May’s can’t-miss design events

Mark Your Calendar | Apr 22, 2024

By Aidan Taylor

From annual furniture fairs and spring markets to the buzzy design event making its Los Angeles debut, the industry has a lot to look forward to. Read on for BOH’s list of next month’s industry shows and events.

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala
New York | May 2
The annual spring gala to support the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, a community-based organization serving the east side of Manhattan, returns to Cipriani 42nd Street. This black-tie evening showcases tablescapes by dozens of interior designers, including Andrea Stark, Byron C. James, Paris Forino and K.A. Murphy Interiors—each following this year’s theme, “Flights of Fancy.” For more information, click here.

Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York
New York | May 2–28
The 49th annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House opens at the top of the month in an Upper East Side townhouse first designed in 1904 by architect Charles Platt. Inside, 24 celebrated designers will transform the space from top to bottom—Swati Goorha, Barbara Ostrom, Jeremiah Brent, Kit Kemp, Michelle Gerson and Mikel Welch among them—with proceeds benefiting the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. For more information, click here.

LCDQ Legends: Rooms in Bloom
Los Angeles | May 7–9
The La Cienega Design Quarter’s big event rings in its 14th year, bringing the L.A. design industry together for a three-day event featuring more than 50 showrooms, 30 window vignettes, 20 keynotes and panels, and 10 social events. Standouts include talks by industry experts such as Joy Moyler, Gil Schafer, Alfredo Paredes, Robert Rufino and Anne Hardy. For more information, click here.

The Decorative Fair
London | May 7–12
This triannual fair unites over 130 dealers in antiques, fine and decorative art, and 20th-century design in one place. New this spring is House Directory Live, a programming stage on the mezzanine that will feature daily demos and workshops with decorating suppliers and artisans like sustainable-rug maker Clive Rogers and painter Phyllis Clair Smith. Other notable events include a talk hosted by Busola Evans, executive editor of The World of Interiors, with furniture company Cox London and natural paint brand Edward Bulmer. For more information, click here.

D&D Spring Market
New York | May 8
The Decoration & Design Building’s Spring Market showcases the latest collections of the luxury brands that call the center home. The one-day event includes product introductions, keynote discussions and networking receptions—don’t miss the cocktail hour at Made Goods with BOH editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen. For more information, click here.

TEFAF New York
New York | May 10–14
The 10th edition of the celebrated Dutch art fair’s New York outpost takes over the Park Avenue Armory, showcasing dozens of art and furniture dealers from around the world—including the likes of Charles Ede, Galerie Chenel and Mignoni—and featuring discussion presentations for industry professionals and art connoisseurs alike. For more information, click here. For a guided tour of notable exhibitors, BOH Insiders are invited on a Field Trip with art advisor and Mason Lane founder Katharine Earnhardt.

A Designer’s Point of View
Seattle | May 14
San Francisco | May 15
In partnership with The Shade Store, Business of Home editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen is traveling to showrooms in Seattle and San Francisco to host conversations with the local design communities. In Seattle, she will sit down with interior designers Brian Paquette and Andy Beers to look under the hood of their firms and discuss what success looks like today. In San Francisco the next day, Petersen will talk to interior designers Katie Monkhouse, Michael Hilal, Alicia Cheung Lichtenstein and Eva Bradley to explore how they’ve approached business growth. The events will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. and include breakfast and networking time after the panel discussion. To RSVP, click here and here.

Design Miami Los Angeles
Los Angeles | May 16–20
This new West Coast outpost joins Design Miami’s roster of events in Basel, Paris and Miami Beach. Taking place in a three-acre 1930s Holmby Hills estate designed by architect Paul Williams, the inaugural event will feature galleries, collaborations and special projects in design, fashion and entertainment. Exhibitor highlights include New York–based Friedman Benda and Pelle, as well as Brazilian gallery Mercado Moderno. For more information, click here.

NYCxDesign Festival
New York | May 16–23
The annual festival, which includes hundreds of exhibits, trade shows and tours across architecture and interior, urban and landscape design, is ready to welcome hundreds of thousands of attendees. This year’s keynote presentations include a talk by Karim Rashid on embracing smart technology in design and a discussion on architecture design in partnership with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. For more information, click here.

ICFF & Wanted
New York | May 19–21
The International Contemporary Furniture Fair returns to the Javits Center for its 35th anniversary, with more than 450 global exhibitors showcasing contemporary furniture, accessories, lighting, textiles and more. Keynote speakers this year include architects Neri&Hu, who will speak about interdisciplinary design, as well as Lee Broom, who will discuss his lighting and furniture design. Wanted (formerly WantedDesign Manhattan) also has a slew of programs to attend, including a space called Launchpad that showcases new furniture, and Look Book, an in-person portfolio for industry members. For more information, click here.

Clerkenwell Design Week
London | May 21–23
The 13th edition of Clerkenwell Design Week boasts more than 600 showroom events, 11 curated exhibits, numerous installations, and a plethora of talks and programs that showcase the leading interior brands across the globe. Panels this year include a conversation with activist and author Mary Portas and design writer Becky Sunshine, and a talk by designer Simone Brewster with the head of curatorial at London’s Design Museum, Priya Khanchandani. For more information, click here.

Field + Supply Spring Market
Kingston, New York | May 31–June 2
Founded by interior designer Brad Ford, Field + Supply connects the design community with expert artisans for a shopping experience that showcases 275 vendors with a wide variety of collections across apparel, home goods, furnishings, textiles, ceramics, lighting and art. The event also features live music, demos, book signings and happy hours. For more information, click here.

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