Showhouse! It is a wonderful experience.

Happy Child... Better World!

- Zoya B.

 

The Importance of Baby Furniture "Made in America"

Here at Rooms by Zoya B., we know that times are tough. Unemployment rates are still at a high 9.2%, and it seems labor, as well as manufacturing, is being outsourced left and right. What many of us tend to forget, however, is that quality and luxury do not have to be sacrificed when purchasing an American-made product, since some of the most beautiful and functional furnishings are produced right here in the United States! We’d like to think: “Happy Child… Better World”, but, more importantly, when the product we are providing is made in the USA, our customer is even happier and the world becomes even better. Knowing the products we are providing our customers are safe and of the highest quality is of the utmost importance to us and should be to consumers.

“World News with Diane Sawyer” recently produced a series called “Made in America” which took a closer look at the idea of making the shift to only purchasing American-made goods. The series challenged a Texas family to empty their home of imported products and to fill it with only domestically produced merchandise. The results were pleasantly surprising, with the costs being on par or even less in comparison to the imported goods. So, it can be done!

President Obama, in his December 2010 speech in North Carolina, expressed, "We need to do what America has always been known for: building, innovating, educating, making things. We don't want to be a nation that simply buys and consumes products from other countries. We want to create and sell products all over the world that are stamped with three simple words: 'Made In America.' That's our goal." And that’s our goal as well, here at Rooms at Zoya B - to produce and sell high quality luxury baby furniture that wears the Made in America label. Obama’s words resound with one simple idea: we must remain the independent country that we are – looking to other countries for such a large amount of product and support will only hurt our freedom. In addition, our national debt has hit an all-time high lately and with the debt-ceiling deadline around the corner on August 2^nd, we wonder if it’s possible to recover by making simple changes in our shopping habits here at home. Information from the “Made in America” series states: “economists say that if every one of us spent an extra $3.33 on U.S.-made goods every year, it would create nearly 10,000 new jobs in this country.” How can we do this? Shop locally, find alternatives to foreign made goods, check your labels – just a little extra research can do the trick.

Why is it important that we support American-made goods? When we take ownership of our own work, our pride tends to make us want to work harder and the outcome makes us feel like upstanding citizens. So you see, the process begins with the pride of knowing we, as Americans, created the product and saw the process through to the end, with the understanding that certain standards were set and applied throughout. Manufacturing in the United States allows us to maintain control over quality and safety, where goods coming from overseas are very difficult to track. The risk involved in shipping imported goods is also a growing concern.

We were surprised to see that even certain fashion houses (an industry typically known for production in Europe) such as Nanette LePore and Elise Overland are based and manufacture domestically. The Alliance for American Manufacturing blog features a weekly column on Fashion and has just produced a fashion show in Minneapolis featuring fashion lines based in America. We can only hope that the baby furniture industry follows suit with such enthusiasm!

Our own passion about American-made goods is directly supported here at Rooms by Zoya B. with our Zoya B Collection, designed, manufactured and sold in the U.S. ZoyaB. also proudly sells the domestically manufactured lines from Newport Cottages, Russell and MacKenna, and Lulla Smith, a sample from each seen in the image below. For more information on these lines, or for general inquiries or comments, visit the above links, or RoomsByZoyaB.com and Bogradkids.com. 

 

 

Tell us in the comments how YOU are doing your part to support American-made products!

A New Era in Crib Standards

We at Rooms by Zoya B are happy to help expecting parents go through the major change in the baby furniture industry easily and comfortably by assisting them in making the best decision for their nursery. Today, June 28^th, marks the day that consumers will have access to the safest cribs that have ever been manufactured and sold to date. The US Product Safety Commission stated that they have “voted unanimously to approve new mandatory crib standards, establishing the most stringent crib safety standards in the world… all importers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers must offer only cribs that meet the CPSC's new and improved full-size and non-full-size crib standards.” We at Rooms by Zoya B support the US Consumer Product Safety Commission in their constant effort to make cribs safer, because we believe that nurseries should not only be beautiful, but most importantly safe.
CNN’s Eric Marrapodi, states that “cribs made and sold in the United States will face the toughest safety standards in the world.” We at Rooms by Zoya B, along side our vendors have been making changes to ensure quality and safety assurance in the months approaching the crib standards change and we are confident that all of our products meet all code requirements. James Covert of the New York Post writes that “the stricter standards have raised the bar for a new generation of cribs on the market. Scrambling to get current with the first tightening of federal standards since the early 1970s, retailers and manufacturers have been clearing out outdated cribs that don't pass muster.”  Although the standards are strict we have made certain that our cribs are of the highest quality and are as safe as possible.

