Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010: Design Trends and My Favorite

The Big Window Challenge at the Bloomingdale's on 59th street in New York City is underway! Three very talented designers - Eddie Ross, Eileen Joyce and Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan - have created some inspirational and trend-setting model studio vignettes. Here's a look at each designer window:

Eileen Joyce, Interior Designer and Bloomingdale's Operating Vice President creates a sophisticated NYC apartment-inspired space for a travel magazine editor. Joyce states, "The room has an early 1960's sensibility, combining modern furnishings with a grass cloth wall covering and appliqué fabric as the window treatment. It's a mix of primitive, Asian, folk art and photography in an urban environment—all anchored by a custom-patterned area rug."

I love and appreciate the room's furniture arrangement {perfect scale & rhythm} and uncluttered look {perhaps the homeowner is traveling again?}. But, my favorite element without hesitation is the grass cloth covering.

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, designer and founder of apartmenttherapy.com {love this site!} created a beautiful writer's library for a dear friend, Amor. It's a dark den set for a romantic dinner, filled with books and showcases treasures from worldly travels. The room has a great mix of masculine and feminine decor elements including a leather Ralph Lauren chair and ottoman, floral wallpaper by Neisha Crosland and glass top Excel Cocktail Table by Allan Copley. I love the relaxed feel of this room and would love to have seen a fireplace mantel added to the design.

Eddie Ross' room for Elle Decor was designed for a media mogul and mother of two boys {this woman knows what she wants and gets it!}. Ross says, "The signature space shimmers with a mix of classic and modern, new and old, together with a balance of bold patterns and vibrant colors. A spatter-paint print, like stars in an endless sky, reflects the owner's love of travel to wide-open spaces, and her passion for sparkling evenings at home entertaining friends and family."

There are several interior design trends that are repeated in each room:

First, wall coverings. Joyce covers her room's walls in a dramatic, textured grass cloth. Gillingham-Ryan selects a romantic wallpaper called Birdtree {above} by Neisha Crosland. And Ross incorporates a splatter-paint print inspired by Harry Hinson design from the 1970s.

Second, shades of orange. Soft, warm oranges are picked up in Joyce's upholstered chair and wall covering {sketch above}. In Gillingham-Ryan's room, the wallpaper's burnt orange floral motif stands out. Ross uses a vibrant Hermes' orange in the wall art and throw pillows.

And third, mixing design styles. Ethnic art and modern furniture mingle perfectly in Joyce's design. Gillingham-Ryan completes his look by combining a retro shag rug, antique books and a classic club chair. Ross brilliantly mixes modern art, contemporary furniture {i.e. Allan Copley Snowmass Bookcase}, vintage Italian brass flowers and a collection of antique Chinoiserie plates, vases and ginger jars {image above}.

My favorite window design is by Eddie Ross. Ross takes risks and hits it out of the park. The room's mix of color, texture, pattern and old & new is brilliant. The well balanced, split complementary color scheme of tonal blues, layered with hints of turquoise, orange, hot pink and gilded bronze is simply stunning. The throw pillows Ross selects pulls the color palette together beautifully. Love that ikat print pillow above, although I think Ross switches it out for an even better one in the window's finished look.

Even though the room is a bit cluttered for my taste, Ross' attention to the personal details and accessories is delightful. If you ask me, this stylish, media mama homeowner is busy enough and could use a little organizational help. Call me!

Now it's time to vote! You can vote for your favorite two ways {online & text} everyday. Here's how:

Online: Visit this page to cast a vote for your favorite design using the radio buttons that will appear at the top of the page.

SMS Text*: Please send a SMS text to the number 89800. Enter the number of the window you are voting for (1, 2, or 3) into the message body and send to cast a vote for your favorite design. *Standard text messaging rates may apply.
Please Send a Text to 89800-Enter Only 1, 2, or 3:
1-ELLE DECOR (Eddie Ross)
2-Apartment Therapy (Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan)
3-Bloomingdale's (Eileen Joyce)

Voting will run from January 20th through 28th. Dont' delay!

And now the big question: Which window design is your favorite?

*images courtesy of Apartment Therapy, La Dolfina, Neisha Crosland, Eddie Ross