Celebrating 50 Years of Kips Bay — And the Story Behind My Pink Rhino Club

Over the years, more than 400 designers have left their mark on these storied walls, each room reflecting its own bold perspective while contributing to the greater whole. The result? A half-century of design history, layered room by room, that mirrors the evolving way we think about space, style, and storytelling.

But what makes Kips Bay so special to me isn’t just its prestige. It’s the heart behind it. Every ticket sold and every story told directly supports the children of the Bronx, providing programs and opportunities that can shape their futures. That marriage of beauty and purpose is something I find deeply inspiring.

My contribution to the 50th anniversary is a room I’ve named the Pink Rhino Club—a playful, soulful speakeasy inspired by my childhood in Nigeria and my enduring love affair with Morocco. This room is both a nod to my personal history and a celebration of the whimsical, global spirit I strive to infuse into every project.

The journey began with a wallcovering from my upcoming collection with The Vale London, based on original artwork by my grandmother, Elizabeth Monath, who studied under Dalí and Léger in Paris in the 1930s. This piece, titled Guli Mask, is especially close to my heart—it was drawn during a visit she made while we were living in Ibadan, Nigeria. My father’s career carried us across the globe, and this pattern captures the nostalgia, joy, and cultural richness of that chapter of my life.

To me, design is always personal, but this room feels almost autobiographical. It’s layered with memory, heritage, and global references, while still offering an open embrace to everyone who steps inside.

A Tapestry of Craftsmanship

The Pink Rhino Club is nothing without the artistry of the incredible partners who helped bring it to life.

• Artistic Tile grounded the space in rich, tactile texture with stunning stone and tilework.
• Kohler elevated the bathroom with timeless plumbing fixtures, including their elegant Memoirs Console Table.
• Kravet provided drapery fabric that frames the room with a soft sophistication, while Romo lent the perfect upholstery for the lounge chairs.
• Custom bench cushions by Upholstery Services by MV, crafted in antique suzani fabric, add soul and character.
• A hallway swathed in wallcovering donated by Philip Jeffries creates a dramatic portal into the bathroom, where Modern Matter hardware gleams like jewelry against the finishes.
• Layered underfoot, Rug & Kilim’s area rugs invite warmth, while a sculptural side table from Lillian August brings balance and grace.
• Throughout, the walls and trim glow with Benjamin Moore paint, giving the space a polished foundation.

Lighting, of course, is where atmosphere comes alive:

• A chandelier by Feyza Kemahlioglu from Wexler Gallery crowns the space.
• John Brooks sconces illuminate the fireplace with quiet drama.
• Ochre’s semi-flush fixture brightens the hall, while Hector Finch’s pendants dangle playfully over the benches.
• In the bathroom, Visual Comfort fixtures bring warmth and intimacy.
• To top it off, Amuneal’s glass-and-brass ceiling-mount shelf floats like jewelry overhead, adding architectural polish.

The Whimsy of the Pink Rhino

And then there’s the star of the show: a whimsical, rhinoceros-shaped dry bar created by Sylvan San Francisco. With its sculptural form and wink of humor, it embodies the playful soul of this speakeasy. Paired with blush accents and layers of texture, it invites guests to smile, linger, and imagine the stories such a room could host.

The Pink Rhino Club is rich in history, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s deeply personal to me, yet universally welcoming. It’s a room meant to spark joy, to carry you away for a moment, and to remind you that design, at its best, is both memory and magic.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Standing inside this room, I feel connected to the past—my family, my travels, my grandmother’s artistry—while also celebrating the present moment of being part of Kips Bay’s golden year. That, to me, is what makes design powerful: the ability to bridge history with imagination, tradition with boldness, memory with vision.

As Kips Bay turns fifty, I can’t help but think of the next fifty. What stories will be told? What risks will be taken? What traditions will endure? For now, I’m simply honored to be part of this living legacy, and to raise a glass—at the Pink Rhino Club—to design, to philanthropy, and to the endless possibilities of beauty.

View the complete portfolio of images of The Pink Rhino Club, photographed by Nick Sargent, here!

Xoxo, AMS