Safer cribs means a safer sleeping environment for babies and that is definitely something that we at Rooms by Zoya B care most about. If you have any questions do not hesitate to call us or come to our showroom located in the New York Design Center located on Lexington Avenue between 32^nd and 33^rd Streets.

CPSC Approves Strong New Crib Safety Standards To Ensure a Safe Sleep for Babies and Toddlers

CPSC Approves Strong New Crib Safety Standards To Ensure a Safe Sleep for Babies and Toddlers.

Raising needed funds for The Toy Museum of NY

Hello and Happy Holidays, Last summer, I had a pleasure to design a window for the Toy Museum of NY fundraiser in Southampton. They are a great organization headed by Marlene Hochman, the founder. First established in 1999 as The Doll and Toy Museum of NYC, they changed their name to The Toy Museum of NY in spring 2009 with the coveted distinction, by the New York State Department of Education, as the holder of the only New York Charter for a toy museum. They are a certified 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational ‘traveling museum’ featuring touring exhibitions and educational programs. Their mission is to educate the public on the importance of dolls and toys in our culture, history and art.  
The Museum is funded in part by the generous support of individual donors, The Department of Cultural Affairs, NY State Education Department, NYC Youth and Community Development, Astoria Federal Savings and Con Edison.

Below are some photos from last summer's fundraiser. 

Children playing a counting game 

 

 

Battle of the toy soldiers 

Goldilocks and the three Bears

They are raising needed funds for The Toy Museum of NY - would you please consider making a charitable contribution by visiting their FirstGiving page: http://www.firstgiving.com/toymuseum.  You will also receive a one - year membership to the Museum for your support with member benefits, which include their annual magazine and discounts to all events and shows.   You can donate online with a credit card. All donations are secure and sent directly to Museum by FirstGiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation.  All contributions are 100% tax deductible. Please tell a friend too!   Thank you so much. Zoya Bograd on behalf of Marlene Hochman and The Staff The Toy Museum of NY  

 

 

Fight Against Breast Cancer Continues In Annual East Side Fundraiser CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

Fight Against Breast Cancer Continues In Annual East Side Fundraiser CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY.

2010 Holiday House - Opening Night

What a magical gala night it was!!! For the third consecutive year, advocates and survivors of breast cancer have come together to create the 2010 Holiday House to benefit the Greater New York City affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. If you love to decorate for the holidays as much as I do, I highly recommend visiting this amazing event.  See how renowned interior designers interpret holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, Snow Day, Earth Day, Mardi Gras, Valentines Day, and much more... 

The Alyce Chair - Furniture for The Cure

Christmas by Timothy & Associates Interior Design   

Fourth of July - Deb Landis Design

Celebration of Motherhood by Rooms by ZoyaB

April Fool's Day - SY Interior Designs

Earth Day - Diane Durocher Interiors 

Reveillon - Marcia Tucker Interiors 

Venetian Carnivale - Blair Design Associates, Inc. 

Chinese New Year - Barbara Ostrom Associates

Hanukah - Mark Epstein Designs

Boxing Day - Bradley Thiergartner Interiors, Inc. 

