Big Window Challenge

Party Pics with Eddie Ross!
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge

Last Thursday we had a big bash at Bloomingdale's to celebrate the completion of our Big Window Challenge. There were drinks, there was a DJ, there were crowds and there was a good deal of mugging for the camera. It was a total pleasure to bring this hotly contested competition in for a friendly landing. Everyone was hugging by the end of the evening! For all info go to Big Window Challenge. More pics coming here later today....

The Winner: The Modern Woman by Eddie Ross!
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge

Last night the polls closed after nearly two weeks of intense online voting, tweeting and interior design pressure focusing on three windows at 59th and Lexington. We want to thank Bloomingdale's and Elle Decor for making this possible AND all of YOU for voting and commenting. All three windows were remarkable and demonstrated great skill in starting with Bloomingdale's furniture to create a living space, and all were winners in their own way, BUT there's always only one winner, and the final vote detail is below.

Last Day to Vote!
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

We're having problems with the embedded video — you can watch the video here. Don't miss your last chance to vote in this year's Big Window Challenge! Voting ends at midnight tonight (EST) — you are elligible to vote twice a day, once online and once by text…

Renaissance Man: The Gubbio Studiolo
Retrospect

If you've looked at Maxwell's entry for the Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010, you'll notice his trompe l'oeil bookshelf wall, painted by Mark Chamberlain, which was inspired by the Studiolo at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (image 1). The Studiolo happens to be my favorite room in the Met, so let's take a look at this tiny microcosm of Renaissance humanist values and artistic accomplishment.

The Trompe L'Oeil at Bloomingdale's — Complete
ColorTherapy

As a follow-up to last week's column, I have photos for my contribution to the Big Window Challenge contest. I know this is already all over the internet, but I wanted a few pictures of the completed project under my by-line.

The Urbane Traveller by Eileen Joyce for Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010, Room #3

DESIGNED BY Eileen Joyce
DESIGNED FOR A sophisticated travel magazine editor
INSPIRED BY This New York City apartment-inspired space is inhabited by a sophisticated travel magazine editor who collects objects from around the world. The room as 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.

Click Here for All Three Windows and Voting

The Writer's Romantic Supper by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan for Apartment Therapy
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010, Room #2

DESIGNED BY Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan
DESIGNED FOR Amor
INSPIRED BY The Writer's Library, inspired by my friend, Amor, is a dark, bookish den in which a romantic dinner has been surprisingly set for a female guest. The room is piled high with books and features items that may have come from far off travels. The side walls are painted faux bookcases for this display and inspired by the Studiolo at the MET. The room decor centers on the large, leather Ralph Lauren chair, the memorable Neisha Crosland wallpaper and accessories from Michele Varian with her funky, steampunk style.

Click Here for All Three Windows and Voting

The Modern Woman by Eddie Ross for Elle Decor
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010, Room #1

DESIGNED BY Eddie Ross for Elle Decor
DESIGNED FOR A media mogul and mother of two
INSPIRED BY 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.

Click Here for All Three Windows and Voting

The Final Push!
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

Eddie's staging area at the start of yesterday, with Eddie running into his window.

I spent most of yesterday in the windows at Bloomingdale's working on finishing up my Apartment Therapy entry: The Writer's Romantic Supper. I was cheek and jowl with Eddie Ross, who brought in a TON of antiques for his window, and Eileen Joyce's team, who knew exactly what they were doing and finished up first.

A Trompe L'Oeil At Bloomingdale's
ColorTherapy

Mr. Apartment Therapy himself Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan is designing a window for Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge due to unveil tomorrow. The theme is a romantic writer's room, and I've been charged with creating two sets of trompe l'oeil bookcases to frame the room. I'm just a teensy raisin in a big fruit salad here, but let's take a brief look at the artistic process, and next week we'll reveal a close-up of the finished trompe l'oeil.

Eileen Joyce's Window for Bloomingdale's: The Urbane Traveler
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 5.50.48 PM.png

Here now is the final sneak peak: Eileen Joyce's window plans. Also at the very bottom is an updated image of Eddie Ross's sketch that just came in last night. Everything starts in just a few days.

Eddie Ross' Window for Elle Decor: The Modern Woman
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

The Windows Challenge buzz is heating up as The New York Times called us yesterday to cover the drama, and we've all been told to show up at 8:30 on Monday morning to oversee the final installation. What else do you want to be doing in January? We had originally come up with this idea with the people over at Elle Decor as a sort of Battle of the Bands, in which the blog would take on the old guard, but we had no idea that they'd rope in Eddie Ross, who has to be one of the more media friendly picks and not a typical Elle Decor designer. Above and below is a sneak peak of Eddie's window, his inspiration and his bio.

Maxwell's Window for Apartment Therapy: The Writer's Romantic Supper
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

The Writer's Romantic Supper! Barely back from my holiday, the new year is rushing ahead with its first big event for Apartment Therapy — we're competing against Eddie Ross (representing Elle Decor) and Eileen Joyce (representing Bloomingdale's) in this year's Big Window Challenge. Starting next Wednesday, all three of our window designs will be on view for two weeks in the main windows at Bloomingdale's and the whole world will get to vote which they like best. I've never stuck my head out this much, so I'm hoping I don't lose.

Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge Featuring Apartment Therapy and ELLE DECOR

Final results

Bloomingdale's

Apartment Therapy

ELLE DECOR

The Posts

Party Pics with Eddie Ross!
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge

The Winner: The Modern Woman by Eddie Ross!
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge

Last Day to Vote!
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

Renaissance Man: The Gubbio Studiolo
Retrospect

The Trompe L'Oeil at Bloomingdale's — Complete
ColorTherapy

The Urbane Traveller by Eileen Joyce for Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010, Room #3

The Writer's Romantic Supper by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan for Apartment Therapy
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010, Room #2

The Modern Woman by Eddie Ross for Elle Decor
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010, Room #1

The Final Push!
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

A Trompe L'Oeil At Bloomingdale's
ColorTherapy

Eileen Joyce's Window for Bloomingdale's: The Urbane Traveler
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

Eddie Ross' Window for Elle Decor: The Modern Woman
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

Maxwell's Window for Apartment Therapy: The Writer's Romantic Supper
Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

Welcome to the Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge

Vote for Your Favorite... Everyday!

Everyday there are two ways to vote:

Please Send a Text to 89800—Enter Only 1, 2, or 3:

Voting Policy:

You're Invited January 28th!

Meet The Designers