R5 Elissa Grayer

 

 

FAVORITE WEBSITE: 1stdibs.com! The website gives me access to antiques in Westchester, and all over the world, without leaving my office.

 

FAVORITE LIGHTING STORE: Patdo Light Studio in Port Chester. They are incredibly helpful and have every designer lighting line you can think of. They’ll often let you take a fixture right off the wall.

 

FAVORITE ART GALLERY: Kenise Barnes Fine Art in Larchmont has an excellent selection of modern and representational art.

 

OUT-OF-COUNTY SOURCE FOR GOODS: I always turn to Decorative Crafts, Inc. in Greenwich, Connecticut, for elegant furniture from France and Italy and Murano glass and crystal lamps. Best of all, they almost always have everything I need in stock.

 

FAVORITE HOME STORE: Nest Inspired Home in Rye. They have a large selection of many of my favorite trade sources.

 

EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE: At least one room with wallpaper, and a lot of books.

 

BIGGEST DESIGN INFLUENCE: I love the design aesthetic of Shelton, Mindel & Associates, Steven Gambrel, Vicente Wolf, and Victoria Hagan. Also, I am very influenced by the beauty in the world around me—both city and country.  

 

MOST UNUSUAL REQUEST: To carpet a kitchen. 

 

FAVORITE WALLPAPER: Thibaut has a huge range of styles. I love Tree of Life in beige—it looks classic and modern at the same time. I use an incredible amount of both and natural and vinyl papers by Phillip Jeffries.

 

WORST DESIGN MISTAKE: Not measuring the doorway and elevator of a client’s apartment building. When their new Holly Hunt sofa would not fit into the elevator, I had to hire a crane to bring it through their fifth-floor window. 

 

FAVORITE PAINT: Farrow & Ball, specifically Lulworth Blue.