Easter - Robin Wilson Home

 

Peace Day - Kathryn Scott Design and Davis Studio  

In Celebration of the Silent World - Stephan Sparta Design with Llorraine Neithardt

Strategic Matchmaking - Samantha's Table 

Boxing Day - Marcia Sherrill for Lerebours Antiques

Mother's Day - Eric Cohler Design / Caron Pfeffer

New Year's Eve - Shelley Starr Interior Design 

Snow Day - Irwin Feld Design/Mid Century Antiques

Birthday - Traditional Home with The Silver Peacock

New Year's Day - Art De Triomphe LLC

Birthday - MH Studio

Festival of Lights - Harriett Belag/Art Furniture

The Day of the Cure - Josi Morales Designs

Grammy Celebration - Jolie Korek

2010 Holiday House is located in a magnificent limestone mansion at 2 East 63rd Street in Manhattan, features rooms and tabletop designs and settings, celebrating holidays and other festive occasions. 2010 Holiday House will be open to the public from Wednesday, December 1st through Wednesday, December 15th. Admission is $25 and all proceeds will benefit The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. For more information on The 2010 Holiday House visit http://www.holidayhousenyc.com. 

2010 Holiday House - Celebration of Motherhood - Design Concept

There comes a time in a woman’s life, where all of a sudden she has a deeper understanding of who her mother is. My story started about 16 years ago, when I gave birth to my own daughter, and had my life change forever. Thinking back…I became my mother. And even thou I thought, I was raising my daughter in a very different, modern way, the differences were totally cosmetic. And the values and the traditions were all there, and were all the same. I became my mother at the core.

For my first photograph, I chose a picture of my mother and I, when I was about 3 – 4 month old, and my quote reads “My Mom and Me, like a Leaf and Tree”.

The photograph below is my daughter and I, and has my favorite quote "A woman with a child rediscovers the world, all is judged by the life of the child and the life of all children..."

At the center of the tree is a photograph of my daughter as a teenager and the quote reads "All that I am, my mom made me" (...and yes, this one cost me money:-)...but then again, she is a teenager...hopefully one day she'll understand...).

All above are surrounded by beautiful baby photographs with quotation "Happy Child...Better World".

Lulla Smith dupioni silk pink bow crowned the tree. Centered, under the tree is an Annika bench from ZoyaB Swedish Dreams collection with fun Bla Bla dolls in different sizes representing generations. 

I would like to thank personally Fred Marcus Photography for such beautiful and inspiring work.

Holiday House 2010 will be open to the public from Wednesday, December 1st through Wednesday, December 15th. Admission is $25 and all proceeds will benefit The Greater New York City affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For more information on the 2010 Holiday House visit 2010 Holiday House.

to be continued...

As seen in "Nutcracker - Clara's Room" Press Release

Rooms By ZoyaB Releases 'Nutcracker - Clara's Room' Video to Promote 2010 Holiday House for Charity

As part of a continuing video series to promote the upcoming 2010 Holiday House to benefit the Greater New York City affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Rooms By ZoyaB is releasing 'Nutcracker - Clara''s Room' Video.

Clara's Room is interior designer Zoya Bograd’s Nutcracker themed room from the 2009 Holiday House. Bograd is known to have a passion for designing children’s bedrooms with whimsical and dreamy details and feels that "everyone can enjoy a touch of magic for the holidays, especially children." She not only adds a great sense of style to the spaces, but also strongly believes in education and bringing that into her designs. She does this through strong themes based on stories and quotations that children can learn from; 'Clara’s Room' is another great example of that very philosophy. The room tells the story of the Nutcracker through various design elements including: custom embroidered napkins, runners with Nutcracker characters, a snowflake area rug, Swarovski snowflakes in the window and on the table depicting the part of the story about the land of snow, Jose Varona's Mother Ginger from an estate of a famed soprano Beverly Sills, etc...

The video diary of how 'Clara’s Room' was made is available on Youtube as well as the Rooms By ZoyaB website as of November 16, 2010. The video explains Bograd’s philosophy on design and also gives you a great look inside the room.

