“Inside the Room” with Darren Henault

For the Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas, Darren Henault masterminded a luxurious oasis, meditating on the use of texture and dressmaker details, juxtaposed by bold flourishes. The result is an elevated bedroom suite for elegant living. With an eye for the international, Henault found inspiration in the folly at Chateau de Groussay. A hand-painted and embroidered silk Fromental wallcovering wraps the room, and custom pleat drapery by The Shade Shore, beautifully billows alongside the windows, with every stitch carefully considered by Henault for its emotional effect. Decorative arts take center stage until Anne Harris’ “Snatch” watercolor painting of a parrot claw provides drama and a welcome dose of tension in the dressing closet. The adjacent bathroom is a study of stone and form.

With the precision of a couturier, Henault thoughtfully adorned “Unfolding Elegance” to charm the senses and imbue the space with an air of timelessness while moving the design conversation forward.

Sourced at 200 Lex: Wallcovering; Fromental, paint; Benjamin Moore, Window Treatments fabricated by The Shade Store.

Q&A with Darren

Q. What sources found at 200 Lex are used in the room? A. Benjamin Moore & The Shade Store were sponsors of the Kips Bay Show House Dallas.  I’ve always known and loved Benjamin Moore.  I was honestly nervous about trusting the dressmaker details that I use in my drapery to a work room that I had no experience with and which is known not for their drapery but for their shades.  They were not only able to do what I asked them, they were eager, interested and hungry to do something they weren’t asked to do every day.  The process was as involved as my own workroom would have been and seamless.  But the big showstopper is without doubt Fromental.  The handpainted silk wallpaper was the first thing I fell in love with after figuring out the ceiling.

Q. What did you enjoy most about designing this room specifically? A. I loved calling in and working with my favorite design partners as well as creating new relationships with Dallas-based experts and companies. I brought a bit of New York to the Lone Star state and was greeted with nothing but incredible friendship.

Q. What is your favorite aspect of the finished room? A. When the installation was done, I was sitting in the room and I called my husband.  He asked, “How did it turn out?”.  I replied that, “This is a room we would live in.”  Meaning it was fully developed and felt like a home.

Q. What do you want people to feel in (or about) the room? A. I don’t go for the initial “wow” factor. If I do that, I haven’t done my job because it is all in the details and intricacies that slowly reveal themselves. Layers bring nuance and take time to appreciate and observe. It’s like camera work. Whether zoomed in on a tight vignette or zoomed out to appreciate the whole room, there are sumptuous elements and an elegant approach to beauty throughout. It is the play between both perceptions that creates an unforgettable space that you never want to leave!

Q. What is the first thing you do when designing a new room? A. Define the flaws and go from there.  I had a trey ceiling that I wasn’t fond of covered with 8” circumference recessed can lighting.  Tenting the ceiling covered the things I didn’t like, made good use of a shape I’m not fond of and gave me a real direction to jump off from.

Q. What are you favorite resources at 200 Lex? A. Amuneal makes the most beautiful kitchens and bars, Bendheim, Crosby Street Studios as I’ve always loved and followed Anthony for his taste and professionalism (and calm demeanor), de la Cuono for their gorgeous sumptuous textiles, Donzella as I’d go wherever Paul goes, Evergreen Antiques (again following them from 79^th St to 32^nd, Fromental (not just handpainted but embroidered???? Heaven), Guy Regal, Karl Kemp….wait!!!!! All of these people are there now?  I need to come down more often!  It’s a long list.