A book of Picasso works. Architectural desk trinkets. Tons of pencils and paper for jotting down your next big idea. All of these pieces and more are showcased on Dan Fink’s artfully designed desk space. The interior designer is behind the old-meets-new décor of the staircase and gallery for the 46th Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York City.
House Tipster had the lovely opportunity to speak with Dan Fink Studio’s founder and principal designer at the 2018 Show House’s VIP unveiling event in Manhattan. There, he told us all about how his career and experiences led him to this magnificent event, held in support of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club.
“I started actually working in the tech world, I worked in Silicon Valley and started designing for a lot of tech entrepreneurs,” the designer tells us exclusively. “The next thing I knew, their friends were hiring me to do their houses. Now I do work in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and abroad – all over.”
When he was chosen to participate in this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House, Mr. Fink was thrilled to be presented with an enchanting spiral staircase, a cozy desk nook, and a space to display an eclectic mix of artwork.
“I was so happy when I got this space, because I love the neoclassical stair rail that runs through the whole thing,” he tells us. “I love classical ideas and finding ways to reinterpret them and make them modern for today. So I paired it with these graphic wall coverings by Gracie Studio, and it dances all around the room giving a sense of architecture and composition. I added all sorts of architecture throughout the space that wasn’t here: casings and tall panels that give a sense of height and a temple-like quality in this space. There’s a mix of wonderful deco things, modern things, and mid-century things that all come together in a way that feels balanced and restful.”
While there are many special items that might catch your eye in this space, Dan has a special love for a mythical huntress statement piece that set the tone for the entire room design.
“My favorite piece is this plaster relief of Diana, who is so strong and elegant and glamorous shooting her arrow up into the sky. I wanted this place to feel fitting for her,” he tells us. “I wanted the space to have a quiet glamour, grace, and strength, as though the modern Diana might live here were she around today,” he added in his show notes.
There certainly is a powerful current running through this space, and it guides visitors upward to explore more rooms of the luxurious NYC brownstone
