Our thanks go out to the Kravet company for allowing us to participate in their sponsored Blogfest 2012.  Attended by 160 or so Design Bloggers from across the country, plus a few from outside our borders, we were introduced to the Kravet family ( now in their fourth generation running their company), their employees and many designers who have helped build their iconic line.  What is first and foremost when meeting the current generation of Kravet leaders is how warm and down to earth this family is.  Being so familiar with their fabric line, I thought of Kravet as just another large corporation, not knowing it is a family owned and operated business that reflects their genuine enthusiasm for their customers, product and employees. It is a family with a history of integrity, innovation and American values (see a video of their history here).

Left to right, Cary president, sister Ellen, Larry Kravet, Utta Kravet, Cary's wife Lisa and brother and principal Scott Kravet

Following an optional trip through the Javits Center  and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, the Blogfest was kicked off at the Kips Bay Designers Show House celebrating its 40th anniversary and its salute to Albert Hadley  Two apartments which look out over the Hudson River were done to the nines by the best of the best New York Design Talent.  The editor in chief of Architectural Digest another Blogfest sponser, Margaret Russell was on hand to welcome and start the event off with a champagne toast.

Let me show you a few photos of the many outstanding examples of great design at the Kips Bay Showhouse

We entered the first apartment through a fabulous foyer papered in one of Scalamandre’s most famous wallcoverings created in the 1940′s, Zebras in Masai Red. The entry was designed by Timothy & Associates of Pearl River New York.

The dining room was a stunning visual feast by Todd Alexander Romano.  Done in vivid sharp greens contrasted with deep eggplant, the furnishings were unexpected yet dazzling.

The kitchen in this apartment was also an incredible presentation created by St Charles of New York.  First of all, the idea of waking up each morning with a backdrop of New York City out your kitchen window was mind bending.

La Cornue was featured not just as a range to cook on – but as an entire island…

And not just an island but a built in wall grill that includes two rotisseries where food can be cooked to perfection via ceramic wicks that heat to 250 degrees and yet produce delectably grilled food, moist and browned.The kitchen included glass display cabinetry and a large eating area with a marble slab table and an aqua pendant lighting fixture.Not one detail was overlooked…We’ll be showing you more of the this 3 day event in following blogs.  So much great design and inner workings yet to be shown!