The Lady’s Library

Project Details

Location — Upper East Side, New York City

Press — ELLE Decor and Design Remix

Photography — Marco Ricca

One of the firm’s most celebrated designs, The Ladies Library (officially titled “To The Lady Of The House, With Love”) was a headlining space at the 2019 Kips Bay Decorators Showhouse.

Although it was coined “The Gentleman’s Study” on the historic mansion’s original floor plans, Corey Damen Jenkins sought to redesign the library for a new mission: to become a command center for a sophisticated woman running a business and her household. Inspired by the ancient Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the remixed space features a soaring, 17-foot ceiling covered in a botanical motif with black branches and persimmon blossoms.

The walls and moldings are painted a soft, champagne hue, while furnishings and accessories are mixed and matched from various periods and styles, including Louis XVI, Vladimir Kagan, and more. Bookcase shelves are wrapped in a textured grasscloth, and the showstopping, crystal-encrusted chandelier is a late 19th-century antique find. The windows are dressed in Jenkins’ trademark peplum draperies, and the Art Deco-style grates are original to the mansion. The fireplace and goldleaf piping on the mantel were restored during the renovation.

Living room with a fireplace, built-in bookshelves, floral ceiling, and colorful furniture including a green sofa, red armchair, and a coffee table with a vase of red flowers.
A living room with pink built-in bookshelves, a floral ceiling, a chandelier, and a variety of chairs including a green velvet chair, a pink velvet armchair, and clear acrylic chairs around a wooden table with a floral arrangement. The room also feat
Living room with a green velvet sofa, decorative pillows, a wooden chair with a pink striped cushion, a wooden coffee table with a bowl of apples, and wall art with Asian motifs. There are two wall lamps with white shades and gold fixtures.
An ornate wooden chair with gold accents and a pink striped cushion, positioned in front of a fireplace with a marble hearth and decorative molding.
A bookshelf with white books, a colorful abstract painting, a classical style bust sculpture of a woman with wavy hair, and a small decorative box on a gray surface. The background features green and black mosaic tiles.
A bookshelf with two top shelves filled with books, a middle shelf with a decorative coral sculpture and books, and a bottom shelf with books and a stacked display box. There is a framed artwork of a woman playing tennis on the wall behind the booksh
Bookshelf filled with numerous books, with a framed photo of a woman in different poses in front of the shelf. Part of a large, colorful abstract art piece is visible at the bottom of the image.
Interior view of a room with a colorful curtain on the left, a green leafy plant in a patterned vase on a black stand, a built-in bookshelf with various books, a decorative golden bird figurine, and a lamp on an ornate wooden side table. Part of a gl
A cozy sitting area with two red velvet armchairs each decorated with a floral-patterned pillow, a round wooden side table with a book and decorative items, large windows with multiple panes, dark green and plaid curtains, a white table lamp, and a f
A side table with a black marble top and ornate gold trim, featuring a brass vase holding pale pink and white roses, two decorative gold-black pinecones, and a book titled 'A Selfie as Big as the Ritz' by Lara Williams. There is a coral-colored uphol
Decorative desk items including a large golden goose sculpture, a vintage clock, a wooden jewelry box, and open fashion books with jewelry and illustrations on a wooden table, with a framed abstract painting in the background.
A home office with pink paneled walls and a built-in white bookshelf filled with books. A large colorful abstract painting hangs above a vintage wooden desk with gold accents. On the desk, there is a green glass table lamp, a clock, a small jewelry b

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