Robert Brown knew he wanted to step out of the ordinary for the 2024 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas, and he found the perfect catalyst in a striking abstract Calico wallpaper adorned with moody shades of gray, blue, taupe, and pink. The designer says he never wants to do a space that’s all traditional or all contemporary, and this piece was the perfect unifier to balance out the more traditional architecture and set a spirited tone for his salon.

“We’re calling it ‘Salon d’Art Moderne,’ so this space is all about the art, and the mural really makes the space feel like one big piece of art,” Brown says. “When you see the mural, it’s kind of shocking, even for us, which is fun.”

The team at SWOON, the studio was tasked with refreshing the rotunda at the 2024 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas, proving to be just the designers for the job. Founder Sam Sano and partner Josyln Taylor have experience working across both commercial and residential interiors, and the pair decided to blend their knowledge of the two to create a dreamy central location for stealing away, finding refreshment, and indulging a daydream or two in “Atrium Tisane.”

“We always really try to honor the architecture of a space, so our first instinct was how do we make this feel exciting and interesting for the showgoers, but at the same time, respect the architecture, which is really quite beautiful,” says Taylor. “It’s probably one of the most architecturally beautiful spaces in the house, and we didn’t want to take away from the beauty of the space [because] it feels really special.”

Sano and Taylor kept true to the space’s grand dimensions by creating a conservatory that would also serve as botanical-forward tea room, filled with organic furnishings, original art, and stunning floral installations that would pay homage to the verdant beauty of the natural world. The pair found a Calico mural wallpaper that would play up the scale while giving the feeling of a “botanical wonderland.”

Nick and Rachel Cope worked with Hovey Design to breathe new life into the Red Hook residence where the wall coverings brand was born

A lot has changed in the decade since Nick and Rachel Cope founded wall coverings brand, Calico Wallpaper, in their swoon-worthy Brooklyn loft. In that span of time, not only has the couple relocated from the city to a bucolic property in the Hudson Valley, they’ve become first-time parents—all while turning Calico into one of the leading resources for bespoke, high-design wallpapers. Today, the brand has released more than 50 collections including collaborations with Daniel Arsham, Faye Toogood, Meyer Davis, Lindsey Adelman, and Chris Wolston.

Despite moving upstate, the Copes retained the Red Hook apartment where it all began as a way to maintain a foothold in the city. Ahead of their brand’s ten year anniversary, the pair enlisted Porter and Hollister Hovey from Hovey Design to help reimagine the space, which is now sheathed wall-to-wall in some of Calico’s latest offerings and filled with an array striking collectible design pieces.

Written by Geoffrey Montes fo Gallerie Magazine

Photography by William Jess Laird

In lush Manoa Valley, a home that was originally built in the 1960s has been updated and upgraded.

“We love hanging out in the kitchen, enjoying our morning coffee and listening to our record player,” shares Mochizuki.

The kitchen used to be split-level; relocating it to create a one-floor layout makes the space feel much larger, explains Forman. Additionally, the couple opted to use wallpaper for an accent wall in their entryway per Forman’s recommendation. The wallpaper is from Calico’s Aurora line in a color called ray, which resembles the gradient of a sunrise. “We are really glad that we listened to Andrew,” shares Mochizuki.

By: Caitlin Thomas