By the time I got down to the English Basement at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, I was exhausted but I'm glad I didn't skip it. There are some great rooms down there! The kitchen that was designed by St. Charles of New York, is directly under Juan Montoya's room and is the same size. As you can imagine, most New York kitchens are pretty small so to have this much room would be amazing. It's actually almost too big! I'm not sure if you can tell in these photos but the cabinetry is a beautiful pale blue. The kitchen island also opens to reveal seating.
For a basement room, the kitchen was light and airy. Which probably has something to do with the outdoor area beyond. According to Karen Williams and Robert Schwartz of St. Charles the "goal was to design a fluid space with four multi-tasking lifestyle vignettes - a continuous breakfast bar featuring concealed appliance center, a cooking hearth, a 12-foot kitchen island that cleverly converts to a banquet for extra seating, and a designated wine area complete with fireplace and tasting table."
"The spectacular architecture of the mansion's limestone exteriors is echoed in the kitchen's cooking hearth and fireplace elevations, as well as the large floor-to-ceiling tiles."
My favorite area was the breakfast bar where you can conceal the appliances when they are not in use. There was also a large pull out drawer for cereal in special containers!
While you are waiting for something to cook or bake, you could go out and enjoy the greenery created by Plant Specialists including the huge palm trees!
As any New Yorker what they dream about and one of them would be a washer and dryer in their apartment! Of course, a house as large as the show house would require multiple laundry rooms but I'd gladly settle for one! It even includes the Kelly Ripa and Electrolux new limited edition 'kelly green' energy-saving washer and dryer.
Now, before you start leaving nasty comments about this final basement safe room designed by William T. Georgis, let me explain that it falls in the "fantasy room" category. A safe room could never contain a fireplace or windows or would ever look this chic! William T. Georgis designed the Safe Room as a "safe haven in a time of potential global wars, economic meltdown, ecological devastation, paranoia, and questionable human behavior."
" The room contains a combination of art, furniture and weapons. George Condo's Jesus on the Cross, a 19th-century Danish Eqyptian revival chaise, and Richard Dupont's haunting sculpture of distorted figures, Untitled (Lever House Study), animate a lair upholstered in gray ultrasuede, lined with weapons, and stocked with survival supplies. An Empire bureau plat allows for writing, while the surveillance camera and stainless steel commode provide comfort and accommodate relief. The disco ball spins to the endless party tracks." If you have to been cooped up in a safe room, you might as well be comfy and cozy!
William T. Georgis's partner, Richard Marshall, is the art advisor to art collector and real estate titan Aby Rosen who owns this building and generously donated it's use as the show house. Aby Rosen also owns Lever House where artist Richard Dupont recently showed his work. And his sister-in-law Serena Boardman works for Sotheby's International Real Estate and working on the sale of the $75 Million townhouse. Any takers? 
I always think it's a little weird when an interior designer doesn't have a website. How is anyone supposed to find them. In William T. Georgis's case, maybe that is the point. He is very exclusive and usually only works with a select clientele. But these days you can't afford to be that exclusive which may be why he is one of the participating designers for the 2009 Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. 
I first became of aware of William T. Georgis when the townhouse he designed for real estate mogul Abe Rosen and his wife Samantha Boardman was published in the now deceased Vogue Living. It was the perfect backdrop for their art collection which was put together with the help of their art advisor and Georgis's partner, Richard Marshall, who also helped put together the art in their own home seen here that was published in the March 2008 issue of Elle Decor.
The townhouse stands out on the Upper East Side due to it's modern facade and interior which also highlights their art collection which includes the large painting by Julian Schnabel above and works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Ed Ruscha among others. 
It's also a home that doesn't take itself too seriously and mixes a bunny from Deyrolle and a moose head among all the art. 
In the dining room, vintage chairs by Dorothy Schindele are paired with a Jacobean Revival table and a Christopher Wool painting sits atop a neoclassical console. 
The painting above is by Kim MacConnel. 
A Jack Pierson word art piece hangs above the Venetian headboard in the guestroom.
The antique chair in the guestroom was upholstered in patent leather and shares space with a lucite bench and classical sculpture. I love the juxtaposition of objects. I am very excited to see what he will come up with his room for the 2009 Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. I'm sure it's going to be very good! And after that, I hope he works on a website! 
Photos by William Waldron