 

Rooms by ZoyaB is a design studio and a multi-line showroom specializing in baby and children's rooms, located at the New York Design Center in New York City. Bograd also recently launched a brand new website with a variety of high end products including furniture for the whole family, lighting and mirrors, art, bedding, toys, and much more. The website also has features that include Furniture by Room and Themes to make the design process easy for clients designing from home. Bograd feels that our customer ranges on a wide spectrum and everyone, no matter where they live or what they do, should have access to great design. Her reputation as a specialist children's room designer has gotten Bograd involved in many worthy causes close to her heart such as the Greater New York City affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Breast cancer survivors and advocates have banded together to create the Third Annual Holiday House, a Designer Tabletop Show to benefit The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Bograd says 'it's an honor to be a part of this event.' 2010 Holiday House is located in a magnificent limestone mansion on 63rd Street in Manhattan, features rooms and tabletop designs and settings, celebrating holidays and other festive occasions. 2010 Holiday House will be open to the public from Wednesday, December 1st through Wednesday, December 15th. Admission is $25 and all proceeds will benefit The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. For more information on The 2010 Holiday House visit http://www.holidayhousenyc.com. For more information about Rooms by ZoyaB please visit http://www.RoomsbyZoyaB.com.

2009 Holiday House - Clara's Room - Gustavian Child's Table and Chairs set

“At the stroke of midnight Clara wakes up to a frightening scene. The house, the tree and the toys seem to be getting larger. Is she shrinking?” – Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet, part 2.

via www.thezoyabblog.com

2010 Holiday House - Celebration of Motherhood

There is an excitement in the air - another Holiday Season in New York...

Where did the time go? Another year is almost over, and the time for the 2010 Holiday House Gala opening night is just around the corner. We are so excited to be a part of this wonderful event again!

Last year, I felt like we started a tradition with the design of Clara's Room. This year, without giving it away right now, I would like to say that we are continuing last year's tradition with Celebration of Motherhood. We are partnering with Fred Marcus Photography to create a very special installation. Below is a photo of my mom and, yes you guessed it, the little one is me:) I want to dedicate this project to my mother...and all the mothers out there.

I hope you will all enjoy seeing it. Below is some information about the event.

Holiday House will feature numerous top designers who are creating individual celebratory tables and rooms for a specific holiday or other festive occasion, just in time to provide great ideas for the holiday season. This very special event will benefit The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. 2010 Holiday House is located in a magnificent limestone mansion at 2 East 63rd Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues.

Tickets for the Opening Night Gala, taking place on Tuesday, November 30 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., are $250 each. Other events during the run include:

Thursday, December 1: Statements in Style, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Traditional Home Senior Style Editor Krissa Rossbund will show how to fine tune your entertaining process for an impressive visual feast.

Thursday, December 2: Wine & Chocolate Tasting, 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Enjoy the Holiday House designer décor while sampling Mariebelle’s chocolates and tasting wine from Around the Vine. Satisfy your sweet tooth, taste for luxury, and eye for design as you take in the breathtaking rooms.

Thursday, December 9: Authors’ Night, 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Meet and greet a dozen authors who will be selling and signing their books. Authors include Richard Mishaan (Modern Luxury), Jamee Gregory (New York Parties), Bobby McAlpine (The Home Within Us), and more.

Please email holidayhousenyc@gmail.com for further information or tickets.

All proceeds benefit the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

…to be continued

 

Vicente Wolf and Noel Jeffrey at the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

I know we have been talking a lot about details and some of our favorite aspects of this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House but I had the chance to go again this weekend and see some things with fresh eyes and a new perspective. I was delighted to find that there were two gem rooms that I got the chance to walk through again and truly appreciate.

One of the rooms that especially caught my eye this weekend was the fun, yet sophisticated sitting room designed by the brilliant Vicente Wolf. He chose to design a room in the house that has floor to ceiling wood molding and paneling. This room is out of the box for Wolf, who usually is minimalistic, light, and clean. His choices in seating and artwork were eclectic and unexpected, but beautifully executed.

                     
One of my favorite arrangements in the room was an cluster of chairs that included two oversized, white wing-backed chairs with a tiny, uniquely shaped chair in between them. Above the arrangement was a great contemporary photograph by Damien Hirst.

