TONY INGRAO & RANDY KEMPER
 Invite You to a Celebration of

  New York Apartments

P R I V A T E   V I EWS

 By

JAMEE GREGORY

WHO:             Marty Richards, Barbie Bancroft, Dennis Basso, Maggie Norris, Kelly & Gilles Bennsimon, Lord Rufus & Lady Sally Albemarle, Somers & Jonathan Farkas, Mr. and Mrs. Joanne de Guardiola, Hunt Slonem, Bettina Zilka, Jamie Drake, John Barman, Eva & Brendan Dillon, Melissa Berkelhammer and Jo Chang.

WHAT:       A Champagne Veuve Clicquot reception will be held in honor of Jamee Gregory and her new book New York Apartments, an insider’s view of the glamorous homes of some of New York City ’s most sophisticated residents. Among the apartments featured in the book are those of Joan Rivers, Marty Richards, Georgette Mosbacher, Whitney Robert Wilson, and Carroll Petrie. The book also includes the work of all the decorators whose work has been featured in the best magazines.  The design team of Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper will host the evening in their elegant East Side gallery.  Ingrao and Kemper‘s work is featured twice in the book with two very different design styles.  Due to Ingrao and Kemper’s extensive training and experience in both America and Europe , they have the ability and confidence to create interiors reflective of their client’s tastes.

The two projects pictured in New York Apartments showcase two distinct highly personal styles in two of New York ’s most prestigious pre-war buildings. The first reflects old world grandeur and the second is sleek and modern.

With no set formula, Ingrao took his cues from the unique collecting passions of both owners.  For the apartment of legendary Broadway and Hollywood producer Marty Richards, he crafted an environment to showcase Mr. Richards’ collection of important 18th century furniture and fine 19^th century paintings.  Here detailed plasterwork, decorative paint, and marble and parquet floors are coupled with vibrant silks and richly patterned rugs, creating a Louis XVI backdrop for French, Italian, and Russian consoles, fauteuils, mirrors, crystal chandeliers and period   paintings.   

For Lisa and Richard Perry’s historic penthouse on Sutton Place , Ingrao was inspired by the Perry’s’ magnificent collection of pop art by Lichtenstein, Wesselman, Rauschenburg, and Andy Warhol.   Fresh ideas and contemporary materials transformed the apartment, leaving no trace of the majestic details of its former owners (including C.Z. Guest and Winston and Annenberg heiress Janet Hooker). Ingrao stripped the apartment of its period molding and marble fireplace to create a sleek streamlined interior, with porthole windows, and new skylights.  Ingrao uses lacquered white walls in the entry and a dynamic and colorful palette throughout the rest of the apartment to offset the art of the 1960’s. 

WHEN:           Wednesday, January 19, 2005; 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm

WHERE:        INGARO Gallery, 17 East 64th Street , New York City

About the Author: Jamee Gregory, former Director of Special Events at Sotheby’s, is contributing editor to Elle Décor, and has written for Town & Country, Avenue, Quest, Gotham, and Women’s Wear Daily.  Ms. Gregory is on the boards of many important charitable organizations including the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Central Park Conservancy, Venetian Heritage Foundation, and the Boy’s Club of New York, and maintains homes in New York City and in Southampton .