The 2026 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, located in New York, showcases creations from 22 leading designers, each of whom furnished a single room within a Greek-Revival townhouse. Visitors may tour the house between September 16 and October 13, with proceeds supporting the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, a charitable organization offering educational and developmental services to disadvantaged local Bronx youth.
This year’s show house is located in a 19th-century brick residence in Greenwich Village, which was once home to composer John Philip Sousa. The annual design showcase moved from uptown to downtown last year, but returned to Greenwich Village this year. Among the designers displaying their work are Carrier & Company, Marmol Radziner, Chad Dorsey, and Peter Dunham.
Trends in Design
With no clients to cater to, show houses like the Kips Bay Decorator Show House give designers the freedom to let their imaginations run wild. This year’s show house features several trends that are likely to influence interior design in the coming year. One trend is the use of pleated canopies, such as the one designed by Emily Del Bello for her intimate powder room, “In Bloom.”
Del Bello’s design features a pleated canopy of sheer bouclé by Rosemary Hallgarten, which adds texture and depth to the small space. Another trend is the use of smoky color palettes, which were seen in several rooms throughout the show house. For example, Arthur Dunnam and Kelly Zerbini of Dunnam Zerbini Design crafted a soaring living area filled with high-octane furnishings and lined with hand-dyed tea paper by Fromental.
Smoky Color Palettes
Smoky color palettes were a dominant trend at the show house, with several designers incorporating shades of gray, blue, and purple into their designs. In addition to Dunnam Zerbini Design’s living area, other examples include a lounge by Armando Aguirre painted in a Benjamin Moore cool gray hue and a celestial-inspired wine cellar by Atelier CV filled with hushed pewter tones.
Chad Dorsey’s library also features a smoky color palette, with a Hans Wegner drop-leaf dining table used as a desk and an ashtray filled with spent cigarettes. The use of ashtrays and cigarettes as decorative elements was another trend seen at the show house, with several designers incorporating them into their designs.
Fringe and Flower Power
Elaborate trimmings, such as fringe and tassels, are making a comeback in 2026, but with a twist: designers are ordering them extra-long. Peter Dunham’s fifth-floor guest room features a vintage sofa upholstered in mossy green velvet from Kravet and paired with floor-sweeping fringe from Samuel & Sons.
Emily Del Bello’s jewel-box powder room features custom brass sconces by Artistic Frame adorned with long, ivory tassels that pool on the floor. Statement light fixtures, such as exotic plants and flowers, were also a popular trend at the show house. Examples include a bold acid green chandelier in Aamir Khandwala’s “Secret Garden” and a collectible floor lamp by Jake Coan in the kitchen designed by Bilotta Kitchen & Home.
Square Roots
Rugs with architectural heft, such as gridded or geometric patterns, add structure and visual intrigue to a space. The mezzanine by Ten Plus Three features a gridded Tai Ping rug that takes color cues from the exposed brick walls and wood-framed windows. John Ferguson’s primary bedroom features a custom silk and wool carpet by Edward Fields with a repeating rectangular motif that establishes a continuous visual link between the entrance hall and bed chamber.