I Found the Coziest Cozy Living Room at the New York Kips Bay House

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It’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of Manhattan when you’re standing in the top-floor loft Huniford Design created for this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York. Even though I could clearly see the skyline from the massive windows that frame the living-dining-entertaining space, I felt like I was in a cozy upstate cottage. The reason? I was surrounded by cork. 

Every surface in the room—walls, ceiling, bookshelves—is covered in a cork wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries that’s made from real bark (each piece is sliced, washed in color, and hand placed in an organic grid pattern). The studio’s founder James Huniford’s source of inspiration was the California interior designer Michael Taylor, who was known for bringing towering trees and natural elements into his work. Swathing the room in a cork treatment makes it feel connected to the outdoors, plus it helps dampen the noise of sirens and neighbors. “It creates a calm, soothing atmosphere, meant to feel like a modern treehouse,” says Huniford.

Here are three ways to nail this look, plus a few more cork-inspired wallpapers to get you started. 

Wrap the Lighting

There’s nothing inherently fancy about the flush mount over the dining table. It’s simple, square, and only $129, but it appears more expensive after being coated in cork. According to Huniford, the wallpaper is a lot thinner than it looks, but when you start putting it on surfaces like light fixtures, it creates the illusion of being thick like a pinboard.

Dress Up the Air Conditioner

To achieve a truly seamless, enveloping look, the designer had the wallpaper applied to the bulky AC unit located in between the lounge and the wet bar. “It was a functional choice that ended up creating an unexpected decorative effect,” the designer says of hiding the eyesore—grates and all.

Take Custom Built-Ins to a New Level

Inspired by Mexican modernist designers such as Clara Porset, Luis Barragán, and Max Cetto, Huniford decided to treat the sofa as a part of the room’s architecture rather than a standalone piece. The couch, upholstered in a light blue velvet from Clarence House, spans the length of the windows and features cork-covered side tables that double as large planters on each end. Low built-ins plus cork equals groovy 1970s vibes. 

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