Meet the Kips Bay Designer: Alexa Hampton
The distinguished industry veteran conceives a bedroom and bath at the 50th annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York
Since Alexa Hampton took the reins of Mark Hampton, her father’s iconic firm, as owner and president in 1998, she has advanced its legacy of elegant, practical, classically based interiors for modern living and extended its global reach. From New York City to Hangzhou, China, her project portfolio encompasses luxe, beautifully layered urban apartments, expansive town and country residences, private airplanes, and yachts.
Like her father, she is a highly regarded author and to date has released three critically acclaimed books, most recently Alexa Hampton: Design, Style, and Influence (Clarkson Potter). Additionally, she creates product collections for Theodore Alexander, Kravet, Visual Comfort, The Shade Store, Eastern Accents, and more.
What was your inspiration for your room at this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York?
“The first piece of the puzzle came to me when I was looking through a magazine and happened upon a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta embroidered orchid dress. I knew I had the Kips Bay Show House coming up and I immediately felt inspired to develop a room around the beautiful pattern of this sartorial master stroke. After calling my longtime friends Alex and Eliza Bolen, who own and direct Oscar de la Renta, and asking for their permission to so directly take inspiration, I was off to the races. The incredible team at Oscar de la Renta sent us original artwork, and even a dress that the company Twenty2 used to create two patterns for the room.”
Please tell us about a significant piece that helps shape the mood of your space.
“The painted canopy bed originally belonged to Rosita Somerset, the Duchess of Marlborough, an old family friend. It has lived in my parents’ Southampton bedroom for the last 40-plus years. When I was recently redoing the room, as much as it hurt, I knew we needed a king sized bed. Getting to salute the bed here at Kips Bay makes me very happy. It should be seen and enjoyed anew, not immediately put to pasture in a storage facility.”
How does your work for this Kips Bay project exemplify your style as a designer – or is it just the opposite, something you have always wanted to try as a designer but haven’t found the client?
“To be honest, I think my answer to this is a little bit of both. I love the classics and the bed is certainly that. However, I am especially enjoying fun bright colors in this season of my life and I want to share that enthusiasm and spread the word as far as I can. I know that people are scared of vivid colors but I want to demonstrate how they can be used to create rooms that more than just wild and wacky.”
What does it mean to you to be participating in Kips Bay again?
“The Kips Bay Show House is a huge honor in which participate. This is my fifth for Mark Hampton, the firm that I have directed for the last 27 years. During my father’s lifetime, I can think of at least four that he did. The first one I ever saw—and a particular favorite of my father’s work—resides across the page from Board President Jim Druckman’s dedication page in the new book on the 50th anniversary of the Kips Bay Show House. What a privilege!”
What does it mean to you to be part of the 50th anniversary of Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York?
“Beyond the honor of participating in the Kips Bay Show House as a professional designer and decorator, and the fun of collaborating with a slew of creative makers, vendors, artists, and workrooms, is the added higher honor of working to support 11,000 real kids in the Bronx. They are a wonderful group of kids and they are being provided with a wonderful support system to help them grow up and to flourish as future New Yorkers. Who knows, maybe one day, one of those kids will turn into an adult who feels the need to have a home that includes a former Ducal bed in a room strewn with orchids!”