                     

This arrangement was interesting because it combined different styles, time periods, and colors.

With all of this being said about Wolf’s design, there is definitely something to be said for the ceiling in this particular room. I was so intrigued by the white on white carving and beautiful shadowy effects they created. The imagery on the ceiling was astrological and whimsical. Here is a picture that I snapped of the ceiling.

                         

The heavenly figures and detailed borders made this ceiling pop!

Noel Jeffrey is a legend and treasure to interior design and his room at this years Kips Bay Decorator Show House is just another example of why. His dreamy, luscious, soft bedroom was a feast for the eyes with varied textures, opulent furnitue, and soft colors. A beautiful detail of this room was the way Jeffrey softened the corners of the room with subtle drapery around the walls. Anyone would feel like a star in this room and I fell in love with it.

 
Above a photograph of the legendary Noel Jeffrey and a lovely seating arrangement in the corner of the room.

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House supports The Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. The show house is open until Thursday, November 11th. I really hope you can make it to the house to support the Boys and Girls Club and to get a peek at some beautiful spaces. For more information on the house go to the Kips Bay website. To see my show house rooms or to receive more information from us go to RoomsbyZoyaB.com.

Some Halloween Fun for You and the Whole Family!

We are big fans of Rachel Riley and her fabulous selection and design of children's clothes. Her designs are crisp, lovely, and chic. Not only do we think her clothes are great but we also fell in love with these three Halloween activities she recently posted on her website. They are great things to do as a family and will create fall and Halloween traditions that you will surely remember. Making a mask, cupcakes, and pumpkin soup are so much fun especially with Halloween on the weekend this year! Take the time to really spend with your loved ones and have fun! Click on the images and text below for further info and instructions directly from her website. HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM Rooms by Zoyab!

 

 
 

This time of year is truly magical and filled with family fun! Do other things to get you in the spirit like checking out The Pumpkin Blaze, going Apple Picking, and wallking through a Corn Maze! I have linked you to some of my favorites right outside of New York City, but you can go online or check out your local newspaper for some options in your neck of the woods! Have a "booooooo-tiful" weekend! 

My Favorite Architectural Detail From the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

This year’s home was a beautiful 6 floor townhouse on the Upper East Side. It was overflowing with wonderful architectural details. The exquisite woodwork and moldings, expertly installed marble flooring, and floor-to-ceiling windows were just some of the gems. The designers spared no expense in enhancing the architecture through interesting wall treatments and fabulous lighting.

All of these details made the house special, but the one feature that stands out in my mind was the backbone and connective thread of the home: the elegant spiral staircase. Rod Winterrowd had his hand in dressing a section of it with gorgeous artwork and a deliciously soft, chocolate brown runner. The creamy white paint so beautifully contrasted the deep espresso of the banister and the jet black veins of the marble stairs. The staircase was truly a sight to be seen and was, in my opinion, one of the most exciting features about the home.

                     
Rod Winterrowd framed his artwork into groups to help the straight lines flow effortlessly up the winding staircase.

                     

This is a great shot of people congrigating around the magnificent staircase.

                     
The section of the staircase that was not part of a design was dedicated to the beautiful children of the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club with inspiring quotes that reminded everyone what the house is really all about - the children that are helped and supported through this wonderful organization.

                     
A view from the top that, in one picture, explains the beauty of this feature.  

For any information regarding the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House go to http://www.kipsbay.org. Also check out my show house room from last year's Kips Bay Decorator Show House at Rooms by ZoyaB.

A Few of My Favorite Details from the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

The designers truly outdid themselves in this year's Kips Bay Decorator Show House! It was a stunning presentation that had so many great features! I want to let you all in on some of my most favorite details from the house that you can incorporate into your own space and add a touch of designer magic to any room.

The kitchen's eat-in dining space was so fresh and interesting because the color choice was unexpected and current. Eve Robinson Associates used these lilac based walls with graphic detail which give a normally overlooked space a new twist. Balancing such a trendy color choice and graphic pattern with traditional molding and wainscoting makes the scheme come alive!

