Meet the Kips Bay Designer: Corey Damen Jenkins
The Kips Bay Decorator Show House veteran conceives a fantastical dining room at this year’s 50th anniversary event
The principal and chief executive officer an internationally acclaimed interior design and architecture firm based in New York City, Corey Damen Jenkins draws influence from haute couture fashion runways, historic architecture, and world travel for the transportive spaces he shapes for residential and hospitality clients across the U.S. and beyond.
A heralded instructor on the elite MasterClass platform, Jenkins also conceives collections for Kravet, Hancock & Moore, Maitland-Smith, and Eichholz and is the author of two books, including the upcoming fall tome Design Reimagined (Rizzoli).
What was your inspiration for your room at this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York?
“Our inspiration comes from one of my favorite childhood books, Lewis Carroll’s 1871 novel, Through The Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There. In the storyline, Alice pushes through an oversized mirror hanging over a fireplace mantel and finds herself transported to a world brimming with fantasy and magic—where everything is upside down and backwards. Similarly, our design for this dining room takes a classic traditional interior, turns it on its head, and translates it through a modern lens. The result is a whimsical experience that embraces bold color combinations, luxurious patterns, and textural nuances with a maximalist vibe. We will also embrace literal interpretations of ‘Looking Glass’ elements with the inclusion of crystal, antique mirrored surfaces, and other reflective motifs.”
Tell us about a significant piece that helps shape the mood of your space.
“In addition to installing elaborate plaster millwork (that we are having custom-made exclusively for this dining room), we will be wrapping the walls with a traditional scenic mural. Next, we will take that mural and reintroduce it as an explosion of pixelated elements—on the ceiling. This translation of a classic motif into an abstract, geometric visual speaks to our greater Through the Looking Glass theme: a mysterious place where looks can be deceiving, and things are not what they appear to be.”
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?
“As a member of the Kips Bay Board of Trustees, my focus here is two-fold: First, our primary goal is to raise funds and awareness for the 11,000 children we care for at our clubs in NYC. Second, as an interior designer, I want to create a bold, maximalist dining room that is memorable, inspiring, and really gets folks excited to come back and tour the show house over and over again. The more frequently guests return to see our designers’ rooms, the more money we raise for this charitable cause. And since this is the 50th anniversary of the New York Kips Bay Show House, our mission is more poignant than ever.”
What does it mean to you to be back at Kips Bay?
“There are thousands of interior designers in the United States, and hundreds of thousands more around the world. Kips Bays Boys & Girls Club invites our industry’s brightest and rising stars to transform their show houses, and participating on this level has taken many designers’ careers to new heights. Therefore, being invited to design a space is a tremendous honor. But most importantly, our creative talents can help make a difference in the lives of children who really need support and encouragement. This is our third time supporting this endeavor, and we are so grateful to be here.”
What does it mean to you to be part of the 50th anniversary of Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York?
“Designing for the show house’s golden anniversary is a prestigious honor. This year’s house will bring together the crème de la crème of the American interior design community, and we are thrilled to be joining forces with our colleagues for this all-important cause.”