Chic Concept House

If you are in town this weekend and looking for something design related to do, then I suggest heading over to the Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House.  Elle Decor magazine paired 10 of its A-List Designers to Watch from the past two years with brand partners in two apartments in the new condominium project at +aRt in West Chelsea.  One of those designers included Jesse Carrier of Carrier & Co. who was partnered with Room & Board whose room can be seen here.  Jesse was on hand when I visited the show house a weeks ago and said that the room turned out a lot like their rendering below. 

 Carrier & Co. for Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House Rendering

They actually found everything for the room at Room & Board except for the tables in front of the sofa which is pretty amazing.

The room set up is perfect inspiration for someone who lives in a small New York apartment or studio and needs a space to function as a living room, dining room, and sometimes bedroom.

Even the stereo which kept us in the groove on the day of my visit was from Room & Board.

Jesse did accessorize with a few personal pieces including a photo of his children.

I used to think that using pieces from just one source was the epitome of boring but I have to say that the Carrier & Co. room really changed my mind. It just goes to show that a talented designer can create a great room on any budget and from any source.  I especially love how Jesse hid the huge unsightly HVAC vent with the leaning mirror below.  But then again, I expect nothing but the very best from the interior designer to Anna Wintour!

Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House

540 West 28th Street

New York, NY 10001

May 27-30 and June 3-5 from

10:00am to 4:00pm

Admission is $30 and will benefit Housing Works 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

A Fashionably Chic Retreat

I think there is a misconception that New Yorkers only go to the Hamptons in the summer.  While the Hamptons are lovely during the warmer months, they can be even better in the fall and winter when the crowds have left.  If Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and her family don't spend weekends at their place on the North Shore year round, they really should.  There was a great article in the October issue of The World of Interiors about how they renovated an additional house on an adjoining property they purchased.  Interior designer Jesse Carrier and landscape designer Miranda Brooks decorated the new house and tamed land to better enjoy the out of doors.  Again, I think all creative people thrive when they have a place to recharge their batteries every weekend so it seems no wonder that Anna Wintour has been at Vogue for over 20 years. 

Photos by Eric Bowman and from Carrier & Co.

Wu Hoo!

Jason Wu has been the darling of the fashion world since Michelle Obama wore one of his gowns to the inaugural balls last January and rightly so since it's wonderfully talented. That also makes him on of the favorites of Vogue so it's not surprising that he recently had his new showroom designed by Anna Wintour's interior designer. The husband and wife duo of Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller of Carrier and Company worked with architect Giancarlo Valle on the 9,000 square foot space in the Garment District.

I thought the walls were covered with newspaper but it's actually New York Observer collage wallpaper by Elizabeth Dow.

Jason's office contains works by Rene Gruau, Christophe Morlinghaus, Thomas Libetti, and Sam Frost and a chandelier from Ochre. The reception area has another work by Christophe Morlinghaus.

I love the mirror in this other view of the reception area.

The dining room features a print from Jason's 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund feature in Vogue magazine.

Jason Wu is a very busy designer! He has already debuted a line of sunglasses and has also designed dolls and a digital camera and will design a small capsule collection for TSE Cashmere this summer. I'm sure shoes and handbags won't be far behind!

According to Jason, stores based on the showroom design might also be on the horizon. It's nice to see good things happen to good people and wonderful designers. For more about this 27 year old wunderkind, check out the March issue of W Magazine.

Photos by Kathryn Allen Hurni

More Orange

One of the rooms I was most excited to see at The Hampton Designer Showhouse this year was the den by Carrier and Company. I had seen a few photos online at Vogue.com and of course the burnt orange walls were right up my alley! The room with sitting area and pool table is in the basement and the husband and wife team of Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller did a great job with it. You don't even notice that there are no windows!

Jesse Carrier used to work for Jeffrey Bilhuber and when he left to start his own firm, uber chic client Anna Wintour went with him. Carrier & Company have designed the lobby of the Vogue office at 4 Times Square and have also decorated the apartments some of the Voguettes.

I think we're going to be hearing a lot from this dazzling design duo and I can't wait to see what they do with a room in a future showhouse with windows! I think they deserve to be front and center next time! Oh, and if you haven't had a chance to see the Hampton Designer Showhouse presented by Traditional Home in person yet, you still have until September 6th to check it out!

Photos from Heather Clawson and Carrier and Company