For nearly 50 years, the annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House—held each spring in New York City, along with recent offshoots in Palm Beach and Dallas—has been a must-see for design enthusiasts. A bona fide “who’s who” in the world of interior design, the Kips Bay Show House brings together around 20 prominent firms to display their best work throughout the various rooms of a single Manhattan townhouse. Proceeds from the celebration of design benefit the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for young people in the Bronx. A frequent participant in the annual showhouse fundraiser is acclaimed interior designer Elissa Cullman, who founded the firm Cullman and Kravis Associates with her late partner, Hedi Kravis, in 1984; she currently sits on the board of the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. Cullman was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the design industry along with her philanthropic work.

The blue and gold dining room pictured here was designed by Cullman’s all-female team for a recent showhouse. Displayed in the opening pages of Cullman and Kravis: Interiors (Rizzoli, 2024), a new tome that celebrates 40 years of the design firm, the elegant space features lacquered navy walls dotted with 24-karat-gold-covered porcelain drops created by weaving and sculpture studio Dougall Paulson. A custom bronze and Murano glass light fixture by Charles Burnand hangs from the ceiling, and colorful contemporary art adorns the walls, while the mirrored fireplace surround makes the room feel even bigger. Rounded blue and gold banquettes and a set of midcentury armchairs provide seating among a collection of vintage treasures and golden decor.

“The modern application of details from the past, and the mixing of old and new—this is what makes each space look fresh and right for now,” writes Cullman at the beginning of the book. Follow the firm’s footsteps and incorporate the Cullman and Kravis aesthetic into your home with these nine finds.