Pride & Prestige

Susan Ferrier and Jonathan Savage catapulted southern design to the national spotlight at the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse

 

Susan Ferrier

After viewing the master bedroom of this Park Avenue townhouse in person, Atlanta designer Susan Ferrier of McAlpine never even entertained the thought of employing a lighter palette for her design. “Using a deep tone is something a lot of people are afraid of,” says Ferrier, who swathed the room in Farrow & Ball’s moody Studio Green, and took the opportunity to show that brightness can instead come from upholstery and accessories. Designed using resources primarily from ADAC, the result is nothing short of sensuous, drawing its luxuriously layered appeal from silk velvet Holland & Sherry draperies with metallic applique trim; a brass Jonathan Browning chandelier; a hide headboard with nailhead trim; and unique curiosities such as whale ribs. Floating the bed in this rectangular-shaped room allowed for 360-degrees of circulation through the space, and also created intimate zones, including a fireside lounge and desk/vanity area.

“The deep, rich tones of both the paint and draperies provided a clear canvas,” says Ferrier.

 

 


Jonathan Savage

For the two-story grand staircase and landing of this Park Avenue townhouse, noted Nashville designer Jonathan Savage created a showstopping statement that also harkened back to his Southern roots, thanks to a dramatic custom-designed wallcovering created in collaboration with Los Angeles-based MJ Atelier. Featuring flora and fauna native to Nashville—everything from a white-tailed deer and a Tennessee mockingbird to a red fox, raccoon and magnolia blossom—each motif is rendered in hand-applied plaster using Farrow & Ball’s All White, adding unique depth to its Off-Black background. Also adding dimension to the space: mirrored niche insets laid in a harlequin pattern; ice crystal sconces by William Haines; and Lucite stair rods against the Patterson Flynn & Martin runner.

“I wanted to bring southern charm to New York … telling the story about its flora and fauna was the best way to accomplish that.”