Ellie Cullman of Cullman & Kravis elegantly proves that sculpture in a home does not have to be something from a museum or a high-end gallery. You can take everyday objects and display them on a pedestal. Things that we use in our everyday lives, like these pots for example are beautiful forms that we often take for granted. Display a series or stack many on top of one another, as shown in the picture, to create a sculpture or art piece which is one-of-a-kind and unique to your home.

Pillows are a great way to change the look of a space. Sherrill Canet used amazing pillows in her space but the one that stood out to me had a large orange plastic button tufted in the middle of it. This is something that so many of you can do at home. All you need is a neutral pillow, a unique button, and a bit of imagination. When you are changing a space or just need a little pick-me-up for your sofa, snip off the button and change it out with a new one!

This little gem of a chair was casually placed outside of a room in the hallway space. We all have that one rocking chair or cradle from our children or grandchildren’s bedroom that are beautiful even after they are used. Don't put them in the attic or throw them away! Display them and every time you pass them you can remember times spent with the little ones after they are grown.

 

All of these details are easy and can be done in a weekend! Get your family involved and have them pitch in and help you give some spaces in your house a fresh perspective. Stay tuned for a new blog next week where I will talk more about the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Also check out all of my show house rooms at http://www.RoomsbyZoyaB.com .

Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2010

The 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House is beginning its first full week of presentation and I want to let you in on a few of my favorite details from the house. I want to start by saying how beautiful this year's house is and let you in on the magic that brings it to life.

My first post is about one of the most whimsical and playful spaces in the house. "The Bubble Bath" by Coffinier Ku Design is a wonderful example of how a space can be brought to life with fun and interesting details.

      

The cascade of bubbles floating in mid-air were so delicate. This detail made the room stand still and brought a sense of calm and clean to this dreamy bathroom. 
      

The ethereal, cloudy sky mural was such a beautiful way to enhance the stream of bubbles that hang so lovely from the ceiling.
      

The soft ambient lighting coming from the organic sconces made for a warm glow spread nicely throughout the room.

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House supports the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. If you cannot make it to this wonderful event consider donating to this incredible charity.

Look forward to more posts about some other great details of the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Also check out all of my show house rooms at my website http://www.RoomsbyZoyaB.com

 

Support Kips Bay Decorator Show House

The opening night preview of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House on October 13th was flooded with excitement and celebration of this wonderful, stylish and most importantly, charitable event. Today is when the show house is open to the public and I hope you show support by going to visit. Not only will you see a beautifully designed house, but you will also be contributing to this wonderful charity which supports the Kips Bay Boys and Girls club.

I want to share a video documenting my 'Wizard of Oz - Dorothy's Room' from the 2009 Kips Bay Decorator Show House with you because I, like so many others, feel that showing support for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club is extremely important. Their mission to help children strive in a safe environment is something that I strongly believe in because I feel that there is no place like home, especially for a child.

Next week I will blog about the opening night and share some pictures of the event. Enjoy the video and subscribe to our youtube account to see upcoming videos.

 

Celebrate Columbus Day!

    Columbus Day is a great way to celebrate discovery and adventure. Although we have a young country it is good to know our history and help our children learn how lucky they are to come from such a diverse land. We can educate our children in so many ways, but design and art are especially great ways because they are visible and tangible.

    Through design your children can feel like a part of the history of Columbus Day with nautical themes and decor for their room. Whether through art hanging on the wall depicting the three famous ships that Columbus commanded or with a dreamy ship chandelier they can feel like they are a part of the action and adventure of the great story of Columbus. Also, elements as simple as a pillow with a grand ship on the front are valuable additions to any storytime. Simplicity is the key when designing with themes.

     Another great way to change the themes and overall feel of the room is by using different fabrics for window treatments, bedding, and pillows. Some of my favorites include fabrics with ships and nautical prints. 

       

    A few small pieces can change the whole space and give it a genuine feel. Children's furniture and your child's bedroom have the potential to spark something different in them and get them excited about history. Celebrate Columbus Day with all of this in mind and it will be a great holiday for you and your family.