The 11th edition of Holiday House NYC featured the work of twenty individuals/firms tapped to transform the eight-bedroom, 13,000-square-foot townhouse on the Upper East Side at 118 East 76th Street, New York, NY into “shoppable” rooms with items on sale on One Kings Lane. Founded by interior designer and breast cancer survivor Iris Danker in 2008, the showhouse is a benefit for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BFRF).
Interior designer Vanessa Deleon returns to Holiday House NYC this year to transform a bi-level sky lounge and pool room into a dreamlike oasis of serenity. The theme of the room, “Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil, See No Evil” applies the proverbial principle towards cancer—if we can do away with the disease, we will never have to speak of it, hear of it, or see anyone suffer from it ever again.
Deleon’s Holiday House creation reflects a cohesive, retreat-like space reminiscent of a seaside escape. The designer used a palette of blues on blues from the floor-to-ceiling Sicis mosaic already dominating the pool room as a jumping off point for the bi-level, loft-like space overlooking a pool on the top floor.
As a means to enhance the seaside feel, Deleon created an art installation featuring photographer Laurie Fishman’s “Swimmers” series, depicting small-scaled swimmers gliding through open water. The circular grouping was designed to echo the circular chandelier overhead, while in the pool, round white LED-lit balls provide an ambient glow that illuminates the tiles. Undertones of silver add an element of tranquility, subconsciously reminding the visitor to relax while still referencing the spirit of the holidays.
In the Sky Lounge, monochromatic furniture from Room & Board outfitted in waterproof Sunbrella fabric encourages relaxation and elevates preconceived notions of outdoor furniture. Accent pillows and a Room & Board Cardiff rug in ivory/gunmetal sits underfoot a Phillips collection pebbled rock, kidney-shaped coffee table. Against the wall, a Phillips Collection Crown Console in silver leaf sits beneath avant-garde accents such as an artfully arranged wall grouping of pearl white and polished aluminum Ball on the Wall art pieces. Various artful accents such as wire lounging art pieces in male and female silhouettes and elongated sculptures depicting the Three Wise Monkey’s age-old directive (See No Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil) add interest and depth.
