Ellie Cullman is a designer and founding partner at Cullman & Kravis, Inc. She has been included on the Architectural Digest AD100 list since 2000, as well as their 2005 list of “Deans of American Design.” Acknowledged for her expertise researching, authenticating, and documenting art and antiques collections, she has been a guest curator at the American Folk Art Museum, a member of the board of the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and is a founding board member of Friends of Florence. Tracey Pruzan has been a senior designer at Cullman & Kravis for nearly twenty years. A collector of contemporary art, she writes and lectures extensively on antiques and interior design.
We like to say inspired rooms are more than just pretty—they have an underlying logic and layering of information. Whether it’s the inclusion of a motif that relates to geographical location, a connection we make between a client’s beloved collection and a fabric scheme, or simply an emotion that the room itself evokes, the details create a more wholly integrated environment—rich with meaning, full of sparkle and life.
Cullman & Kravis has a remarkable ability to see whole picture and, at the same time, appreciate the smallest of its pieces and intricacies. Each of their rooms is a magnificent and elaborate tapestry—step back, and a stunning image emerges; look up close, and every stitch is perfectly aligned with its neighbor, every thread a mirror of a larger pattern. This focus on detail subtly influences every component of the residences they design, so that every room harmonizes with the architecture, the setting, the furniture, and the artwork. Hand-carved moldings subtly reflect the embroidery of a throw pillow. The form of an antique chandelier echoes the drape of the silk curtains. Complementary colors emerge in the needlework of a rug, the brushstroke of an abstract painting, the fresh flowers on a table. Each room appears as the quintessence of effortless grace and balance, while only the designers know the meticulous research and extraordinary passion that went into creating such a perfectly harmonious space. The Detailed Interior: Decoration Up Close with Cullman & Kravis reveals how the firm achieves this effect, and how readers can employ these details to endow their rooms with the same sense of elegance and poise.
This book showcases a wide range of projects, from classic New York City pied-à-terres and townhouses to vast Connecticut estates, from airy Floridian mansions to luxurious ski retreats. Each project is illustrated with lavish full-color images, illuminating the effect of the room as a whole as well as providing close-up shots of precisely detailed spaces. The photography is coupled with informative text explaining how each of the room’s elements complement each other, breaking down how Cullman & Kravis achieves these flawless interiors step by step.
